Pre Tour - June 10th, 2021 - Arrive into Manchester International Airport and make your way to our airport accommodation where you can get adjusted to the time change, rested up and get ready for the tour starting the following morning.

Day 1 - June 11th - We will meet this morning at our hotel and then we journey northward toward our first home near the North York Moors National Park. Yorkshire has many moods it can be wild and windswept or quietly tranquil. Each traditional farming landscapes of Field Barns, Drystone Walls and flower-rich Hay Meadows, and show how the way including Oakwell Hall and Country Park. The Hall was built by John Batt in 1583 and is now furnished as the Batt family home in the 1690s with a fine collection of period furniture, the Hall offers visitors a real insight into a post English Civil War household. We will also stop for Afternoon Tea at Wood Hall in Wetherby before we continue our journey north. After we get settled in we will have a Welcoming Dinner. Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L,D)

Day 2 - This morning we take in some of my favourite James Herriot countryside. There are four dales -Arkengarthdale, Swaledale, Wensleydale, and Coverdale that lay closest claim to Herriot connections and we will spend the next two days exploring them. The Dales’ sites most associated with Herriot TV Series is in dramatic Arkengarthdale, the most northerly Pennine Dale, whose watersplash is shown in the opening credits of the TV show. The narrow bridge in the same scene frames Langthwaite, a tiny village of gray stone, weathered with the years. We then make our way to Reeth on the slopes of Calver Hill at the head of Arkengarthdale and Swaledale. Reeth’s shops, pubs, and houses portrayed various locations in filming. A house overlooking the village green became Skeldale House in the first movie. We will take in Swaledale Road with moors on either side, one of the most beautiful of all the Dales’ drives. Waterfalls tumble down hillsides to feed the Swale River, one of the fastest flowing in England. The view from Gunnerside looking down into Swaledale was a favourite of Herriot’s. Here is where the real glory of the dale is seen. Stone walls, farms and hay barns dot the landscape. We then make our way to Richmond Town sitting high on a hilltop above the Swale River and was Herriot’s best-loved town in the Dales. He said, “Richmond appeals to me as just about the most romantic and charming town in the country”. Pub Dinner Outing and Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L,D)

Day 3 - This morning we make our way to Thirsk which is the Darrowby of Herriot's novels. Upon arriving into Thirsk we first stop at Skeldale House at 23 Kirkgate, the actual residence and surgery in James Herriot's Darrowby which now houses The World of James Herriot Museum. The museum encompasses the very essence of the world renowned vet James Herriot. It offers visitors an unforgettable interactive experience of the life and times of a man, who became a national celebrity after the airing of the BBC drama "All Creatures Great and Small". After some time to look around we then make our way back toward home with a stop in Hawes for Lunch before a tour at the Wensleydale Cheese Factory. The road ascending out of Askrigg traverses a widespread, gently sloping green valley with swelling hills dotted with farms and woods, typical of Wensleydale which is tamer than the dales on either side. This pastoral area has, since the 16th century, been an area of dairy farms. Askrigg was the “set” for Darrowby in the TV series. The road running through the village is lined with 18th and 19th century stone houses. The village also claims the “Drover’s Arms”, a favourite haunt of Tristan Farnon. We then return home for dinner. Dinner and Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - Today will be spent in and around the house at Telfit Farm. Historical beauty meets modern luxury at Telfit Farm, a renovated Georgian Escape situated in a breathtaking glacial bowl within Swaledale, North Yorkshire. From the kitchen French doors lead to the outside space. Here there is a Terrace and CroquetLawn and more views across the rolling hills beyond with spectacular outlooks over the Dales. Finally, a Converted Barn completes Telfit Farm, which has a wood burning stove, oak floors, and original beams. There are several walking and cycling routes through one of Great Britain's most beautiful natural areas right on the doorstep. In the afternoon you can return to the house to be being served a Traditional Yorkshire Afternoon Tea on the terrace. Then the rest of the day is yours to further explore the house and grounds. If you find yourself hungry later in the day, Richmond is just a short drive away where you will find a selection of pubs and restaurants to enjoy a drink or a delicious meal. Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L)

Day 5 - This morning we head east to Pickering where board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to the seaside town of Whitby. We will explore a bit first in Pickering, an ancient market town and civil parish in the Ryedale District, historically part of the North Riding of Yorkshire, it sits at the foot of the moors, overlooking the Vale of Pickering to the south. The railway ride to Whitby provides some 18 miles of preserved steam railway running through the spectacular scenery of the North Yorkshire Moors. We'll pass through Goathland Station better known as Hogsmeade in Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone. Once we reach the lovely seaside village of Whitby, you will want to stop for Fish and Chips and Ice Cream before exploring this delightful village and its esplanade. Many flock to Whitby for its boutique shops and quirky streets, where you will find unique Whitby Jet Jewellery and other fascinating items. You may even want to take one of the many boat rides around the harbour. We then take the train back to Pickering where we will have dinner before returning home. Overnight Yorkshire. (B,D)

