Yorkshire & Northumberland: castles and coastline

Your vacation begins in Harrogate, where our Tour Manager waits to greet you at a beautifully restored Georgian hotel, close to the town's Turkish Baths, Royal Pump Room Museum and Valley Gardens.

One of Northern England's most attractive towns, nestled on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, Harrogate retains many of its Georgian and Victorian features. Its original spa buildings, the Royal Baths, opened in the 1800s when Turkish Baths were first introduced across Britain. The Harrogate baths are the only ones in the country which remain in full working order.

After settling in, there's time to explore, maybe take a stroll to the Valley Gardens, or up Parliament Street to visit the famous Betty's Café Tea Rooms or to browse some independent shops before dinner in the hotel.

• Dinner

This morning, we visit the inspiring gardens of RHS Harlow Carr, with its everchanging landscapes, fragrant wildflower meadows and colorful borders. Walk through the vast woodland, home to many bird species, visit the Alpine House to see rare alpine plants from around the world, or simply take in the tranquility.

After free time here, we continue to the walled city of York for a guided tour. Walking its cobbled streets we view medieval, Victorian and Georgian architecture, and learn about the city's Viking and Roman heritage.

There's time to find lunch before visiting the glorious Minster, one of Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals, where entrance is included. Inside are stunning stained glass windows and the magnificent Chapter House, with intricate craftsmanship evident in every corner of this beautiful place of worship. You could also ascend the Central Tower for breathtaking views of the city.

The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, to visit the National Railway Museum, settle down at a cozy café, or enjoy a local pint at one of the countless pubs within the city walls. Returning to Harrogate by rail, we enjoy dinner at our hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today we drive to the characterful harbor town of Whitby, where we discover the famous, brooding Abbey ruins. Overlooking the North Sea, the clifftop structure was a 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey, and the inspiration for Bram Stoker's 'Dracula'. Gaze out across the rugged Yorkshire coastline, wander through the atmospheric ruins, and let the haunting beauty of this historic site capture your imagination.

With a few hours free here, you could stroll along the seafront for some fish and chips, walk along the pier, wander across to the harbor, or browse the quaint shops in the area beneath the abbey. If you're interested in visiting the RNLI Lifeboat Station, one of the oldest in the country, it is possible to do so on an included guided tour.

Later, our coach takes us to the village of Grosmont to join the scenic North Yorkshire Moors Railway*. With its steam engines and restored carriages, this heritage railway takes us through Yorkshire's best-loved landscapes, ancient woodlands, and heather-clad moors. After arrival in Pickering we transfer back to our hotel in time for dinner.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Leaving Harrogate, we drive to the market town of Settle to join the Settle-Carlisle Railway for a memorable trip through the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Regarded as England's most scenic rail journey, it's easy to see why as we cross the Ribblehead Viaduct, an impressive Victorian-era bridge which cuts through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, and skirt the North Pennines, a designated Area of Natural Beauty. With views of Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough, Whernside, sweeping valleys and ancient pastures defined by drystone walls, we may also spot wildlife on this scenic route.

Arriving in historic Carlisle, there's time to find some lunch or look around at your own pace. This cathedral city is also known for its proximity to Hadrian's Wall, whose closest remains are at Birdoswald Roman Fort, 16 miles away.

After boarding a train to Hexham, we continue by coach to our next hotel in the Northumberland countryside. After settling in there's time to enjoy the hotel's spa facilities or walk around the grounds before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After a leisurely breakfast, we drive to the historic Alnwick Castle for a guided tour of its impressive State Rooms and landscaped gardens. With over 1,000 years of history, this grand castle has served as a military stronghold, a royal residence, and a filming location for movies including Harry Potter and Downton Abbey.

With entrance included, we have a guided tour of the Renaissance-style staterooms and the poisoned gardens. You are then free to wander through the gardens with its lake and treehouse restaurant where you could have lunch in a unique setting. There's also time to have a look around the town of Alnwick, and maybe visit the beloved Barter Books, one of England's largest second hand bookstores, based in a former Victorian railway station. At the end of the afternoon we transfer back to our hotel with time to relax before dinner.

• Breakfast, Dinner

This morning we drive across the wild Northumberland countryside to Bamburgh, a coastal town dominated by its striking castle, for a private 'behind the scenes' tour before it opens to the public, discovering the battlements, medieval great hall, and the castle's museum collection.

From the castle, we make our way to the fabled Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Its history dates back to the 6th century, and it has been home to a community of monks ever since. We are invited to a tasting of the local mead produced on the island. Lindisfarne Mead is a unique wine which blends white grapes, rich honey, and a mixture of herbs. What sets it apart is the pure water sourced from the island's artesian well and the fact that it's fortified with the finest spirits. Entry to Lindisfarne Priory is included as part of our tour.

At the end of the afternoon we are driven back to the hotel before our final dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we board the train to York again. Arriving in the city in the early afternoon, you could choose to spend more time exploring York's historic streets before making your way home or possibly to another part of the British Isles.

From the Victorian spa town of Harrogate and medieval York, across the glorious Moors and Dales of Yorkshire to the beautiful coast of Northumberland, over the last seven days we've seen many different aspects and some of the most celebrated sights of Yorkshire and Northumberland.

• Breakfast