Derwentwater, Lake District

Lake District, Yorkshire & Hadrian’s Wall

View Photos

View Map

On this page:

Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

10 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1560 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.

Hadrian’s Wall

Spanning coast to coast over 70 miles across England, visit the ancient northern border of the Roman Empire. Walk in the footsteps of Rome, explore the forts that still stand to this day and unveil fascinating stories of Roman Britain.

Coast & moorland

Step back in time and explore quaint fishing towns and cliff-hugging villages. Take to the rails on the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway and journey through the heather-clad hills of the moors.

Lake District

The Lake District is England’s mountain country and a paradise for walkers. Climb Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England, or explore one of the several lakes on a cruise – the most famous being Lake Windermere.

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 in Northern England

This memorable tour of northern England begins in York, one of the most historic cities in England, and explores the spectacular national parks of the north.

Explore all that Yorkshire has to offer, travel north to visit the impressive Hadrian’s Wall, and then onward to the majestic Lake District mountain country, before returning to Yorkshire and the Dales.

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 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. Your journey will then take you north towards Hadrian’s Wall Country, the impressive world heritage site spanning coast to coast. Explore Roman forts along the wall, including iconic Vindolanda and Housesteads.

Continue onward towards the Lake District National Park, England’s mountain country and home to Scafell Pike, the highest mountain in England. Hear about the literary greats who were inspired by the Lakes. With fells to explore, several lakes to cross and slate mines to descend, this is an explorer’s paradise.

Your next destination will be 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 northern England 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 the 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 (inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 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 Hadrian's Wall Country

Travel from the coast north towards Hadrian’s Wall, stopping in the picturesque town of Durham with its Romanesque cathedral perched above the river. Continue onward to historic Hadrian’s Wall Country in the picturesque Northumberland countryside.
Overnight – Hadrian’s Wall Country

Day 6: Hadrian’s Wall Sightseeing

A full day to enjoy Hadrian’s Wall, the World Heritage marvel stretching from coast to coast with a number of unique Roman forts to explore. Follow in the footsteps of the Romans, from Vindolanda, with its famous writing tablets, to the extensive Housesteads Fort positioned on the wall.
Overnight – Hadrian’s Wall Country

Day 7: Hadrian's Wall Country to the Lake District

Continue along the western reaches of Hadrian’s Wall. Visit Carlisle Castle en-route, before continuing onward to the Lake District National Park – England’s spectacular mountain country.
Overnight – Lake District

Day 8: Lake District Sightseeing

Explore all that the Lake District has to offer. Climb England’s highest mountain or take a cruise on Lake Windermere, walk amongst stunning fell mountain scenery or learn about the many famous literary figures who were inspired by the Lakes.
Overnight – Lake District

Day 9: Lake District to the Yorkshire Dales

Travel from the Lake District to the green pastures of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. En-route, you could explore the market town of Kendal.
Overnight – Yorkshire Dales

Day 10: Yorkshire Dales Sightseeing

Visit the 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 11: 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 charming spa town of Harrogate.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 10 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
9 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

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

9 Most Beautiful Places in England’s Lake District

Shimmering lakes, majestic mountains and idyllic villages - where do you start exploring England's magical Lake District? We've rounded up some of the region's most beautiful locations to get you started ... Read more