Begin your private tour with a pickup from your chosen location in York. Settle into your seat and relax as you head out to North York Moors National Park, one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom.
Your first stop, around half an hour from York, is majestic Castle Howard. Explore the house and gardens either independently or with the knowledgeable Castle Howard guides. The magnificent 18th-century residence, the setting for Brideshead Revisited, rests within 1,000 acres of breathtaking landscape amid the Howardian Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the heart of North Yorkshire.
From here, it’s another half hour or so to the ancient market town of Pickering, where you’ll have time at leisure. Perhaps pop into one of the local tea rooms or country pubs for lunch (own expense), or visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Station, where you may see a steam train coming through.
Entering the national park, your first stop is Goathland, 20 minutes or so from Pickering, which was once the setting of the English TV drama, Heartbeat. You’ll likely recognize the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Station here from its role as Hogsmeade Station in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (released in the UK as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).
Traveling deeper into the heart of the park, you’ll pass charming villages such as Egton before stopping at Beggar’s Bridge, around 20 minutes from Goathland. Spend a few moments snapping photos of the ancient stone arch as you hear the romantic story of a forbidden love that dates back to the time of the Spanish Armada.
Hop back aboard the mini-coach for an especially scenic half-hour drive through beautiful heather moorlands: watch out for grouse and other native wildlife. You will stop along the route to enjoy the fresh moorland air and to capture the panoramic views of the the iconic Landscape.
From here it’s just a 10-minute drive to the postcard-perfect village of Hutton-le-Hole, where sheep graze freely. You’ll have time to capture pictures here before the 15-minute drive to your last stop of the day, Helmsley.
Enjoy free time to explore the bustling market square or wander the dramatic castle ruins, then return to the mini-coach. It’s a little under an hour’s drive back to York, and you’ll return back to where you started.
