Whitby - Goathland and the North York Moors from York

Whitby - Goathland and the North York Moors from York

Enjoy a visit to Whitby and see the North York Moors in winter on this exclusive small-group tour from York. Travel through the beautiful Yorkshire countryside to the medieval market town of Helmsley, discover the idyllic village of Hutton-le-Hole and travel across the heart of the wild and rugged North York Moors National Park. Enjoy two hours in the fabulous seaside town of Whitby, famous for fish and chips as well as its association with Captain James Cook and Bram Stoker's Dracula. You'll also enjoy a stroll through the charming moorland village of Goathland, known as "Aidensfield" to Heartbeat fans and as "Hogsmeade" to Harry Potter fans, before returning across the Moors and through Pickering on the way back to York.

This exclusive small-group tour has only 8 passengers per group, so you'll be guaranteed a truly personalised tour of Yorkshire with a native, born and bred Yorkshireman. You'll meet your Yorkshire guide at 8:45am in the heart of York, close to York Minster, and hop into your climate-controlled minivan for the day's excursion across the North Yorkshire countryside.

The tour begins with a drive to the market town of Helmsley, pausing on the way to admire the ruins of Byland Abbey. In Helmsley you can enjoy 45 minutes to explore at leisure, taking the chance to wander through the charming streets or to enjoy tea or coffee in a local cafe or tearoom. The tour then continues up to the idyllic stone village of Hutton-le-Hole, where you'll have time for a short stroll across the village before travelling through the heart of the North York Moors National Park, learning about the amazing history, wildlife and culture of the region and enjoying a scenic photo stop along the way.

Your destination on the far side of the Moors is the seaside town of Whitby, where you'll have two hours at leisure to explore at your own pace. You can discover the famous cliff-top Abbey, enjoy a fish-and-chips lunch, explore the cobbled streets, historic cottages, and beautiful beach, or shop for Whitby jet.

From Whitby, you'll return through the North York Moors as you travel through Sleights and onto the village of Goathland, nestled at the bottom of a wide valley surrounded by the heather-clad hills of the North York Moors. Fans of Heartbeat, the long-running ITV drama series, will recognize this as Aidensfield: you'll have chance to visit the Aidensfield Arms, pop into Aidensfield Stores and Post Office, and see what's happening at Scripps Garage. Love Harry Potter? Don't miss the chance to capture pictures at Goathland station, which did duty as Hogsmeade Station for the filming of the Harry Potter movies.

The return journey to York offers the chance to see the ancient wall paintings in Pickering's Church of St Peter & St Paul. The tour concludes back in York city centre, in time to attend Evensong at York Minster.