Yorkshire: Whitby and the North York Moors
Go full cottagecore on a wholesome small group tour from the city of York
A laid-back all-day small group tour on a comfy 16-seater mini-coach. See picture-postcard villages, heather-clad North York Moors, historic Whitby and Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade station.
Instagram-worthy locations
Yorkshire is stuffed full of beautiful rolling landscapes (hello, three National Parks and three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty), as well as handsome market towns and ancient villages. It’s a county begging to be photographed in all weather (though the tour doesn’t run in rainstorms) and your lovely tour guide knows all the best places to stretch your legs and snap some photos. For starters, the stone houses in dreamy Hutton-le-Hole; historic waymarker Ralph’s Cross; the highest point on the moors, Blakey Ridge (with a pub, natch); and a natural amphitheatre, the Hole of Horcum.
Dracula’s Whitby
You have a couple of hours to relax in the historic seaport of Whitby, where writer Bram Stoker stayed in 1890. Inspired by the brooding ruins of Whitby Abbey and headstone markers of empty graves in the ancient church of St Mary, his novel Dracula opens with a large black dog bounding up the town’s 199 steps from the wreck of a ship where the crew mysteriously disappeared one by one on its crossing…
Less horror, more seaside
Gothic horror aside, Whitby’s winding streets and natural harbour are gorgeous. Enjoy a windswept walk on Whitby Sands, take a boat trip on the replica of Captain Cook’s HMS Endeavour, and gorge yourself on fish and chips from the famous Magpie Cafe.
Yorkshire Steam Railway
An unmissable optional extra on your all-day tour is a 45-minute trip on the Yorkshire Steam Railway from Whitby via Grosmont to Goathland. The line originally opened as a horse drawn stagecoach in 1836, and became a bonafide steam railway a decade later. Today, taking the steam train is a noisy, clunky, overwhelmingly charming heritage experience with gorgeous views of the Esk Valley. Your final stop is Goathland, easily recognised as Hosgmeade station, where Hagrid first greets the new Hogwarts students in the very first Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
Then there’s just time to grab an ice-cream from the village before heading back to the mini-coach for the ride through the Howardian Hills to York.
How to get there
The meeting point is Duncombe Place, not far from York Minster. York is easily accessible from all major UK cities on the train (2 hr 6 min from London King’s Cross).
Where to eat
Lunch (not included in price) is is Whitby with loads of choice: Magpie Cafe for traditional fish and chips, or Cosa Nostra for veggie-friendly Italian food.
Accessibility
The tour is not accessible for wheelchair users, though collapsible wheelchairs can be folded if you’re able to get on and off the mini-coach (and have someone to help). Service animals allowed by prior arrangement.
