Summer 2011 York, Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District Discovery Tour

Day 1 - June 27th, 2011 - Arrive Manchester International Airport. Our first stop in North England is at
Haworth where we will have Afternoon Tea before a visit to the Bronte Parsonage Museum, home from 1820-1861
to novelists Charlotte, Emily and Anne. This evening we will have a Welcoming Dinner to kick off the tour.
Overnight Haworth. (L,D)

Day 2 - Following breakfast we take a short drive to Skipton Castle, over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the
most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England. We will explore every corner of this impressive history-rich
castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War. We will view the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the
Bedchamber and Privy and climb from the depths of the Dungeon to the top storey of the Watch Tower. Next we stop in
Kirkby Lonsdale for Lunch before continuing to Sizergh Castle and Gardens. Home of the Strickland family for
over 750 years, Sizergh is a romantic fortified mansion that contains some of the finest Elizabethan carved overmantels in
the country. We continue on to Ambleside in the Lake District. Ambleside is a lovely village nestled alongside the
shores of Lake Windermere. Dinner and Overnight Ambleside. (B,L,D)

Day 3 - This morning we visit Rydal Mount and Gardens, the famous home of William Wordsworth. With the
breathtaking views of the lakes you can understand why he loved to write here. This was Wordsworth's best loved family
home for the greater part of his life from 1813 to his death in 1850 at the age of 80. We next visit Dove Cottage, the home
of William Wordsworth from December 1799 to May 1808, the years of his supreme work as a poet. The cottage used to be
an inn called the Dove and Olive and many of the building's distinctive features date from this time with white-washed
walls, flagstone floors and dark, wood panelling. We then drive to Cockermouth and Wordsworth House where
William Wordsworth was born on 7 April 1770 in a fine Georgian house. His father John was estate agent to Sir James
Lowther, who owned the house. The garden at the back, with the River Derwent flowing past, was a place of magic and
adventure for the young William. Dinner on your own in Ambleside. Overnight Ambleside. (B,L)

Day 4 - Next stop is the Beatrix Potter Gallery at Hawkshead where you can see the original artwork for her books.
The gallery was once the office of her husband William Heelis. Inside you will find that the interior remains virtually
unaltered since his day. Within the gallery you will find displays of her original drawings and information about the life of
Beatrix Potter as an artist, author, farmer and the involvement in the conversation movement. We will Lunch in
Hawkshead before to Beatrix's home at Hill Top. It is kept exactly as she left and complete with treasured furniture and
china. You will feel as if you stepped into her books! Full of her favourite things, the house appears as if Beatrix had just
stepped out for a walk. Every room contains a reference to a picture in a 'tale'. The lovely cottage garden is a haphazard mix
of flowers, herbs, fruit and vegetables. Dinner and Overnight Ambleside. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - This morning we head north to Keswick driving through some of the most beautiful lakelands you will ever see!
Just outside of Keswick, we find the Castlerigg Stone Circle, one of the most visually impressive prehistoric
monuments in Britain, and is the most visited stone circle in the north of England. Then we make our way to Pooley
Bridge to board an Ullswater Steamer which is the perfect way to enjoy England's most beautiful lake. We will take the
little over an hour journey with a stop at Howtown and then depart at Grassington. After our steamer trip, we will have a
lovely garden Afternoon Tea. We then make our way to just outside of Kirkby Stephen to a lovely wee castle wher we
spend the night. Dinner and Overnight near Kirkby Stephen. (B,L,D)

Day 6 - While at Kirkby Stephen we will view the Loki Stone, a symbol of an 8th Century Norse God, which is one of only
two such stones in the whole of Europe. We now head south over the winding roads and hills that make up James
Herriot's Yorkshire Dales. We will stop at the village of Appleby before continuing on to Wensleydale Creamery
at Hawes in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The creamery incorporates a museum, viewing
gallery, specialist cheese shop and fully licensed restaurant. We will go on the Cheese Experience Tour while here. This
afternoon we visit Bolton Castle, a spectacular mediaeval fortress, situated in the heart of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales,
on the boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Built in 1399, the castle is famous for having been the prison of
Mary Queen of Scots for 6 months. Pub Dinner and Overnight near Richmond. (B,D)

Day 7 - This morning we drive to Barnard Castle and to the Bowes Museum. The Bowes Museum is a hidden treasure,
a jewel in the heart of beautiful Teesdale. The magnificent building stands proud in the historic market town of Barnard
Castle housing internationally significant collections of fine and decorative arts. We then continue on to Reeth where we
visit the Swaledale Folk Museum, a treasure house of over 500 objects connected with life and work in the dale. We'll
Take Tea at the Copper Kettle before we drive way up on the hillside to get some of the most spectacularly panoramic
views of you will ever see! This afternoon finds us in the Historic Market Town of Richmond. Afternoon and
evening Free to visit The Market and shops of this delightful North Yorkshire town. Overnight near
Richmond. (B,L)

Day 8 - Todays journey takes us to Thirsk which is the Darrowby of James Herriot's Novels. On the way we stop at
Mount Grace Priory, tranquil ruins of a late 14th Century Carthusian Monastery, the most important in England.
The individual cells reflect the hermit-like isolation of the monks and gives great insight into their day to day lives. We then
take a beautiful drive up hill and over dale as we make our way to Rievaulx Abbey which is perhaps the finest abbey in
the area. It was founded by the French Cistercian Monks in 1132 and sits in a dramatic woodland valley. Our next stop
of the day is the picturesque market town of Helmsley. We will take Afternoon Tea at the 15th century Black
Swan Hotel before some time to investigate the town which is well know for its many second hand book stores. We then
continue on to our destination of Thirsk. Dinner on your own in Thirsk. (B,L)

