Day 1 | Edinburgh

Arrive Edinburgh. Transfer to your hotel is included. You are free to enjoy this beautiful city on your own. (Please note: hotel check-in is generally between 2 pm and 4 pm. If you are arriving into Edinburgh early - the hotel will be happy to hold your luggage until your room is ready)

Day 2 | York

Make your own way to Edinburgh Bus Station at St. Andrews Square, where the tour departs Edinburgh at 9:15 am. (Please arrive 15 minutes prior to tour start). Our tour starts by hugging the magnificent East Lothian coastline as we travel towards the walled border town of Berwick-upon-Tweed. After stopping to admire the fortifications, you continue to Bamburgh Castle. This immsense seaside fortress has stood guard over the Northumberland coastline for over 1400 years and is one of the largest inhabited castles in the country.  Leaving Bamburgh behind, we travel towards the City of York on the Great North Road, a route that has carried countless Roman Legions between the remote Northern outposts and the more populous settlements of Roman Britannia. In late afternoon, we arrive in York, your base for the next two (2) nights.

Day 3 | York

Today is a leisurely day that gives you the flexibility to spend time exploring the medieval heart of York, an ancient city whose rich history goes back to the time of the Romans, Vikings, and the Normans. There's much to see and do: you can visit a chocolate museum, find out about the Vikings, or even just stroll around the ancient walls. Alternatively, you can journey out with your guide on a half-day excursion to the magnificent North York Moors National Park. Your next stop is Whitby, a bustling fishing port and inspiration for the imagination of Bram Stoker, who stayed here in a hotel while writing his famous novel Dracula. After lunch and free time in Whitby, you travel to the fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay*.  They doubt if the real Robin Hood ever came here, but there are still plenty of smugglers tales dotted around this remarkable harbour village. You then return to York in the early evening. Whichever option you choose, you spend your evening enjoying the sights and sounds of York.

*The minicoach cannot access the main village because of local restrictions. The coach will drop us at the top of the village and we must walk down (and back up!) a steep hill to reach the old village center.

Day 4 | Keswick**

You will be collected from your accommodations and head west into the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Established in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales National Park has outstanding scenery, a range of wildlife habitats, and a rich cultural heritage. It’s a special place, a fantastic outdoor arena for recreation, peaceful relaxation, and a haven for wildlife. Continuing West, our route takes us through the Northern Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty that is the centre of the Dales cattle trade. Our final leg of today’s journey takes us high up into the remote hills of the Yorkshire Dales before descending into the lively market town of Keswick,** where you will be dropped off at your accommodations and are then free to explore this charming town.

(**During July this tour may stay in Windermere instead)

Day 5 | Keswick

After breakfast, you head a short distance out of town to the mysterious Castlerigg Standing Stones, thought by many to have been built over 5,000 years ago and the scene of ancient rituals. You then travel on to the shores of Ullswater, described as England’s most beautiful lake, where you can take a forest walk to see the mighty Aira Force waterfall. Continuing south over the narrow and winding Kirkstone Pass, you stop at Windermere, where you have the option to take a leisurely cruise on the Lake or simply eat lunch while enjoying views of the mountains and lakes. After lunch, you travel around the southern tip of Windermere and on towards the picturesque conservation village of Hawkeshead, where the poet William Wordsworth attended Grammar School. After free time to explore the village, you take the narrow country lanes north towards Grasmere, which Wordsworth described as “the loveliest spot that man hath found.” There is free time to visit Wordsworth’s Dove Cottage, taste the legendary gingerbread, or enjoy the peace and tranquility of the Wordsworth Daffodil Garden by the River Rothy. In the late afternoon, you return to Keswick.

Day 6 | Touring - Edinburgh

Leaving the Lakes behind us, we start our climb towards Hartside Pass, at over 1,900 ft - on a clear day the hills and mountains of Scotland and the English Lake District are clearly visible. We follow the route of the old sheep drovers road between England and Scotland. Stopping at Hadrian's Wall, built by Emperor Hadrian to keep the Scots out of the Roman Empire, there’s an opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurions who patrolled this desolate frontier of the Empire. Following the ancient Roman Dere Street, we cross the border into Scotland and continue on to the Border town of Jedburgh for refreshments by the ruins of Jedburgh Abbey. Our final stop is at the world-famous Scott’s View, with stunning views over the River Tweed and the Cheviot Hills that form the border between Scotland and England. Then, we continue north to Edinburgh, arrive around 7 pm. Make your way back to your pre-booked hotel.

Day 7 | Edinburgh - Home

After breakfast, transfer from your hotel to the Airport for your return flight to the US.