Day 6 - Today we will take the train into York, a walled city founded by the Ancient Romans. Its huge 13th-Century Gothic Cathedral, York Minster with its medieval stained glass and two functioning bell towers. We will have a tour of the Minster before stopping for Afternoon Tea. We then visit York's Chocolate Story with a tour of the factory. We will learn how a simple cocoa bean is transformed into the finest chocolate and also discover the history of some of York’s most iconic chocolate brands. Then it’s time to master the Secrets of the Chocolatier, as we create hand-made chocolates before seeing how their very own experts do it. Watch the Chocolatiers as they showcase the art of chocolate-making and sample the fruits of their labour, fresh hand-made chocolates. You may then want to take in the City Walls that form a walkway on both sides of the River Ouse. The Monk Bar Gate houses an exhibition tracing the life of 15th-Century Plantagenet King Richard III. Dinner in York before we return home. Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - This morning we make our way into the North Moors National Park with our first stop being Mount Grace Priory. This ruin of a 14th-century Carthusian Priory is England's most important, best preserved and most accessible of the medieval Carthusian Houses. It is amazing to visit individual monks cells which reflect the isolation of living as hermits and only coming together in the chapel only for the nocturnal liturgical hours, Sundays and feast-days. We then take one of my most favourite drives through Osmotherly and Hawnby and on to the lovely village of Helmsley. After exploring the village we will have Afternoon Tea at the Black Swan Hotel. This afternoon we visit the spectacular ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. Hidden in the deep River Rye Valley, the beautiful and tranquil abbey ruins reflect nearly one thousand years of spiritual, commercial and Romantic history. Rievaulx was one of the first Cistercian abbeys to be founded in England in around 1130, and after the dissolution, became the centre of commercial activity for many years. The abbey then entered its Romantic period when its picturesque ruins became a beacon for poets, painters, and scholars. We then return home for Dinner and Overnight Yorkshire. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - Unfortunately our stay in Yorkshire is at its end and we make our way toward the Peak District and our new home. This morning on the way to the Peak District we stop in lovely little Kirkby Stephen where we find a small church that houses the Loki Stone, a symbol of an 8th Century Norse God, which is one of only two such stones in the whole of Europe. It depicts Loki the Norse God bound and chained to a rock for eternity, or until the twilight of the gods. On the sides of the stone there is scrollwork patterning. The church site probably dates back to 850 AD although the church is 13th century. Our next stop will be the market town of Skipton where we will take in the many delights before visiting the 900 Year Old Skipton Castle. Skipton is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England. We will explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War. We will view the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber and Privy and climb from the depths of the Dungeon to the top storey of the Watch Tower. We will stop for Afternoon Tea along the way before we make our way to our second home with some time to get settled in before a light supper. Overnight Peak District. (B,L,D)

Day 9 - This morning we will go high into the Peak District to an area known as the White Peak. It is a spectacular wonderland of breathtaking scenery, which in the winter months has been called `Little Switzerland', - but can also be harsh, barren and unforgiving. However in full summer the White Peak is a paradise, and especially for the visitor, a place full of wonder, where a stroll across the plateau can lead to an abrupt drop into a spectacular dale, as at Lathkill Dale, Dovedale or Monsal Dale. While here we will visit the Arbor Low Stone Circle. Arbor Low is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Derbyshire. Surrounded by unspoiled countryside with fantastic views over classic Derbyshire scenery, it is not hard to image that one is thousands of miles away from the hubbub of modern life. It has sometimes been referred to as the 'Stonehenge of the North'. The site consists of a high circular bank, enclosing a partially silted ditch, which in turn encloses a flat plateau. Within this flattened area is a recumbent stone circle of white weathered limestone blocks, resembling the fallen corroded teeth of an ancient titan. In the centre of the circle is a group of four stones, which may be the remains of a cove. There are numerous stone-circles in the White Peak, especially on it`s eastern fringes around Stanton and Birchover and notably the `Nine Ladies' stone-circle in a wooded glade on Stanton Moor, which is also the largest known Bronze-Age Burial Ground in Europe with over seventy burial mounds, barrows, and ring-cairns. We will picnic somewhere along the way just enjoying this wonderfully spectacular are of the Peak District as we go along. Overnight Peak District. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - Today we spend in an around our lovely home, Sladen Lodge at Hathersage inside the Peak District National Park. Situated in an elevated position you can enjoy the spectacular views of the Hope Valley from the comfort and warmth of the house or from the sunny, south facing patio in the large surrounding garden. There is an atrium with table football together with other games for adults and children. A table tennis table is provided in the garden and bikes are available to borrow on request. You can walk into the village or just enjoy being able to enjoy the stunning surrounding scenery of the Peak District. In the afternoon we will gather for a Traditional Peak District Afternoon Tea and then you will have the rest of the afternoon to do whatever you please or nothing at all! If you are feeling peckish, you can wander into the village to find something to tide you over until morning. Overnight Peak District. (B,L)