Day 9 - Today we visit Skeldale House at 23 Kirkgate, the actual residence and surgery in James Herriot's Darrowby
which now houses The World of James Herriot Museum. The museum encompasses the very essence of the world
renowned vet James Herrio. It offers visitors an unforgettable interactive experience of the life and times of a man, who
became a national celebrity after the airing of the BBC drama "All Creatures Great and Small". This afternoon we take
in the Cathedral City of Ripon and the 800 year old cathedral built over a 7th century Saxon crypt. We will lunch at
Morgans Tearoom before a journey to the wooded valley of the River Skell where we find Britain's largest monastic ruin
of Fountains Abbey and the outstanding Water Garden of Studley Royal established in 1132. Yorkshire’s
first World Heritage Site is a huge estate of beauty, contrasts and surprises including the abbey ruins and one of England’s
most spectacular Georgian water gardens. We return to Thirsk for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Thirsk. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Today we head east to Pickering where board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to the seaside town of
Whitby. The railway provides some 18 miles of preserved steam railway running through the spectacular scenery of the
North Yorkshire Moors. We'll pass through Goathland Station better known as Hogsmeade in Harry Potter
and The Philosopher's Stone. Once we reach the lovely seaside village of Whitby you will want to stop for Fish and
Chips and Ice Cream before exploring this delightful village and its esplanade. You may even want to take one of the
many boat rides around the harbour. Dinner and Overnight Thirsk. (B,D)

Day 11 - This morning we start our journey to York first stopping at Castle Howard, one of the major house's of Britain
and immortalised in the TV series Brideshead Revisited. This magnificent mansion is set in a dramatic location between
two lakes and surrounded by beautiful gardens. Our next stop is the lovely market town of Malton where you will find an
abundance of hat shops, shoe shops, pubs and St. Mary's Priory. Tea at the Hidden Monkey in Malton before we
continue on to York where the city has retained so much of its medieval structure that walking into its center is like
entering a living museum! The first Roman City was built in AD 71. Theatre Outing and Dinner in York.
Overnight York. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - Today we are off to Harrogate, which at the turn of the 20th century was the north's leading spa town, with
nearly 90 medicinal springs. Today it is a lovely town of fine architecture and public gardens. We'll visit the Royal Pump
Room Museum as well as Betty's Café Tea Rooms for Afternoon Tea. After tea we are off to Ripley with its
cobbled market square and quaint cottages. We'll visit the Castle and Gardens of Ripley. In 2009 the Ingilby family
celebrated 700 years at Ripley Castle. For any family to occupy the same house for 700 years is truly remarkable. All those
letters, deeds and documents that tend to get lost, damaged or thrown away when you move from one house to another
have survived, and give a unique record of the family's history, their births, marriages and deaths, their trials and their
tribulations, during the course of the last seven centuries. We then return to York where you will have the evening free
for dinner. Overnight York. (B,L)

Day 13 - After breakfast in York you will take in the sites of the city aboard and Open Top Bus before we take a Guided
City Walls Tour. The rest of the day is free to explore. You will want to visit the 534 foot long York Minster, The
Shambles, Jorvik Viking Centre and possibly the National Railway Museum. Tonight following dinner, we board
a boat for a Floodlit Evening Cruise on the River. Powerful on board floodlights will help illuminate landmarks along
the water's edge, as you listen to a mix of captain's commentary and relaxing music and enjoy a drink or two from the bar.
Dinner and Overnight York. (B,D)

Day 14 - This morning we are off to the Leeds/Bradford International Airport for our journey home.

Scottish Dream Tours Presents
York, Yorkshire Dales and the
Lake District
featuring Castles, Pubs and Tearooms
June 27th - July 10th, 2011

Bronte Parsonage Museum, Skipton Castle, Sizergh Castle, Ambleside, Rydal
Mount and Gardens, Dove Cottage, Wordsworth House, Beatrix Potter Gallery
and Hill Top, Castlerigg Stone Circle, Ullswater Steamer, Wensleydale Cheese
Museum, Bolton Castle, Swaledale Folk Museum, Mt. Grace Priory, Fountains
Abbey and Studley Royal, Rievaulx Abbey, Castle Howard, North Yorkshire
Moors Railway, York and much more!

A small intimate tour of York, the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District
featuring Ambleside, Lake Windermere, Lake Ullswater, Thirsk, Whitby and
York. Our tearoom tours are always so much more - filled with castles,
historic sights and entertainment of all kinds. Tea is a way of life in Great
Britain with more tearooms than any other place on earth. And you have to
eat someplace anyway, so we try to incorporate as many of these tearooms
into our tours as possible. Each tour is designed to accommodate only 8 - 10
people for a more personal experience and to allow you to get the most of
your holiday. Keeping the tour size small gives us the opportunity to veer
from the beaten path and take advantage of accommodations, restaurants and
sightseeing that would not be available to larger groups. You may find
yourself staying in a delightful city guesthouse, a small country
house hotel, a comfortable farmhouse and an old coaching Inn all in the same
visit. You will not be rushed from venue to venue and we
spend as little time on the bus as possible.

Tour includes all accommodation in 3 or 4 star British Tourist Board
Approved accommodations. Full English breakfast each morning. All lunches
and dinners as listed in itinerary. Porterage of one suitcase per person.
Minibus travel including tour guide. Knowledgeable guide for all tourist
venues. All sightseeing as indicated in itinerary including any entrance fees.
All taxes and service charges.

$4395US per person double.
$795US per person single supplement.
$500 per person deposit required to book your tour.

Deposit By PayPal