01943 605999
A Northern Christmas Experience
5 days / 4 nights
Return Executive Coach Travel departing from selected UK departure points
4 nights half board Black Horse Hotel Grassington – ensuite rooms
Included excursion package as set out in our itinerary
Price on application subject to date and group size.
Pick-up points will be determined by where the majority of bookings originate from
The Black Horse Hotel is a ‘Country Inn’ centrally located in the picturesque village of Grassington, which in the new Channel 5 TV series of ‘All Creatures Great & Small’ is Darrowby. This atmospheric former 17th Century ‘Coaching Inn’ is today fully modernised. The individually styled en-suite bedrooms include a flat-screen TV, a hairdryer, tea and coffee making facilities and free Wi-Fi. Guests can enjoy a relaxed dining experience with traditional English dishes all prepared using locally sourced produce. Relax in the homely bar with its log fire and occasional entertainment, or enjoy a stroll around the village.
Due to the listed status of the building, there is NO lift but porterage is available.
Itinerary Inclusions
Monday – Departing your allocated pick-up point this morning, we travel north making a lunch break in the pretty Lincolnshire town of Stamford, said to be the ‘finest stone town in England’. Its prosperity was originally drawn from the wool trade and from in years gone-by it being a mail-coach inter-change point on the Great North Road almost halfway between London and York. Stamford is idyllic enough to have formed the backdrop for television costume dramas such as Middlemarch and the 2005 film Pride & Prejudice. Lunch can be purchased here before continuing the journey on to Yorkshire and your hotel, where dinner is included.
Tuesday - Breakfast included
Today begins with an optional + pre-bookable visit to the stunning Castle Howard & their ‘Christmas in Narnia’ event. This is one of Britain’s finest historic houses where during the festive season, you will step through the wardrobe into a magical adventure, where with timed access, you can admire the magnificent Christmas installation inside the House. Built over 300 years ago by Sir John Vanbrugh, today it remains home to the Howard family. During your free flow visit you can admire the awe-inspiring architecture, interiors and world-renowned collections, with something to capture everyone’s imagination. Castle Howard’s 1000 acres of parkland are a mixture of sweeping vistas, lakeside terraces, temples, statues and formal gardens.
If you choose not to visit Castle Howard, the full day will be at your leisure in York.
We will also visit nearby York & the St Nicholas Fair which is at the very heart of the city’s Christmas activities. Festive chalets adorn Parliament Street, one of the busiest streets in the centre of York and it also stretches across the city to St Sampson’s Square, home to world-class street food and a host of indie shops across the city. Local flavour also fills York’s famous ‘Shambles’ and of course there is also the stunning Minster and various other attractions, including the Railway Museum (free entry) which might catch your attention. Dinner is included at the hotel tonight.
Wednesday - Breakfast included
Today begins in Skipton, known as the ‘Gateway to the Dales’, where its unique appeal lies in its mix of olde-worlde charm and the hustle and bustle of a market town. With its canal and thriving shops, pubs and cafes, Skipton provides something for everyone. You may choose to visit Skipton Castle (payable locally) which is over 900 years old and is one of the most complete and best-preserved medieval castles in England.
If the castle is not for you, then simply wander down the many alleyways, or 'ginnels', to savour the town's history and character. This afternoon’s included excursion is to the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire, named after Sir Titus Salt who built a textile mill, known as Salts Mill. Designed by architects, Lockwood and Mawson, Salts Mill was opened in 1853. Your visit begins in the United Reform Church with an entertaining introduction about the origins of the village by costumed guides interacting with each other. You will then be accompanied on a gentle meander of the village during which you will see some of its magnificent public buildings. There will be free time in the adjacent Salts Mill home to one of the largest collections of David Hockney art, where you can also explore the various independent shops. Returning to the hotel, your evening meal is included.
Thursday – Breakfast included.
This morning is a leisurely one in Grassington during which you will have free time to explore this picturesque village in the heart of ‘Calendar Girls’ country in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. For the more adventurous, you might choose to explore a little further afield on foot, with a casual walk to nearby Burnsall or Linton Falls. Included is a festive afternoon tea style light lunch before this afternoon’s included visit to Harewood House.Here you will encounter Harewood’s traditionally untraditional Christmas, as Yorkshire’s most vibrant country house celebrates the Christmas Tree in a most unexpected way. Artists and makers from across Yorkshire and beyond will bring a contemporary festive twist to the State Floor, creating trees inspired by the natural world, winter rituals and Harewood itself. Long Live the Christmas Tree will conjure the playfulness, joy and warmth of the season. Harewood sits in the heart of Yorkshire and is one of the Treasure Houses of England which was built in the 18th Century and has art collections to rival the finest in Britain. Returning to the hotel diner is included.
Friday - Checking out of the hotel after breakfast, we retrace our steps making a stop at the Wentworth Garden Centre in South Yorkshire. This hidden gem is set within 16 acres of historic walled and landscaped gardens – entrance included. Explore the beautifully restored 19th-century walled gardens complete with pools, cascades, yew maze and follies. Lunch can be purchased in the onsite restaurant before continuing homeward, returning to your original departure point(s) later today / this evening.
Simply Groups reserve the right to make minor adjustments to this itinerary due to circumstances beyond our control