Day 11- This morning we visit Haddon Hall, a fortified medieval manor house dating from the 12th Century and is the home of Lord and Lady Edward Manners whose family have owned it since 1567. Avoiding fire, warfare, family misfortune and changing fashions, little has changed over the recent centuries and Haddon provides a unique view of early English life and history. It is probably the finest example of a fortified medieval manor house in existence. Film-makers flock to Haddon Hall to use it as a location. The house and grounds have played host to no less than three versions of “Jane Eyre”. Screen credits also include "Elizabeth”, "Pride & Prejudice” and “The Other Boleyn Girl”. The silver jubilee of “The Princess Bride”, the cult classic movie in which Haddon Hall became Humperdink’s Castle was recently celebrated at the house. This afternoon finds us in Altrincham to visit Dunham Massey Hall. This is one of the most sumptuous Edwardian interiors housing exceptional collections that include Huguenot Silver, Paintings and Walnut Furniture. In the library is the Grinling Gibbons masterpiece `The Crucifixion´. Overnight Peak District. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - This morning we visit Chatsworth, home of the Devonshire Family. Chatsworth is one of Britain's most celebrated and best loved historic houses and estates with world famous works of art and spectacular fountains to elegant shops and more than a hundred miles of walks. It is home to the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, and has been passed down through 16 generations of the Cavendish Family. The house architecture and collection have been evolving for five centuries. The house has one of Europe's most significant art collections and over 30 rooms to explore, from the magnificent Painted Hall, Regal State Rooms, newly restored Sketch Galleries and beautiful Sculpture Gallery. After plenty of time to explore, we make our way into Bakewell and to the Lavender Tearooms for Afternoon Tea complete with a traditional Bakewell Tart or Pudding. We will take time to explore Bakewell before making journeying back to the lovely village of Matlock where you can find some dinner before we make our way back home. Overnight Peak District. (B,L)

Day 13 - This morning we visit the Rowtor Rocks also known as the Druid's Caves. Perched on the western edge of the village of Birchover just above the Druid Inn is a bizarre collection of natural and man-made rock features, many believed to have been carved in the 17th century that include a Stone Armchair, Caves, Rooms and Steps. Evidence that the rocks here have long been an inspiration comes from a small number of Bronze Age Carvings towards the western end of the outcrop. These include a motif that consists of a circle divided into quarters each with a small cup and surrounded by a rosette with a handful of other cups close by. After our visit we will hire our own Train Carriage for a trip on the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway on board a Heritage Diesel Railcar to enjoy the panoramic views of the valley. Our excursion will be catered with the service of Full Afternoon Tea. The tea includes a selection of freshly made sandwiches, delightful scones with jam and clotted cream, French fancies, pastries and more delightfully presented on a traditional stand at your seat. Dinner and Overnight Peak District. (B,L,D)

Day 14 - This morning we start our long journey south toward London Heathrow with a stop along the way at Warner Brothers Studio 'The Making of Harry Potter'! Walk in the footsteps of Harry Potter and explore the wonders of the Wizarding World. This unique walking tour takes you behind-the-scenes and showcases a huge array of beautiful sets, costumes and props. It also reveals some closely guarded secrets, including facts about the special effects and animatronics that made these films so hugely popular all over the world. Enter an alternate world as you walk around Diagon Alley. See stores such as Flourish and Blotts and Ollivanders Wand Shop. Go to Hogwarts and see the Great Hall, Dumbledor's Office, and the Gryffindor Rooms. Marvel at Platform 9¾ and the Hogwarts Express. Try some Butterbeer and Pumpkin Juice! We will spend the entire afternoon here before we make our way to our accommodation near the London Heathrow Airport for our last night together. Farewell Dinner and Overnight near London Heathrow. (B,D)

Day 15 - June 25th - This morning we are to London Heathrow International Airport for the flight home.