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Day One: Arrive in Whitby
From wherever your starting point, the drive to Whitby is a superb one, whether you choose to follow the east coast or to cut across the North York Moors National Park. Once here, you’ll be immediately struck by the colour and vibrancy of this place. A stroll around Whitby should not be missed; the abbey is world-famous as the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula and the town lays claim to serving the UK’s best fish and chips!
Your Accommodation in Whitby
Here in Whitby, you’ll be staying in a family owned jewel of a guest house, set opposite the green space of Pannett Park and just a few minutes’ stroll from the action in this fascinating and historic seaside town. Your hosts are passionate about Whitby and only too eager to give terrific advice on where best to eat, for example, and how best make your way around.
Day Two: By Steam from Whitby to Pickering and Back
Enjoy a lavish breakfast at your accommodation this morning, then set off from Whitby station for an unforgettable 27-mile steam-powered trip through some of North Yorkshire’s most atmospheric scenery. Visiting Grosmont, Goathland, Newton Dale and Levisham, you’ll set down in the bustling and pretty market town of Pickering, where you’ll have plenty of time to explore, and perhaps enjoy lunch at an historic local inn, before making the return journey to Whitby.
Day Three: Wend Your Way to Harrogate
Lose yourself in the North Yorkshire Moors, the driest upland area in the UK. There are 1408 miles of paths but much of the land is open-access so you can truly immerse yourself in the countryside, and in late summer the purple heather blooms as far as the eye can see. Driving the direct route from Whitby to Harrogate takes only 90 minutes or so, giving you plenty of time to explore the valleys and villages of this most enthralling landscape before arrival at the historic spa town of Harrogate.
Your accommodation in Harrogate
Tucked away on an unassuming residential street around 15 minutes’ stroll from the centre of town, the exterior of your accommodation here gives little clue as to what’s in store once you step over the threshold. Lovingly restored by the friendly owners to a quite staggering level of detail, this converted chapel has been transformed in to a luxury guest house, filled with antiques and art gathered during a lifetime spent travelling and collecting. The 50-foot high atrium stands repurposed as the main living area, delivering a wonderful sense of space, light flooding in from every angle, while each of the bedrooms is styled according to a different south- and southeast-Asian theme, with one-of-a-kind en-suite bathrooms complementing the uniquely styled sleeping areas. A genuinely exceptional place to stay.
Day Four – Out and About and a Foodie Tour in Harrogate
One of the very prettiest towns in England, Harrogate established itself from the Georgian era onwards as the go-to destination for the fashion-conscious holidaymaker seeking solace in the waters of its mineral springs, Moorish-style Turkish baths and health spas. Today, it’s a genteel and distinctive destination, featuring several fine specialist museums – including the Royal Pump Room and Pateley Bridge Nidderdale Museums – the 17-acre Valley Gardens, engaging shopping and a wealth of good eating and drinking possibilities.
During your day today, you’ll enjoy a guided foodie tour as part of a small group with a local expert food guide. You’ll get to see, and hear history of, some of the hidden corners of Harrogate, while taking a dive in to the town’s thriving independent food scene, home to a wealth of exciting producers and restaurants, with food and drink tastings along the way.
Day Five – Make for the Lakes
Wave goodbye to Harrogate this morning after a splendid breakfast, and choose your route to Pooley Bridge on Ullswater in the Lake District. For us, taking the smaller roads through the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Yorkshire Dales National Park is a must, to experience the breath-taking beauty of this legendary locale. The landscape dominates this area of Yorkshire and there is much exploring to be done. One of England’s finest show caves, Ingleborough, is a short stroll away from the A65, as are the Norber Erratics, huge boulders left by glacial movement. Many more options are within easy driving range: Malham, White Scar cave, the fantastic engineering of Ribblehead viaduct and the eerie geology of limestone pavements.
Perhaps take a detour via Windermere and over the challenging Kirkstone Pass, to approach Pooley Bridge from the foot of Helvellyn and the western shores of Ullswater.
Your hotel in Pooley Bridge
Your base for the next three nights is a delightful, family owned gem in this unspoiled corner of the Lake District. Resting just on the edge of the cute village of Pooley Bridge, you’ll find this converted former blacksmith’s shop, whose owners have done a quite outstanding job of creating a comfortable small hotel and very appealing bistro, and in the process lifting the appeal of the entire village. Spacious, beautifully appointed rooms decorated in modern, relaxing tones feature one or two decadent touches alongside high-spec en-suite bathrooms. Downstairs, a cosy bar serving local ales and a ‘Gin of the week’, gives way to lounge-space around a crackling fire and a simple, elegant dining room. The seasonal menu created from the very best local produce – often with foraged elements – features tempting game, poultry and seafood dishes.
Day Six – Exploring Ullswater
After breakfast, take a stroll to Ullswater – regarded by many as the very prettiest of the lakes in the UNESCO World Heritage Lake District National Park – and board the steamer for a trip around almost its entire circumference. Stopping at five different points, it’s easy to make a day of it, perhaps with your walking boots and a picnic, as you hop on and off as many times as you wish. One of our favourite spots is the tumbling waterfall at Aira Force, from where you can take the easy mile-and-a-half woodland stroll to Glenridding to catch the steamer back to Ullswater.
Day Seven – A Day’s Exploring of the Lake District
Get off the beaten-track and visit some of the smaller lakes, perhaps enjoying a waterside stroll. Take a trip on the Keswick Launch which stops at various points around Derwentwater – you can hop on and off to visit points of interest or stretch your legs. Alternatively, head for some of England’s more challenging drives, taking in mountain passes such as Hardknott and Honister. You’ll be rewarded with breath-taking views and plenty of pretty places to stop for refreshments along the way.
Day Eight – Depart for home
