The historic town of Whitby, Yorkshire Coast

Classic Yorkshire: Whitby, York & The Dales

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

6 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1050 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Historic York

Historic and charming, York is one of the most picturesque cities in England. Experience York’s ancient history including Roman ruins, medieval city walls and streets, as well as the remains of a Viking city under its very streets.

Holy sites

Discover a host of religious sites to visit, from once colossus abbeys now lost to ruins, to Romanesque cathedrals towering over towns. Gaze and wonder at the architecture of these fascinating historic sites.

Moorland marvels

Explore the heather-clad moorlands, forest trails and hilltop views to the sea in the North York Moors National Park. Discover quaint villages with whitepicket fences and sheep on the green, and visit the extensive Ryedale Museum depicting rural life from Iron Age to 1950s.

Coastal gems

Explore charming fishing towns and cliff hugging villages, with coastal walks aplenty giving you spectacular sea views at every turn. The jewel of the coast is the town of Whitby, where you can visit the infamous abbey that inspired Bram Stoker’s, Dracula.

Heritage railways

Take to the rails on the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway and explore the traditional stations of Grosmont and Goathland. In the heart of the Dales, travel along the Wensleydale Railway or journey along the famous Settle–Carlisle line over the iconic Ribblehead Viaduct.

Yorkshire Dales

Discover the green rolling hills of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, with natural wonders such as the limestone Malham Cove and the impressive Hardraw Force waterfall. Or visit historical sites such as Skipton Castle and the majestic ruins of Fountains Abbey.

A Stunning Self-Drive Tour Around Yorkshire

Begin your Yorkshire tour in the city of York, one of the most historic cities in England, and explore both the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales National Parks.

Experience some of the best attractions Yorkshire has to offer, including quaint village greens, impressive abbeys and cathedrals, peaceful rolling hills and cliff top walks, and historic steam trains.

York is one of the most picturesque and historic cities in England, with a mixture of Roman, Viking and English influences. You can walk the most intact city walls in England, with sections dating back to the Roman period, gaze at the marvel of York Minster cathedral and explore the Jorvik Viking Centre. In the evening, you are spoilt for choice – York is a gastronomic heaven.

This tour then takes you through the heart of the Yorkshire Moors National Park. Travel across heather clad hills to the Yorkshire coast, peppered with quaint villages, medieval castles and lost abbeys.

Continue on to the green pastures of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Explore a variety of geological wonders, including Malham Cove amphitheatre, or the highest waterfall in England, Hardraw Force. Complete your tour of Yorkshire by visiting the impressive Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site before returning to York, where your tour will come to an end.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in York

Arrive in York, one of the most historic cities in England, where the opportunities for sightseeing are almost endless. In the evening, make sure to visit one or two of the many characterful pubs in the city.
Overnight – York

Day 2: York Sightseeing

Enjoy a full sightseeing day in York and visit magnificent York Minster cathedral, walk the surrounding medieval city walls, stroll through the famous winding streets, or step back in time at the Jorvik Viking Centre.
Overnight – York

Day 3: York to North Yorkshire Coast

Travel towards the coast through the famous heather-clad hills of the Yorkshire Moors National Park. Along the way, you will find charming market towns, ruined abbeys and medieval castles until you reach the North Sea.
Overnight – North Yorkshire Coast

Day 4: Yorkshire Coast Sightseeing

A full day to discover the coast. Begin by exploring the famous fishing town of Whitby, overshadowed by its abbey (the inspiration for Dracula) and visit the hidden smugglers’ village of Robin Hoods Bay.

Enjoy a great day’s walking along the cliffs, or travel along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, a fabulous train journey from the coast through the heart of the moors.
Overnight – North Yorkshire Coast

Day 5: North Yorkshire Coast to the Yorkshire Dales

Travel from the coast back west towards the Yorkshire Dales, stopping in the picturesque market town of Richmond. Visit Richmond Castle, one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain, and admire the views over the Yorkshire Dales.
Overnight – Yorkshire Dales

Day 6: Yorkshire Dales Sightseeing

Visit wonderful Skipton Castle, dating from the 11th century, or enjoy one of the many outdoor activities in the area. Climb the impressive Malham Cove amphitheatre, stand in awe at the highest waterfall in England or descend underground at White Scar Cave, the longest show cave in England.
Overnight – Yorkshire Dales

Day 7: Yorkshire Dales to York and depart

Travel from the Yorkshire Dales back towards York. En-route you could explore the magnificent Fountains Abbey World Heritage Site or the impressive Ripon Cathedral. Otherwise, you could travel back via the charming market town of Grassington and the Victorian spa town of Harrogate.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 6 nights including traditional English breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of England with our recommended driving route
5 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
York Pass which includes a hop-on-hop-off bus tour and free entry to York Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre and many more attractions
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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