Yorkshire Dales: Bolton Castle, Hawes & Sweet Shop Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.92 (224 reviews) 94% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/9

Duration8h 15m

GroupUp to 16

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Winding through yorkshire dales villages cheese tastings castle tea stops and old sweet shops

You’ll wind through Yorkshire Dales on a small-group day trip from York—exploring medieval Bolton Castle, sampling cheese at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, wandering storybook villages like Kettlewell, and finishing with sweets from Pateley Bridge’s famous shop. Expect friendly guides, local flavors, and views you’ll remember long after you’re home.

8h 15m

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Yorkshire Dales and local villages

Visit Bolton Castle and Tea Room
Drive through Askrigg village
Spend time in Hawes Market Town
Photo stops in Yorkshire Dales villages
Explore Kettlewell village
Pass Kilnsey Crag and Grassington
Stop at Pateley Bridge sweet shop
Return to York

The Experience

You know that feeling when you open your eyes and everything’s just a bit greener than you expected? That’s how it started for me, rolling out of York with our little group—windows down, air smelling faintly of rain and sheep (in a good way). Our guide, Dave, had this habit of pausing mid-story to point out dry stone walls or a fox darting by. First stop was Bolton Castle—somehow both crumbling and proud at the same time. I wandered the chilly halls thinking about Mary Queen of Scots stuck here centuries ago. The tea room smelled like toasted scones and old books. I’m not sure what was more comforting—the warmth or the view over Wensleydale.

We zigzagged through Askrigg next (I didn’t realize it was “Darrowby” from All Creatures Great and Small until Dave grinned at my blank face). By Hawes, I was hungry—luckily, there’s Wensleydale Creamery right there. Free samples—yes please. The cheese is so creamy it almost squeaks between your teeth. I tried to chat with one of the cheesemakers but mostly just nodded along because his Yorkshire accent is thick as clotted cream. Lunch was pie from a bakery that looked older than my grandma’s house.

After that we drifted through more villages—Kettlewell (Calendar Girls territory), Grassington, all these places with names that sound like they belong in storybooks. In Kettlewell I sat outside a pub with locals who debated loudly about cricket scores while a dog snored under my chair. Last stop was Pateley Bridge and its ancient sweet shop—I bought liquorice twists that stuck my teeth together for half an hour. The ride back to York felt quieter somehow; maybe everyone was full or just letting it all sink in. There’s something about those rolling hills that stays with you longer than you expect.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off near York Minster, travel by comfy 16-seat mini-coach with air-con and WiFi, live commentary from your driver-guide, regular stops for photos or refreshments (and toilets), plus complimentary cheese tasting at Wensleydale Creamery before heading back to York as dusk settles over those green hills.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearby

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