|
James Herriot Country: Yorkshire
York, Whitby, Moors & Dales
3 days/2 nights
North Yorkshire offers a wealth of literary and artistic heritage, an inspiration for ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ author, James Herriot, the Bronte sisters, the poet Auden and the works of present day writer, Kate Atkinson among others. Hardly surprising that the region has been used extensively for film and TV locations too. It is perhaps one of the most varied scenic regions in the country.
On this tour you'll see the austere, heather covered moorlands of ‘Jane Eyre’, the hills and lakes of the north eastern Peaks, Captain Cook's north east coast, and the rolling landscape of the Dales. Combine these aspects with gardens, stately homes, country pubs, and traditional, timeless towns and you have an absolute winner of a short tour!
Tour Dates: Your choice! Any day of the week.
This tour begins and finishes in Manchester. You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 09:00.
Cost: Depends upon the number of guests in your party.
What your tour package includes: The private services of your driver/guide for 3 touring days, your accommodation for 2 nights while on the tour including breakfast and dinner daily, all entrance fees to gardens and attractions, transportation, all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.
Airport transfers, accommodation pre and post tour are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.
Why not Link it? This tour ’links up’ with Literary Lakes, Peak District: Stately Homes & Regency Film Sites, Literary Heart of England and Dylan Thomas Trail tours and more. Create a holiday break to suit your schedule!
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE
We depart from central Manchester and are soon in the countryside. The dramatic moorland we see today inspired the Bronte Sisters to pen their novels that are some of the classics of English literature.
In our explorations of Haworth, you'll be able to imagine the everyday lives of the Bronte Sisters as you walk around Haworth Church, the village and their home, now the Bronte Parsonage Museum.
A short drive from Haworth is Ilkley. Did you see the film 'Calendar Girls', the true story of the Women's Institute ladies who produced the infamous nude calendar? Well, this is where the film was shot and where the real ladies of the Women's Institute call home.
Next, the charming town of Ripon, our overnight location, is also a place worth visiting. You can see the captivating 7th century Cathedral and the town itself is a meandering of medieval streets dotted with tea rooms and arts and crafts shops. Nearby stately home Newby Hall was used as a location for the new version of ‘Mansfield Park’ and, time permitting, we may call in for a visit.
Accommodation: Ripon
DAY TWO
Today, we head westward across the heather-covered North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby. Legend has it that Bram Stoker created one of the world’s most famous characters here, Dracula. This is also Captain Cook country and we'll explore all the local heritage that this seaside town has to offer. Along the way, the opportunity to board a steam train (subject to schedules) at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Surely a treat as you relive the nostalgia of the steam age. ‘Harry Potter’ fans may find the station somewhat familiar! If we’ve time, we may be able to make our way down the coast to another popular seaside resort, Scarborough.
We will make a visit to the most spectacular stately home in Yorkshire, Castle Howard. This beautiful palace, recently used in the ‘Brideshead Revisited’ film, is still lived in by the Howard family who built it in the 18th century. You'll have free time here to explore the house and grounds.
Accommodation: Ripon
DAY THREE
Today, the charming landscapes of the Yorkshire Dales will be our focus this morning. This is the area that so inspired local vet Alf Wight, better known as ‘James Herriot,’ to pen the ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ books. Certainly something to read prior to the tour! We will call in the old market town of Thirsk, where Herriot’s former vet practice and setting for the popular tv series is now a museum. We’ll also experience the famous view from Sutton Bank which he described as "England’s finest view.”
As time and interest permits, today may also include stops in the local brew town of Masham or Tristam Shandy’s Coxwold but we’ll want to leave ample time to explore the city of York.
York itself is a fabulous walled city that has much to offer its visitors, such as the splendid Minster and the medieval shopping 'Shambles'.
Your guide will be on hand for a walking tour of the city to include both its literary and historical connections. York is the home town of poet WH Auden and ‘Behind the Scenes at the Museum’ author Kate Atkinson plus has been the inspiration for many including Dickens and Dafoe.
Accommodation: Manchester (not included in package but available for a supplemental fee)
Please note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website.
While we will do our utmost to include all of the properties mentioned as central visits, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to deliver a planned visit due to changes in opening days or times that we could not have been aware of at the time of loading this tour to our website.
|
