Itinerary
DAY 1 - After you join your holiday coach, you head north of the border with suitable refreshment stops en-route. Check into the 3* Gretna Hall Hotel in Gretna Green for 2 nights with a welcome tea/coffee on arrival. Gretna Green is famous for marriages with around 5,000 couples tying the knot there each year. DBB
DAY 2 - Head north to the majestic Drumlanrig Castle, set in the 120,000 acre Queensberry Estate, complete with a country park and Victorian gardens. Known as the 'Pink Palace' due to its fine pink sandstone exterior, this 17th century castle is one of the most important Renaissance buildings in the country and is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. Explore the magnificent rooms and spectacular collections of silver, porcelain, French furniture and art with an included guided tour. Return to Gretna Green via the pretty Moffat, a historic spa town in the Annandale Valley. Moffat’s wide, tree-lined high street retains many of its original characteristics and the town has strong connections with both the Moffat and Johnstone clans. There are many independent shops and places to stop for a coffee or a snack and you may like to purchase some traditional Moffat Toffee when you are there.
DAY 3 - Check out of the hotel after breakfast for the short coach transfer to Carlisle where you will board a morning departure on the famous Carlisle to Settle Railway. On the scenic two-hour journey, you will travel through 72 miles of unspoilt countryside enjoying the breathtaking scenery through Cumbrian fells and the Pennines, over the magnificent Ribblehead Viaduct , through long tunnels, passed remote station buildings and into the Yorkshire Dales. Descend the Stainforth Gorge to arrive in Settle to re-join the coach for a stop in 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. Continue by coach to the pretty spa town of Ilkley to check in for the next 2 nights at 3* Best Western Plus Craiglands Hotel. Welcome drink and porterage on arrival. DBB
DAY 4 - Embark on a circular scenic drive this morning taking in some of West Yorkshire's most famous and picturesque villages. Make a stop in the beguiling town of Hebden Bridge, known for its arty and creative identity. If its winding streets look familiar, it is because this quirky and charismatic town has caught the eye of many a TV and film director, propelling it to star status. Some of the films and shows made here include Sharpe, Swallows & Amazons and of course, Happy Valley. Onto charming Haworth, surrounded by wild and atmospheric moorland, where its quaint cobbled main street lined by pretty independent stores makes you feel as though you have stepped back in time. Home to the Bronte 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 loving restored, to its terminus in Keighley. Return to the hotel with some free time to explore pretty Ilkely this afternoon.
DAY 5 - After breakfast, head back homewards with ample stops for coffee and refreshments. Continue back to the local joining points via the fast motorway network arriving back mid/late evening.
NB KWVR journey may be by steam or 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