Top Yorkshire Car Tours

What sets this tour apart is the chance to explore some of Yorkshire’s most impressive medieval abbeys in one private day from York, while also seeing the villages, landscapes and historic towns that connect them. Rather than joining a coach tour, you travel as your own private group of up to four guests, with hotel pickup, a local driver-guide and a route that can adapt to the day. The focus is not simply on seeing ruins, but on understanding the monasteries, the communities around them and the dramatic changes brought by the Reformation. The route combines major historic sites such as Byland Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey with places including Coxwold, Kilburn and Helmsley, giving the day a much broader sense of Yorkshire’s history and landscape. As an English Heritage travel trade partner, we can also make pre-booked arrangements at participating English Heritage sites where available, helping admissions run more smoothly and giving our guests access to any applicable benefits.

Delve into the Dales and discover the scenic heart of Yorkshire on this full-day tour from York. Discover the life of James Herriot with a visit to the World of James Herriot and then explore the scenery made famous by “All Creatures Great and Small”. Set out on an epic circuit of the Yorkshire Dales, stopping to admire the heather-covered moors and peek into traditional Dales villages like Grassington, Hubberholme, and Yockenthwaite. Along the way, pass photo-worthy landscapes like Nidderdale, Kilnsey Crag, and Aysgarth Falls; and discover the Dales’ most famous cheese at the Wensleydale Creamery.

Welcome to your self-guided driving tour of the Yorkshire Dales, a region known for its stunning landscapes, fascinating history, and charming local culture. We will explore a numbers of places throughout the tour, like Bolton Castle, a real medieval fortress that feels like stepping back in time. Next, we head to Aysgarth Falls, a series of gentle, cascading waterfalls surrounded by peaceful trails. A short journey ahead brings you to Hawes, a delightful market town that is famous for its Wensleydale cheese. From there, make your way to Hardraw Force, the tallest single-drop waterfall in England. Tucked away in a wooded area, this spot feels like a hidden gem. Your next stop is Coldstones Cut, a unique viewpoint that combines sculpture with stunning views. Finally, end your tour at Brimham Rocks, where you’ll find incredible rock formations that almost seem otherworldly.

Discover the rugged beauty of rural Northern England on a full-day tour from York—no need to rent a car or tackle the area's country roads yourself. Explore traditional English moorland villages, Hutton-le-Hole and Goathland, famed filming locations for the Harry Potter™ movies. Head into the North York Moors National Park for panoramic views over the rolling countryside, then wander Whitby at your leisure, with options to visit Whitby Abbey, the port, or the Captain Cook Museum. Return via the Hole of Horcum.

This Private Tour provides the opportunity for you to get out into the countryside to enjoy the fresh air and stunning landscape of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We will pick you up from your hotel (or other location of your choice) at 10.00am and head out of town for a circular tour of Wharfedale and Nidderdale, with alternative potential stops at Bolton Abbey, Burnsall, Pateley Bridge and Fountains Abbey to suit your preferences. There will also be scenic photo stops along the way. You will be able to buy food and drinks en route, but feel free to bring your own food along and we will stop somewhere suitable for you to have a picnic away from any crowds. The itinerary for this tour is flexible, talk to your Driver when you set off to decide how you want to spend your time, based upon your personal preferences. Departs 10.00am and drops off 2.30pm.

Welcome to Nidderdale, a hidden gem in the Yorkshire Dales, ready to be explored from the comfort of your car. This driving tour takes you through a captivating mix of history, natural wonders, and local charm. Begin at Fountains Abbey, where ancient monastery ruins and serene Georgian water gardens—recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site—combine history and beauty. Next, marvel at the gravity-defying Brimham Rocks, a natural sculpture park featuring formations that seem playfully stacked by giants. Continue to the market town of Pateley Bridge, home to England's oldest sweet shop, perfect for a nostalgic treat. Then ascend to Coldstones Cut, Yorkshire’s largest public artwork, offering dramatic views above a working quarry. End your journey at Fewston Reservoir, where tranquil lakeside trails and peaceful woodland paths invite you to stretch your legs. This tour unveils Nidderdale’s rich culture, history, and breathtaking scenery at every turn.

The Yorkshire Dales Road Trip Guidebook is a structured multi-day online guide covering 90 miles (145 km) from West Yorkshire into the heart of the Dales. Designed for 3–7+ days, it connects three distinct landscapes into one coherent journey. West Yorkshire & Brontë Country – UNESCO Saltaire, Haworth and Pennine moorland. Wharfedale & Limestone Dales – Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Ribblehead Viaduct. Wensleydale & Herriot Country – Hawes, Askrigg and Aysgarth Falls. The guide includes route structure, narrative introductions, scenic drives through the Yorkshire Dales National Park and time-based planning ideas. This online self-guided road trip provides a clear framework so you can explore confidently at your own pace. Access via mobile phone, laptop or tablet. With 12 months of access included, access begins from your selected booking date — choose a start date that allows time for planning.

York Beyond the Walls packs the character of Yorkshire into one unforgettable half-day. This is not a coach tour or a rushed whistle-stop — it is completely private for your group of up to four guests, with York pick-up and return included. In just four hours you’ll experience a Georgian market town, a hilltop village and historic church, the haunting ruins of Byland Abbey and the spectacular Kilburn White Horse, all with a local driver-guide and the freedom to enjoy the journey your way.

