From York: Private Fountains Abbey & Yorkshire Dales｜United Kingdom

Begin your journey in York and head to the famous Yorkshire Dales. Make your way to Masham (pronounced ‘Mass’em’) for a morning stop. Located in Lower Wensleydale, it’s famous for its family-run breweries and annual sheep fair. Masham has a local market that started over 762 years ago, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays throughout the year.

Travel further into the Dales and reach Middleham, nestled between two rivers. Stop to view the magnificent castle, once home to a young Richard III and the largest castle keep in the North of England. Its royal heritage once earned it the title of the ‘Windsor of the North’.

Step into a landscape where history and nature blend seamlessly at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden. The dramatic ruins of the medieval abbey rise against a backdrop of rolling greenery, their weathered stone telling stories of centuries past. As you wander through the grounds, the scene shifts into the elegance of the Georgian water garden, where carefully designed lakes, canals, and ornamental features reflect both sky and foliage in perfect harmony.

Continue to Castle Bolton, one of the country’s best-preserved medieval castles. Originally built by Sir Richard Le Scrope to rival the finest and most luxurious homes in the land, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating history, including involvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, Mary Queen of Scot’s imprisonment, and a Civil War siege.

Arrive at Aysgarth Falls and have the chance to view the famous waterfalls of the River Ure, which drops over three major falls in less than one mile. The falls were the setting for a famous scene in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves.

Make an afternoon stop in Grassington. Picture a bustling cobbled market square, fringed by shops offering local foods, specialty gifts, and arts and crafts. Travel back through Nidderdale, an area of outstanding beauty. Enjoy views across Yorkshire as you drop back down into the plains and return to your starting location.