The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

York and Railways of Yorkshire - July 2026

York and Railways of Yorkshire - July 2026, a rail journey with The Railway Touring Company

An 8-day escorted rail holiday exploring York, Scarborough and Whitby, with a steam-hauled Waverley day trip to Carlisle, a visit to Castle Howard, and trips on the North Yorkshire Moors and Wensleydale Railways.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: York

    Rail travel from London to York

    Morning departure from London King's Cross by high-speed First Class rail to York, with refreshments included on board. Arrive early afternoon and walk to the hotel, then spend the afternoon at the National Railway Museum before dinner at the hotel.

  2. Day 2overnight: York

    The Waverley day trip

    Steam-hauled day trip aboard The Waverley from York, with breakfast served on board, via Church Fenton and Hellifield (locomotive water stop) onto the Settle & Carlisle line at Settle Junction. Climbs 15 miles largely at 1 in 100 past the Three Peaks, crosses Ribblehead Viaduct and Blea Moor Tunnel, passes Dent (the highest open station in England) to Ais Gill Summit (1,169 feet), then on to Carlisle with time to explore the Border City before a four-course dinner served on the return journey to York.

  3. Day 3overnight: York

    Visit to Castle Howard

    Leisurely hotel breakfast, then coach to Castle Howard, home of the Howard family (exterior largely built by 1725, completed 1801-1811) with 1,000 acres of gardens to explore; picnic lunch included at Castle Howard. Return to York by coach in the afternoon with free time, dinner at the hotel.

  4. Day 4overnight: Scarborough

    Guided walking tour of York and visit to York Minster

    Guided walking tour of York including The Shambles, York Castle, The King's Manor, Museum Gardens and York Minster, with free time for lunch. Afternoon coach transfer to Scarborough, the base for the next 3 nights; dinner at the hotel.

  5. Day 5overnight: Scarborough

    Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery and Scarborough

    Free morning in Scarborough with a day ticket for the Heritage Seafront bus (a 1956 Leyland open-top bus). Afternoon coach transfer to the Spirit of Yorkshire Whisky Distillery for a guided tour from field to bottle, a whisky sampling and afternoon tea, before returning to Scarborough for dinner.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Scarborough

    Whitby and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

    Coach to Whitby to explore the town, Whitby Abbey and the Church of St Mary. Afternoon return trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Pickering (24 miles of scenery, with time at Pickering's 1930s-themed station) before transferring back to Scarborough for dinner.

  7. Day 7railovernight: York

    Railway excursion on the Wensleydale Railway

    Coach from Scarborough across the North Yorkshire Moors to Leeming Bar, stopping at Thornton Le Dale. Visit the museum at the Wensleydale Railway then a return heritage train journey to Leyburn, before coach travel to York for the final night.

  8. Day 8rail

    First Class rail travel from York to London

    Final hotel breakfast, then walk to York Railway Station and return to London King's Cross in First Class, arriving early afternoon.

Included

  • First Class rail travel from London to York and return
  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 7 Breakfasts (including 1 served onboard the train)
  • 2 Lunches
  • 7 Dinners (including 1 served onboard the train)
  • All rail and road coach journeys as detailed in the itinerary
  • All visits as detailed in the itinerary
  • The services of a Tour Manager

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