Harrogate & Harewood House

Day 1

We depart the local area and make a stop for lunch in the historic town of Newark before arriving at The Old Swan Hotel mid-afternoon, with time to settle in before dinner.

Day 2

Today, we enjoy a visit to Harewood House, one of the Treasure Houses of England, set in the heart of rural Yorkshire. With rolling 'Capability' Brown landscapes, impressive art, exquisite furniture and fabulous interiors, all combined with 100 acres of award-winning Gardens and a renowned lakeside Bird Garden. We return to Harrogate for the afternoon at leisure.

Day 3

After a leisurely breakfast we take a scenic drive through the breath-taking Yorkshire Dales National Park, passing through Pateley Bridge & Grassington arriving at the historic market town of Skipton with its impressive medieval castle.

Day 4

This morning, we visit the nearby RHS Harlow Carr Gardens. Sitting in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside, Harlow Carr offers a variety of growing landscapes, from running and still water, to woodland and wildflower meadows. Highlights include the lavish Main Borders, bursting with generous prairie-style planting, and the lush, moisture-loving plants around Streamside. We have an early dinner before tonight's outing to Ripon. We enjoy a behind the scenes guided tour of the beautiful Cathedral before heading to the market place to see the ancient "setting the watch" ceremony. Dating back over 1,000 years to Saxon times, it started as a precaution against Viking raids. In 886, King Alfred the Great gifted the people a horn and a Royal Charter, advising vigilance. Every night at 9pm, the Ripon Hornblower sets the night watch to reassure the citizens all is well.

Day 5

We depart the hotel and travel to York, where ancient walls surround contemporary independent shops and vibrant eateries. There are thirty world-class museums for you to explore, you can take a cruise along the river, or visit the stunning York Minster. We arrive home late afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast