Explore Yorkshire by Rail

Our Yorkshire adventure begins at the edge of the Yorkshire Dales in Harrogate, an attractive Victorian spa town with a 200-year tradition of providing restorative treatments. Popular among wealthy Victorians seeking both health benefits and luxury, Harrogate still offers Turkish Bath sessions at the Royal Bath House. Even if you don't opt for a treatment, the main attraction is the experience of visiting the baths and exploring the various heated rooms. The town has a traditional theatre, a variety of music venues and hosts several national and international events at its Convention Centre, not far from our hotel.

We meet our Tour Manager and the rest of our group at our central hotel, with time to look around the neighbourhood before we gather for dinner this evening.

• Dinner

This morning, our coach takes us to Whitby, one of the county's most popular seaside resorts. Crowned by its brooding Abbey ruins, Whitby inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula, and is known for its unique jet jewellery. With time at leisure, you could visit the historic Benedictine Abbey, found at the top of 199 steps on the east cliff. For panoramic views, head to St Mary's Church or stroll along the wide sandy beach and wooden pier.

Whitby is also renowned for its excellent fish and chip restaurants, which you could enjoy before joining the nostalgic North Yorkshire Moors Railway*. Travel in style on the restored heritage train and relax as views of heather-strewn moorland pass by. The scenic route follows the course of the Esk Valley, chugging by stunning countryside, quaint villages, and the timeless landscapes of the North Yorkshire Moors.

Along the way, you pass through delightful stations like Goathland, famous for its appearance as 'Hogsmeade Station' in the Harry Potter films. Our journey ends at Pickering where our coach transfers us back to our hotel in time for dinner.

*Some departures on this journey will be operated by diesel

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today is yours to enjoy at your own pace. You could take the train to the famous walled city of York, with its magnificent York Minster. Here you could visit the medieval alleyway called The Shambles, walk along the City Walls, or sail down the River Ouse on a boat trip. The quaint town of Knaresborough is also easy to reach by train. Here you can walk up to the castle or explore Knaresborough's unique folk heritage on a visit to Mother Shipton's Cave.

Staying in Harrogate, The Harrogate Royal Pump Room Museum records the town's past as a popular spa destination. In the Montpellier Quarter, shops, galleries, and restaurants are housed in grand Victorian buildings. Harrogate is also known for its gardens, the finest of which is RHS Harlow Carr, on the outskirts of town with botanical gardens and scenic walking trails. Each town offers an inviting range of eateries, from relaxed pubs to upmarket restaurants.

• Breakfast

We travel by coach to Ingrow today for a journey on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway*. After visiting the engine's shed, we board the train. This acclaimed 5-mile trip takes us up the Worth Valley to Oxenhope, passing the scenery from the much-loved classic 1970 film 'The Railway Children'. On-train commentary reveals the history of the railway as we ride.

Our coach takes us up to the village of Haworth, which is tucked away in the remote Pennine Hills. It was here, amid the isolated landscape of the Moors, that the Brontë sisters lived and wrote some of their most famous works during the 19th century.

We visit the Brontë Parsonage Museum, the sisters' former home, on a self-guided tour. You are free to explore at your own pace and wander the rooms which are now filled with a collection of artefacts, manuscripts, and personal belongings. Haworth also has a range of independent shops, quaint tea rooms, and traditional pubs which you might like to experience.

The coach takes us back to our hotel where we enjoy dinner on this last evening of our Yorkshire getaway.

*Some departures on this journey will be operated by diesel

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast this morning, it's time to say goodbye to your Tour Manager and fellow travellers before heading home. Before you do, you might like to visit one of the town's parks, such as the central Valley Gardens or 'The Stray', or step into Betty's Tea Room for tea and a 'Fat Rascal', a large scone studded with almonds and glacé cherries.

As you head homewards, the special memories of this holiday in Yorkshire are sure to remain with you - from the handsome Victorian streets of Harrogate and the cobbled lanes of Haworth, to the wonderful scenery of the vast Yorkshire Moors.

• Breakfast