Settle to Carlisle & the Best of Yorkshire

Make your own way to our hotel in Skipton, where you meet our experienced Tour Manager and enjoy a relaxing evening with dinner.

This morning, we step aboard the fantastic Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway, journeying through the historic tracks of the former Midland Railway that connected Skipton to Ilkley. On arrival at Bolton Abbey station, our coach takes us to the charming city of Ripon. With everything from captivating museums to a lively market square, the city offers the best of both historic charm and cosmopolitan delights. There will be free time for you to explore.

Afterwards, we’ll we’ll travel by coach to RHS Harlow Carr which is located just outside the city of Harrogate. Harlow Carr offers a variety of growing landscapes, from running and still water, to woodland and wildflower meadows. Highlights include the lavish Main Borders, bursting with generous prairie-style planting, and the lush, moisture-loving plants around Streamside. A visit to Harlow Carr Garden rewards plant and flower enthusiasts with colourful natural beauty throughout the year. This innovatively designed and immaculately cared-for garden is divided into themed sections, each with its own charm. From the multi-hued candelabra primulas that grow alongside the garden's stream to the wildflower meadow with its wildlife observation hide, a visit to Harlow Carr offers endless variety and enjoyment. We return to the hotel by coach later this afternoon.

Included Highlights

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway RHS Harlow Carr Ripon

Today, we enjoy a fantastic return journey on the Settle-Carlisle Railway. This testament to the ingenuity of 19th-century engineers stretches across 72 miles, weaving through the scenic North Pennines, Eden Valley, and Yorkshire Dales. Along the journey, we cross 19 viaducts and pass through 14 tunnels. A particular gem is the Ribblehead viaduct, boasting 24 impressive arches and soaring to a peak of 32 metres, making it a highlight of this unforgettable ride.

Included Highlights

Settle-Carlisle Railway

This morning, step aboard the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for a fantastic return trip from Oxenhope. This 5-mile branch line, originally serving mills and Worth Valley's villages, is now a heritage line that has been resorted to its former glory. Our journey then takes us to the charming, cobbled streets of Haworth, once home to the renowned Brontë sisters. Here, you can meander down the historic Main Street or delve deeper into literary history at the Brontë Parsonage Museum (entrance not included).

Our next stop is Skipton, known as the ‘Gateway to the Yorkshire Dales’. Here, we enjoy a cruise aboard a traditional canal boat, taking in the most scenic waterway in Yorkshire – the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. This canal played a pivotal role in the industrial revolution, connecting industries and shaping the region’s rich history.

Included Highlights

Leeds and Liverpool Canal Cruise Haworth Keighley & Worth Valley Railway

After breakfast, you are free to check out of our hotel and make your own way home.