North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Whitby
We travel over the moors, across Blakey Ridge, through picturesque Hutton-le-Hole to Pickering. Here we join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a steam train journey through rugged moorland to Whitby, passing through Goathland (featured as ‘Aidensfield’ in TV’s Heartbeat). Whitby is a maritime town, bursting with character and quite unique. Wander the alleyways and narrow streets and climb the steps up to Whitby Abbey.
Richmond, Wensleydale Railway and Thirsk
We begin with a drive to historic Richmond, on the River Swale. Here you will find a castle, The Green Howards Museum and the Richmondshire Museum housing the set from ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. Leaving Richmond, we head for the Wensleydale Railway for a nostalgic ride through rural scenery from Leyburn to Leeming Bar. We rejoin the coach and head to Thirsk, home of James Herriot.
Preston Park, ‘Teesside Princess’ and ‘Little Switzerland’
Our first visit today is to Preston Park and Hall Museum. Set in attractive parkland, the museum houses a delightful collection of memorabilia from times gone by. Take a walk back in time through the cobbled Victorian street. At Preston Hall, we join the ‘Teesside Princess’ and take a gentle cruise on the River Tees through beautiful countryside to the cobbled town of Yarm, famous for its location within a horseshoe bend on the river and the awe-inspiring railway viaduct. In the afternoon, we drive through Bilsdale, known as ‘Little Switzerland’, past the Sun Inn, which has had the same landlord for 200 years! We then pass Rievaulx Abbey and drop into Helmsley with its 12th-century castle. On our way back to the hotel we journey over the spectacular Sutton Bank, giving you fantastic views of the moors and the Vale of York.