Start your tour with a pickup from your hotel, or meet your guide at the prearranged location in central York. Then, settle into your seat aboard a comfortable minivan and travel to North York Moors National Park, one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom.
Enter the national park through the ancient market town of Pickering, and then make your first stop in Goathland, which once featured as the setting of the English TV drama, Heartbeat. With time here spent at your leisure, perhaps pop into one of the local tea rooms for a drink and snack (own expense), or visit the North Yorkshire Moors Railway Station, which featured as Hogsmeade Station in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (originally published in England as Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone).
Continue through the countryside, passing charming villages such as Egton before stopping at Beggar’s Bridge. Spend a few moments snapping photos of the stone arch and hear from your guide how the elegant bridge is the focus of a romantic tale dating back to the time of the Spanish Armada.
Next, travel to the pretty village of Lealholm for lunch. If you’ve brought food with you, sit on the banks of the River Esk, which runs through the village, and enjoy a picnic. Alternatively, visit one of the tea rooms (own expense).
With your appetite sated, travel deep into the heart of the national park. Admire the beautiful heather moorlands and watch out for grouse and other native wildlife. Then, stop at the old railway furnaces in Rosedale Abbey for panoramic views of the valley below.
Travel through Ryedale and then pause in the postcard-perfect village of Hutton-le-Hole, where sheep graze freely. Your last stop of the day is in Helmsley. Enjoy free time to explore the bustling market square or wander the dramatic castle ruins, then return to the minivan and travel back to York. Your day trip concludes with a drop-off at the original start point.
