Yorkshire Dales Day Trip from York: Bolton Castle & Wensleydale

Bolton Castle housed Mary Queen of Scots, and you can stand where she did.

This day trip from York explores the Yorkshire Dales National Park on a guided mini coach tour limited to 16 people, stopping at Bolton Castle, the market town of Hawes, Kettlewell (the Calendar Girls filming location), and Pateley Bridge. The tour includes a guide who provides live commentary throughout the day, pickup and drop-off near York Minster, and a one-and-a-half-hour stop in Hawes where you can sample complimentary handcrafted cheeses at the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre. The route passes through villages featured in the James Herriot television series and takes in photo stops along the River Wharfe and through Nidderdale.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Bolton Castle45m
2. Wensleydale Creamery1h 30m

Explore Yorkshire Dales and Villages

• Visit Bolton Castle and enjoy views
• Travel through Askrigg filming location
• Spend time in Hawes and sample cheese
• Photo stops in Yorkshire Dales villages
• Explore Kettlewell village and relax
• Pass Kilnsey Crag and Grassington
• Stop at Pateley Bridge and visit sweet shop
• Return to York

The experience

Bolton Castle opens the day: a 14th-century fortress where Mary Queen of Scots was once held, standing on a ridge above Wensleydale with views across the valley. You can photograph from the grounds, learn the history from your guide, or sit in the medieval castle's tea room with a Yorkshire brew. The choice is yours, and the guide moves at the pace of the group rather than a fixed schedule.

The route then winds through Askrigg, the fictional village of Darrowby from the James Herriot All Creatures Great and Small television series, before reaching Hawes: the highest market town in England. You have an hour and a half here to explore the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre and taste the award-winning handcrafted cheeses (included), grab lunch, visit the Dales Countryside Museum, or wander the shops and cafes. The tour passes through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park along the River Wharfe, stopping for photographs at the villages and crags that line the route.

Kettlewell comes next, made internationally famous as the main filming location for Calendar Girls in 2003. You can walk the village and learn the true story behind the film, or sit in a local pub with a coffee. On the return to York, the route passes Kilnsey Crag and Grassington, then stops briefly in Pateley Bridge (a winner in the Great British High Street Competition), where The Oldest Sweet Shop in the World (a 2014 Guinness World Record holder) sits on the high street if you want to visit. The mini coach has air conditioning and WiFi, with regular stops for photos, refreshments and toilets throughout the eight-hour day.

What’s included

• Comfortable 16-seat mini coach with air conditioning and WiFi.
• live guide providing commentary throughout the day.
• pickup and drop-off at a centrally located meeting point near York Minster.
• complimentary handcrafted cheese tastings at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.
• regular stops for photographs, refreshments and toilets.

Before you book

Days and timesWednesday and ThursdayDeparts at 09:00Last departure this season: 25 Nov

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (16 and older) · Child (5 to 15 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPublic transport nearby

Operated by Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours (formally BOBH)

Is this one for you?The eight-hour day leaves room for a leisurely pace at each stop (an hour and a half in Hawes, time to explore Kettlewell and Pateley Bridge, photo stops along the river), so you are not rushing between villages or watching the clock at any single place. If you want to move through the Dales without driving yourself or planning the route, the small-group format and fixed itinerary handle both.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 15 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is Bolton Castle and why is it on this tour?

Bolton Castle is a 14th-century fortress that once imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots, standing on a ridge above Wensleydale with views across the valley. It is the first stop on the tour, where you can photograph the landscape, learn the history from your guide, or relax in the medieval tea room.

How long do you spend in Hawes and what can you do there?

You have one and a half hours in Hawes, the highest market town in England. The Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre offers complimentary handcrafted cheese tastings, and you can also visit the Dales Countryside Museum, grab lunch, or explore the town's shops and cafes.

What is Kettlewell known for?

Kettlewell became internationally famous in 2003 as the main filming location for the Calendar Girls movie. The tour stops there so you can explore the village and learn about the true story behind the film, or enjoy a drink in one of the local pubs and cafes.

Is there a guide on the tour, and what language do they speak?

Yes, a live guide provides commentary throughout the day in English and travels with the group on the mini coach, sharing information about the history and villages you pass through.

What is included in the tour price?

The tour includes transportation on a comfortable 16-seat mini coach with air conditioning and WiFi, the guide's live commentary, pickup and drop-off near York Minster, regular stops for photos and refreshments, and complimentary cheese tastings at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes. Entrance fees to attractions and meals are not included.