York, Lake District & Hadrian's Wall 5-Day Tour

Highlights / General details

Day 1: Your tour starts by hugging the magnificent East Lothian coastline as we travel towards the walled border town of Berwick Upon Tweed. After stopping to admire the fortifications we continue to Alnwick Castle, home of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. This magnificent Castle and it’s gardens have appeared in many films and television programmes. Leaving Alnwick behind we travel towards the City of York on the Great North Road, a route that has carried countless Roman Legions between the remote Northern outposts and the more populous settlements of Roman Brittania. We arrive in York your base for the next two nights in the late afternoon.

Day 2: Is a leisurely day that gives you the flexibility to spend time exploring the medieval heart of York, a city whose rich history goes back to the time of the Roman’s, Vikings and the Normans before travelling to the North Sea coast of Yorkshire. Your journey begins in the late morning when you head for the magnificent North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Lunch will be in Whitby, a bustling fishing port and the inspiration for the fertile imagination of author Bram Stoker, who stayed in the Royal Hotel on the western side of Whitby while writing his famous novel Dracula. After lunch and free time in Whitby we travel to the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. coach will drop you at the top of the village and you must walk down (and back up!) a steep hill to reach the old village centre.

Day 3: You will be collected from your accommodation and head west into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Established in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales National Park has outstanding scenery, a range of wildlife habitats and a rich cultural heritage. Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to taste the flavors of Yorkshire when we visit the town of Masham, home to two of Yorkshires best known breweries and the cheese making centre in historic Hawes. Our final leg of today’s journey takes us high up into the remote hill of the Yorkshire Dales before descending into the lively market town of Keswick where you will be dropped off at your accommodation and are then free to explore this charming town. (**During July this tour may stay in Windermere instead).

Day 4: After breakfast you head a short distance out of town to the mysterious Castlerigg standing stones. Thought by many to have been built over 5,000 years ago and the scene of ancient rituals. You then travel on to the shores of Ullswater described as England’s most beautiful lake where you can take a forest walk to see the mighty Aira Force waterfall. Continuing south over the narrow and winding Kirkstone Pass you stop at Lake Windermere where you have the option to take a leisurely cruise on the Lake or simply eat lunch while enjoying views of the mountains and lakes. After free time to explore the village you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. There is free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage or enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. In the late afternoon you return to Keswick.

Day 5: Leaving the Lakes behind you start your climb towards Hartside Pass, at over 1900ft - on a clear day the hills and mountains of Scotland and the English Lake District are clearly visible. We follow the route of the old sheep drovers road between England and Scotland. Stopping at Hadrians Wall, built by Emporer Hadrian to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire there’s an opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurions who patrolled this desolate frontier of the Empire. Following the ancient Roman Dere Street we cross the border into Scotland and continue on to the Border town of Jedburgh for refreshments by the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Our final stop is at the world famous Scott’s view with stunning views over the River Tweed and the Cheviot hills that form the border between Scotland before continuing North to Edinburgh.

Inclusion

Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour. Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. All ferry and bridge crossings. Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusion

Gratuity, Meals and refreshments, All Visitor Attractions.

Hours of operation

Tour is available Mondays and Departs at 9:00am, Returns at 7:00pm.

Location Tours depart 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.

Day 1:

Your tour starts by hugging the magnificent East Lothian coastline as we travel towards the walled border town of Berwick Upon Tweed. After stopping to admire the fortifications we continue to Alnwick Castle, home of the Earls and Dukes of Northumberland since 1309. This magnificent Castle and it’s gardens have appeared in many films and television programmes. Leaving Alnwick behind we travel towards the City of York on the Great North Road, a route that has carried countless Roman Legions between the remote Northern outposts and the more populous settlements of Roman Brittania. We arrive in York your base for the next two nights in the late afternoon.

Day 2:

Is a leisurely day that gives you the flexibility to spend time exploring the medieval heart of York, a city whose rich history goes back to the time of the Roman’s, Vikings and the Normans before travelling to the North Sea coast of Yorkshire. Your journey begins in the late morning when you head for the magnificent North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Lunch will be in Whitby, a bustling fishing port and the inspiration for the fertile imagination of author Bram Stoker, who stayed in the Royal Hotel on the western side of Whitby while writing his famous novel Dracula. After lunch and free time in Whitby we travel to the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay. coach will drop you at the top of the village and you must walk down (and back up!) a steep hill to reach the old village centre.

Day 3:

You will be collected from your accommodation and head west into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Established in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales National Park has outstanding scenery, a range of wildlife habitats and a rich cultural heritage. Throughout the day you will have the opportunity to taste the flavors of Yorkshire when we visit the town of Masham, home to two of Yorkshires best known breweries and the cheese making centre in historic Hawes. Our final leg of today’s journey takes us high up into the remote hill of the Yorkshire Dales before descending into the lively market town of Keswick where you will be dropped off at your accommodation and are then free to explore this charming town. (**During July this tour may stay in Windermere instead).

Day 4:

After breakfast you head a short distance out of town to the mysterious Castlerigg standing stones. Thought by many to have been built over 5,000 years ago and the scene of ancient rituals. You then travel on to the shores of Ullswater described as England’s most beautiful lake where you can take a forest walk to see the mighty Aira Force waterfall. Continuing south over the narrow and winding Kirkstone Pass you stop at Lake Windermere where you have the option to take a leisurely cruise on the Lake or simply eat lunch while enjoying views of the mountains and lakes. After free time to explore the village you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. There is free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage or enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. In the late afternoon you return to Keswick.

Day 5:

Leaving the Lakes behind you start your climb towards Hartside Pass, at over 1900ft - on a clear day the hills and mountains of Scotland and the English Lake District are clearly visible. We follow the route of the old sheep drovers road between England and Scotland. Stopping at Hadrians Wall, built by Emporer Hadrian to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire there’s an opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurions who patrolled this desolate frontier of the Empire. Following the ancient Roman Dere Street we cross the border into Scotland and continue on to the Border town of Jedburgh for refreshments by the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Our final stop is at the world famous Scott’s view with stunning views over the River Tweed and the Cheviot hills that form the border between Scotland before continuing North to Edinburgh.

Inclusion Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour. Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. All ferry and bridge crossings. Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions.

Exclusion Gratuity, Meals and refreshments, All Visitor Attractions.

Hours of operation Tour is available Mondays and Departs at 9:00am, Returns at 7:00pm.

Location

Tours depart 6 Waterloo Place, Edinburgh EH1 3EG.

Policies Clothing: Because we believe in time off the bus and give clients the opportunities to take nature walks, we recommend to bring suitable clothing and footwear on the tours. Winter can be a spectacular time to travel around the Highlands. Sometimes the routes we take are altered a little depending on the conditions and tours may return about half an hour earlier. In winter (November to March), some castles are not open but can be viewed from outside. If you are reserving for a single passenger, you must reserve a Single room. Double room can be booked ONLY if you are reserving for 2 or more. Child rate applies to children aged 5-15, based on 1 child sharing a room with parent(s) or 2 children in a twin room. No children under 5 are allowed in this tour. Lunch is not included. (However, tour will stop by local establishment where there is a choice to suite all budgets)

All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation