Yorkshire Dales Tour from York: Castle Bolton & Aysgarth Falls

Walk through villages and waterfalls without planning the route yourself

A full-day guided tour of Yorkshire Dales National Park departing from York, traveling by small coach with a driver-guide through limestone valleys, winding passes and traditional market towns. The tour includes entry to Bolton Castle, a tasting stop at Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes, visits to Aysgarth Falls and villages featured in All Creatures Great & Small, with on-board commentary and a designated lunch stop. Minimal walking is involved. Children from age 5 are welcome.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Aysgarth Falls10m
2. Bolton Castle1h · entry included

Explore Yorkshire Dales and landmarks

• Explore Grassington village
• Visit St Michael and All Angels Church
• Pass by Yockenthwaite Farm
• Visit Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes
• Discover Askrigg village
• Visit Aysgarth Falls
• Visit Bolton Castle and gardens

The experience

Bolton Castle anchors the day: a medieval fortress once held Mary Queen of Scots, and the gardens are included in your tour price. From there, the route moves through Wensleydale, stopping at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes to taste their award-winning cheese. The driver-guide handles the navigation through scenic passes and winding valleys while you watch limestone hills, dry stone walls and grazing sheep unfold from the coach window. Aysgarth Falls comes next, a series of waterfalls that give you a chance to step out and photograph the water against the Dales landscape.

The tour weaves through villages tied to the All Creatures Great & Small television series: Grassington (Darrowby), Askrigg (the original filming location), and Hubberholme, where St Michael and All Angels Church appears in the show. Yockenthwaite Farm, recognizable as Heston Grange in the series, sits in Upper Wharfedale surrounded by the scenery that made the Dales famous. You move between these stops by coach. The itinerary is built around minimal walking, so the day stays comfortable even if you prefer to stay seated most of the time.

The coach is small enough to navigate narrow Dales roads but carries enough passengers that you're not alone. A multilingual audio guide is available on board (bring your own headphones, no wifi is provided). There's a designated lunch stop where you can buy food, and toilet stops are planned into the route. The whole day runs roughly eight hours from York, which means you leave early and return with time to spare before evening.

What’s included

• Entry to Bolton Castle and its gardens.
• transport in a small mini-coach with a driver-guide speaking English.
• on-board multilingual audio guide (you provide your own headphones).
• a tasting stop at Wensleydale Creamery.
• visits to Grassington, Askrigg, Hubberholme Church, Yockenthwaite Farm, and Aysgarth Falls.
• a designated lunch stop and toilet stops on route.
• access code for the Mountain Goat App.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (17 and older) · Child (5 to 16 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 16

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese

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 today

Good to know

Low physical effortPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Mountain Goat Ltd - York

Is this one for you?Small-group travelers who want the Dales without driving or navigating narrow passes themselves will find the coach size and fixed itinerary work well. The day holds together because the timing and route are already arranged. If you're traveling solo or with one other person, you'll share the coach with other visitors: seats cannot be reserved, and each passenger needs their own seat.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 16 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 medieval fortress in Wensleydale that once imprisoned Mary Queen of Scots. It was a favorite location for James Herriot, the real-life vet behind All Creatures Great & Small, and the place where he proposed to his wife. Entry to the castle and its gardens is included in your tour price.

Will I see locations from All Creatures Great & Small on this tour?

Yes. The tour stops at Grassington (the village of Darrowby in the modern adaptation), Askrigg (the original 1970s filming location), Hubberholme Church (where James and Helen's wedding was filmed), and Yockenthwaite Farm (Heston Grange, Helen's family home). You walk through these villages and see the actual streets and buildings used in the series.

How much walking is involved?

Minimal walking. Most of the day is spent on the coach traveling between stops. When you do get out (at villages, the castle, the creamery and the waterfalls), the walks are short and suitable for all fitness levels.

What happens at Wensleydale Creamery?

Wensleydale Creamery in the market town of Hawes is a tasting stop where you sample their award-winning cheese, famous as Wallace & Gromit's favorite. This is a working creamery, and the tasting is built into the tour itinerary.

Is there time to eat lunch, and what's included?

There is a designated lunch stop where you can purchase food and drinks. Lunch itself is not included in the tour price, but the stop is planned so you have time to buy and eat before the route continues.