Uncover the best of northern England on this 5-day escorted tour from Edinburgh. Visit fortified Berwick-upon-Tweed and the imposing Bamburgh Castle. Spend two nights in York with time to explore independently and cross the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Enjoy an included cruise on Lake Windermere, visit Grasmere and take in Hadrian's Wall, which once kept the Scottish clans out of the Roman Empire.
Trip Highlights
Included
Not Included
Itinerary
Berwick-upon-Tweed & Bamburgh Castle
Edinburgh - Berwick-upon-Tweed- Bamburgh Castle - York. We head south from Edinburgh, following the East Lothian coastline to the walled town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, on the border between England and Scotland. Admire the fortifications before we continue to Bamburgh Castle, a 1,400-year old fortress standing over the Northumberland coastline. It's one of the largest inhabited castles in the UK. After our visit here, we continue to York, an ancient walled city known for its Roman and Viking history.
Please note: Check-in closes at 09:00 on day 1 (tour departs at 09:15) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
From 01 April 2025: Check-in closes at 08:45am on day 1 (tour departs at 09:00am) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Accommodation: Bishop & Bison, Wheatlands, Greenside B&B or similar
Overnight: York
York free time
Today you have a choice! You can spend the day independently roaming the city of York, home to a chequered history dating back to the Romans, Vikings and Normans. There are plenty of great museums and historic city walls to discover, as well as an array of cafes, bars and restaurants.
Alternatively, you can set out with our guide for a half-day trip across the North York Moors National Park. Visit Whitby and the fishing village of Robin Hood's Bay before returning to York for the evening.
Accommodation: Bishop & Bison, Wheatlands, Greenside B&B or similar
Overnight: York | Breakfast
The scenic Yorkshire Dales
York - Yorkshire Dales National Park - Keswick. Departing York and heading west, we journey into the vast expanse of the Yorkshire Dales, brimming with wildlife, excellent scenery and a rich cultural heritage. We also pass through the scenic Northern Dales, an area of outstanding natural beauty and rolling hills. Our destination is the market town of Keswick in the Lake District, surrounded by shimmering lakes and rugged peaks.
Accommodation: The Edwardene, Elm Tree Lodge, Seven Oaks Guest House or similar
Overnight: Keswick | Breakfast
Castlerigg, Windermere & Wordsworth
Keswick - Castlerigg - Windermere - Hawkshead - Grasmere - Keswick. On today's excursion, our first stop is the standing stone circle of Castelrigg. Dating back more than 5,000 years, it was believed to be the site of many strange and ancient rituals.
Our next visit is to Ullswater, one of the UK's prettiest lakes. We can enjoy a walk along the shore and take photos before reaching the Aira Force Waterfall, the most famous of the Lake District's cascades.
Heading over the Kirkstone Pass, we make a lunch stop at Windermere, on the shore of the UK's largest lake - there is time for an included lake cruise. We then head to Hawkshead, where renowned poet William Wordsworth went to school. After spending some time in this charming village, we navigate narrow country lanes to Grasmere, described by Wordsworth as “the loveliest spot that man hath found”. You can visit his home at Dove Cottage and the Daffodil Garden before we return to Keswick for the evening.
Accommodation: The Edwardene, Elm Tree Lodge, Seven Oaks Guest House or similar
Overnight: Keswick | Breakfast
Hadrian's Wall
Keswick - Hadrian's Wall - Edinburgh. Today we climb the Hartside Pass, enjoy unrivalled views of the Lake District and the rolling hills of Scotland from more than 1,900 feet. We then visit Hadrian's Wall, built by the Roman Emperor Hadrian to keep the marauding Scottish tribes out of the Roman Empire in 122 AD. Walk the same trails as Roman centurions many centuries ago and visit the Roman Army Museum.
We then cross into Scotland and stop for refreshments in Jedburgh, home to a magnificent ruined abbey. Our last stop is the viewpoint at Scott's View, from where you can gaze out over the River Tweed and Cheviot Hills, marking the border between England and Scotland. We then complete our drive to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh, where our tour comes to an end.
Please note: This tour ends at 19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Breakfast
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.
Hotels
The hotels listed below are ones which we frequently use on this tour. We reserve the right to substitute these hotels to ones of a similar standard.
Bishop & Bison, York
Housed in a redbrick Victorian townhouse on the A19, this bright B&B is just two blocks from Clifton Park and less than a mile from York city centre. The elegantly decorated rooms feature en suite showers or full bathtubs, along with free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, and DVD players.
The Edwardene B&B , Keswick
This charming hotel, housed in a Victorian Lakeland stone property, is situated on a residential street just two blocks from Keswick town centre. The 11 traditionally furnished guest rooms are equipped with en suite bath and/or shower rooms, tea and coffee making facilities, and TVs.
Prices & Dates
Departure dates are guaranteed with 2 travellers. 'Twin/Double' prices are per person when there are 2 people on the same booking sharing a room. 'Single' prices are applicable to solo travellers and anyone wanting the privacy of their own room.
At a Glance
