Pennine Explorer - Rail & Sail

Itinerary

Pennine Explorer

DAY 1 - After joining your holiday coach, you travel north to Yorkshire to check into your hotel for your 4 night stay. Welcome drink on arrival DBB

DAY 2 - 4 At leisure in Yorkshire with three included excursions. 

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Vintage Rail, Otley & Ilkley (June Tour)
Off to Embsay today for a ride back in time behind a vintage locomotive of the Embsay & Bolton Steam Railway. Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and enjoy a unique view of some of Yorkshire's finest countryside on a round trip via Bolton Abbey where you have a short stop whilst the locomotive is turned around. Continue by coach to pretty riverside Otley in the Lower Wharfe Valley and wander the quaint cobbled streets, take a riverside stroll or browse the independent shops, full of vintage books, antiques, unique gifts, art and jewellery. Perhaps sample an award-winning pork pie with real ale in one of the many historic pubs.

Return to picturesque Ilkley for some time to explore the town, a great little place to relax and treat yourself. There are excellent restaurants and independent shops. Maybe enjoy afternoon tea at the famous Bettys Cafe and Tea Rooms or take a stroll in Riverside Gardens, alongside the River Wharfe, a lovely park in which to spend some time. 

Vintage Rail, Haworth and Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (September Tour)
Off to Embsay today for a ride back in time behind a vintage locomotive of the Embsay & Bolton Steam Railway. Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and enjoy a unique view of some of Yorkshire's finest countryside on a round trip via Bolton Abbey where you have a short stop whilst the locomotive is turned around.

Continue to lovely Haworth, a picturesque village surrounded by dramatic moorland and a haven for independent businesses, art galleries, boutiques and then an array of places to eat and drink. Spend your time browsing up and down the cobbled Main Street.  Home to the Brontë sisters, Haworth village is where Wuthering Heights characters Cathy and Heathcliff were born and where Jane Eyre came to life.

Enjoy a one-way journey on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, a heritage railway lovingly restored to its terminus in Keighley.

Grassington, Skipton & Canal Cruise (Both Tours)
Grassington is a small market town on the River Wharfe in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales and was the fictional market town of Darrowby during the filming of Channel 5's 'All Creatures Great and Small'.  A short walk from the centre, you'll find the Grassington National Park Visitor Centre. After time at leisure, re-board the coach and it's off to Skipton - the charming Dales town with immense history, a rich culture, independent shops, food & drink places galore, an iconic castle, stunning countryside and, perhaps most of all, friendly, fiercely proud and passionate Yorkshire people. Enjoy an included trip aboard a narrow boat on the Leeds to Liverpool Canal to gain an insight into the town's central role in the busy waterways of the industrial revolution. 

Wensleydale Railway & Ripon (June Tour)
Today, you head to Leeming Bar for an included rail journey through spectacular scenery on the Wensleydale Railway. The heritage diesel train service takes you to Leyburn, the terminus of the line, where you will have time to explore the station as well as the town itself. Historic Leyburn, on the northern bank of the River Ure, is the main market town of mid Wensleydale and is a haven for antique hunters and art lovers who will find several galleries featuring works by local artists. In amongst the historic streets and the attractive main square there are several pubs, cafés and tearooms for a restorative break. 

Last stop of the day is Ripon, a real Yorkshire gem, steeped in history, with undeniable heritage, tradition, character and community. Located between the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors, Ripon is brimming with things to discover. It offers a great selection of independent shops, high street names, vintage shops, artisan bakeries, high street and independent fashion retailers and an award-winning independent book shop. The magnificent 7th-century cathedral is located a short stroll from the market square and has been a centre of inspiration and wonder for 1350 years, ever since its consecration by St Wilfrid in 672AD. An afternoon guided tour of the cathedral will show you the full peace and beauty of this awe-inspiring place. There are several excellent museums, all located in the city centre and all within minutes of each other. You may like to walk in the footsteps of the Victorian poor at the Workhouse Museum on Allhallowgate (approx. £11 pp entrance in 2025)

Otley & Ripon (September Tour)
Today, you head to pretty riverside town of Otley in the Lower Wharfe Valley where you can wander the quaint cobbled streets, take a riverside stroll or browse the independent shops, full of vintage books, antiques, unique gifts, art and jewellery. Perhaps sample an award-winning pork pie with real ale in one of the many historic pubs.

Continue to Ripon, a real Yorkshire gem, steeped in history, with undeniable heritage, tradition, character and community. Located between the Yorkshire Dales and the North Yorkshire Moors, Ripon is brimming with things to discover. It offers a great selection of independent shops, high street names, vintage shops, artisan bakeries, high street and independent fashion retailers and an award-winning independent book shop. The magnificent 7th-century cathedral is located a short stroll from the market square and has been a centre of inspiration and wonder for 1350 years, ever since its consecration by St Wilfrid in 672AD.  An afternoon guided tour of the cathedral will show you the full peace and beauty of this awe-inspiring place. There are several excellent museums, all located in the city centre and all within minutes of each other. You may like to walk in the footsteps of the Victorian poor at the Workhouse Museum on Allhallowgate (approx. £11 pp entrance in 2025)

DAY 5 - After breakfast, bid farewell to Yorkshire as you head south to interchange and onward to your home towns

NBRailway journey may be by steam of diesel and timetables are subject to change. Please be advised that this itinerary has been planned well ahead of the holiday season in 2025 and there could be changes to train timetables and operations

Tour Highlights

• Hotel for 4 nights with breakfast & dinner
• Welcome drink & porterage
• Ride on Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway 
• Skipton Canal Cruise
• Ride on Wensleydale Railway (June tour only)
• Ride on Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (September tour only)
• Visits to Skipton, Grassington, Otley &, Ripon 
• Visit to Ilkley (June tour only) 
• Guided tour of Ripon Cathedral

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Accommodation

Your Hotel 3 Star

Best Western Plus Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley
This charming 3* hotel has been welcoming people from around the world for more than 150 years. Timeless in appearance yet full of the mod cons you need for a wonderful stay, this grand Victorian hotel remains the ideal place for a relaxing break, combining comfort and excellent facilities in 6 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and woodland. Comfortable guest rooms offer free WIFI, TV and tea / coffee making facilities. Singles are small doubles for sole use. There is a lift to all floors, restaurant and bar.

NB The hotel has introduced a Go Green Initiative which means guestrooms are serviced every other day. Should you require require additional room servicing or amenities during your stay, please contact reception Back to top