The North Yorkshire Road Trip Online Guidebook is a structured multi-day journey linking York, the Yorkshire coast and the North York Moors into one route. Covering approx 134 miles (215 km), with flexibility for 3–10+ days. Distances are manageable, but the contrasts are striking: medieval city streets, fishing villages above the North Sea and wide heather moorland across the national park. The route unfolds in three stages. York & the Howardian Hills – Begin in York exploring York Minster, the Shambles and the city walls before countryside around Castle Howard and Malton. The North Yorkshire Coast – Whitby Abbey rises above the harbour while Robin Hood’s Bay and Staithes cling to the cliffs along this dramatic coastlines. The North York Moors – Inland roads cross open moorland linking Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley, Pickering and Goathland. With 12 months of online access included, choose a booking date that allows time to plan before travelling.

This is a private Brontë Country tour from York, designed for guests who want more than a standard day trip. Instead of joining a coach or following a rushed group route, you travel with your own local driver-guide through Haworth, the Yorkshire moors, Brontë landmarks, literary viewpoints and atmospheric village stops. The tour combines famous Brontë locations with the wider landscape that shaped their writing — moorland views, historic churches, stone streets, remote ruins and quiet corners often missed on larger tours. The pace is flexible, with time for photos, short walks, café stops and exterior-only visits if preferred. With door-to-door pickup from York, private transport for up to four guests, and local storytelling throughout the day, it is a personal, comfortable way to experience Brontë Country without hiring a car or joining a large group.

Venture into the wild and windswept lands of the North York Moors on this full-day tour from York. Drive through the countryside to reach North York Moors National Park and enjoy a walk amongst nature. Learn the legacy of Dracula and Captain James Cook in the seaside resort of Whitby. Next, spot filming locations from British TV series 'Heartbeat' and the Harry Potter movies in Goathland, where you board the famous North Yorkshire Moors steam railway for a spectacular ride home.

Enjoy a leisurely drive along the famous Northumberland Coastal Route and its surrounding countryside with views of the regions most famous castles. On this tour, you will travel through some of the region’s most beautiful and iconic locations – and stop off for some free time on route. Even your fish and chips are included in the price! This tour is perfect for those who want to sit back, relax and enjoy the view. The first stop is the beautiful village of Alnmouth. Take some free time to wander or enjoy a coffee before continuing up the coast. You will stop for traditional fish and chips at Seahouses before heading up to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. On route, you will see the stunning and dramatic castles of Warkworth, Bamburgh and Alnwick. The tour is flexible and customisable. You can choose to walk along some sections of the coast, at any village you like, and also visit one of the castles on route.

What sets this tour apart is the combination of Yorkshire’s dramatic coast, ruined abbeys, historic castles and Gothic stories in one private day from York. Rather than joining a coach tour, you travel as your own private group of up to four guests, with hotel pickup, a local driver-guide and a route that can adapt to the day. We combine major sights such as Whitby and its famous abbey with scenic roads, historic towns, castles and viewpoints that are much harder to fit into a day using public transport. The tour is designed to give you a real sense of Yorkshire rather than simply moving from attraction to attraction. There is time for the history, the landscape and the stories behind the places you visit. As an English Heritage travel trade partner, we can also make pre-booked arrangements at participating English Heritage sites where available, helping admissions run more smoothly and giving our guests access to any applicable trade benefits or discounts.

This Private Tour provides the opportunity for you to get out into the countryside to enjoy the fresh air and scenic beauty of the North York Moors National Park. We will pick you up from your hotel (or other location of your choice) at 10.00am and head out of the city for a circular tour of the National Park, with stops at Byland Abbey, Helmsley and the beautiful moorland village of Rosedale Abbey. There will also be photo stops along the way. You will be able to buy food and drinks en route, but feel free to bring your own food along and we will stop somewhere suitable for you to have a picnic away from any crowds. The itinerary for this tour is flexible, talk to your Driver when you set off and we can make adjustments to suit your personal preferences. Departs 10.00am and drops off 2.30pm.

Yorkshire Icons brings together four completely different sides of Yorkshire in one private day from York. Explore the extraordinary ruins and landscaped grounds of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, then slow the pace in Masham, a traditional market town full of local character. From there, discover the strange balancing formations and wide countryside views of Brimham Rocks before finishing in beautiful Knaresborough, with its riverside setting, historic streets and famous viaduct. With York-area pick-up and return included, your own private vehicle and a local driver-guide, the day is designed to feel relaxed, varied and personal rather than rushed from stop to stop.

Castle Howard is a place and palace like no other where for over 300 years the Howard family have been welcoming visitors. In just one visit you'll see a palace, a town, a fortified city, temples, magnificent woods, hills, valleys and a mausoleum. Heading out of York, you'll take in breathtaking views of York Minster as you head into the Vale of York. You'll then be driven through the charming villages of Sutton on Forest and Stililngton both mentioned in William the Conquerer’s Domesday Book after which the imposing York Minster comes into view. After driving through the Howardian Hills and former Castle Howard estate village of Bulmer you'll arrive at Castle Howard where you'll have the chance to stop for a coffee and browse the estate's shops. This will be followed by a private tour of the house and formal gardens before you're left to have lunch and explore on your own.