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Yorkshire & Northumberland

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You are viewing the 2024 itinerary. Select your departure year
20242025
7 days From $1,345 per person
5.0 stars(1 reviews)
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Follow in Viking and Roman footsteps, visiting historic York, Bamburgh Castle and Lindisfarne on this tour of Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

Mobility Rating 2

2024 Tour code: YNS24

About the tour

Scenic rail journeys bring to life the history and wild, natural beauty of Yorkshire and Northumbria on this wonderful seven-day tour. Start your adventure in Harrogate as you travel toward the city of York. Here you will have a guided tour to explore the history of this town that still retains much of its look from the Middle Ages. You then have free time to discover this area on your own.

Then travel through the beautiful North York Moors National Park as you head to the seaside town of Whitby, where you can stroll the cobbled streets at your own pace. After, enjoy one of the top train trips around as you travel on the Settle & Carlisle Line toward Northumberland. You'll have a day to explore the expansive Alnwick Garden, where the architecture is as stunning as the flowers.

Then it's time for a trip to the famous Bamburgh Castle, a stunning site that rises above the sea with grounds covering nine acres. A stop at The Holy Island of Lindisfarne rounds out this trip full of beautiful scenery and amazing architecture.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Harrogate

Our tour begins as you arrive at your hotel in Harrogate, at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. One of England's most attractive towns, Harrogate retains many Georgian and Victorian features including its original spa buildings. After time to discover your new surroundings, and to perhaps visit the famous Betty's Tea Rooms, this evening we meet for dinner in the hotel. 

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 - RHS Harlow Carr and York

We visit the beautiful gardens of RHS Harlow Carr. Stroll along the tranquil Woodland or Streamside Walk, or take in the perfumed flora of the Scented Garden. We continue to York for a guided tour that includes the medieval Shambles, which has remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. Our tour ends at the glorious Minster - one of Europe's largest Gothic cathedrals - where entrance is included. The rest of the day is free, perhaps to visit the National Railway Museum. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The North Yorkshire Moors Railraod

We visit the seaside resort of Whitby, where we discover the brooding clifftop Abbey ruins. Overlooking the North Sea, the structure was a 7th-century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey, and its truly fascinating to explore. We continue with an insight into the town's coastal heritage at the RNLI Lifeboat Station. The station is one of the RNLI's oldest, and we have a look around and presentation. You also have free time in the town, perhaps to take a stroll on the beach with some fish and chips. We join the scenic North Yorkshire Moors Railway, making the return journey by steam train. Dinner is a delicious Yorkshire-themed affair at our hotel.

*Steam-hauled where possible.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Settle & Carlisle Line

Leaving Harrogate behind, today we travel on the famous Settle & Carlisle Line. The 72-mile route is regularly voted one of the world's top railroad journeys, and once we set off it is easy to see why. Cross over the wonderful Ribblehead Viaduct that cuts through the Yorkshire Dales and is overlooked by the mighty Whernside. The line also skirts the North Pennines, designated an Area of Natural Beauty for its breathtaking examples of the glory of nature. Once in Carlisle we transfer by rail to Hexham. On arrival, we continue by coach to our hotel in Alnwick.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5 - Alnwick Gardens

This morning we enjoy a guided tour around the beautifully landscaped Alnwick Gardens. The gardens are a vibrant place; magnificent architecture and lovingly tended plants and flowers are brought to life with a variety of water features. After dinner back at the hotel, we take a drive into Kielder Forest for star gazing. Overnight Alnwick. 

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6 - Bamburgh Castle & Lindisfarne

Today we cross the wild Northumberland countryside to Bamburgh, a scenic coastal town dominated by the magnificent Bamburgh Castle, before visiting the famous island of Lindisfarme*. We are treated to a tasting of local mead before we return to the hotel for a farewell dinner to celebrate the last night of our vacation.

*Please note that due to tidal variance, the time of the visit to Lindisfarne is subject to change.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 - The Journey Home

After breakfast in the hotel, we transfer to Alnmouth station where we join the LNER rail service back to York (First Class), a fitting place to end our adventure. 

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Please note

Please note that while every departure of this tour will feature the same excursions, the order may differ from that shown above.

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

The White Swan Hotel, Alnwick

The White Swan Hotel, Alnwick

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Trains

North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Settle-Carlisle Railway

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FRANCES

5 stars

Submitted 13 Jun 2019

Great trip, great service before the trip from knowledgeable sales people and wonderful information to prepare for it. Would definitely use this service again.

Collected by Vacations By Rail