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Highwayman Tours
From York,Across Yorkshire & Beyond.
Private Day Tours from York
Discover the best of Yorkshire and beyond with your own local driver-guide. Explore the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Whitby, Castle Howard, Haworth and the stunning Peak District in Derbyshire. Enjoy door-to-door collection from your York accommodation, flexible itineraries and plenty of time to enjoy the places you visit. No coaches, no strangers and no rigid schedules. Just your group of up to four guests, your own driver-guide and a Yorkshire adventure built around you.
Completely private
Up to 4 guests
York pick-up & return
Hybrid-electric vehicle
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See what our guests say
Read what guests have shared about their private tours from York.
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Your local driver-guide
Meet Kes
Hi, I'm Kes, your York-based driver-guide. I'll collect you from your York hotel, drive and show you around Yorkshire throughout your private tour.
I've lived here for over 20 years. Grew up in West Yorkshire, came to York for university and never really left. I now live just outside the city with my wife, our two teenage boys and a small dog who takes up way more space than he should.
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Yorkshire's always been home, and I'm genuinely lucky to spend so much of my time out exploring some of its best places.
Honestly, I love what I do.
I didn't want to run coach trips or spend every day repeating the same script. I wanted to offer the kind of day I'd enjoy myself. A small group, a good route, proper stories, lunch somewhere decent, and enough flexibility to change things if we spot somewhere interesting or you'd rather spend longer in one place.
That's really why I started Highwayman Tours. It's the complete opposite of a bus full of strangers being herded from stop to stop.
I love the big sights, sure. But I also genuinely enjoy the back roads, ruined abbeys, odd bits of history, little villages and unexpected stops that you probably wouldn't have found on your own.
If you've got ideas already, brilliant. Tell me. If you haven't, that's fine too. I can help plan the route, suggest the best stops, find somewhere good for lunch and sort out the bookings for you.
Recognised across Yorkshire
Yorkshire tourism partners
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Registered with English Heritage Travel Trade
Best match from York
Matching day tours
Published private tours matching your search.
Limited seasonal dates
Matching seasonal tours
Special tours, including Christmas by request.
Relevant transfer route
Matching transfer tours
Sightseeing routes with proper stops along the way.
Start and finish in York
Private day tours from York
Day trips from York to the Yorkshire Dales, North York Moors, Whitby, historic Yorkshire and the Peak District. Every tour is private, with York collection and return for up to 4 guests. Prices are for your whole group.
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Castle Howard, Abbeys & North Yorkshire
Castle Howard · Helmsley · Rievaulx Abbey · Byland Abbey
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03
North York Moors, Steam Railway & Whitby
Pickering · Steam Railway · Goathland · Whitby · Robin Hood's Bay
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04
Castles, Coasts & Gothic Legends
Pickering Castle · Whitby Abbey · Whitby · Robin Hood's Bay · Scarborough
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05
Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns
Bolton Abbey · Grassington · Linton Falls · Brimham Rocks
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06
Wild Yorkshire Dales: Wensleydale, Aysgarth & Ribblehead
Bolton Castle · Aysgarth Falls · Hawes · Ribblehead Viaduct
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09The Road to Pemberley
Stanage Edge · Castleton · Winnats Pass · Bakewell · Chatsworth House
Explore this tour →Also available from
Staying in Harrogate or Leeds?
Start your Yorkshire day directly from your hotel or accommodation in Harrogate or central Leeds.
I'll collect you there and plan the route around the best places to visit from where you're staying.
Limited seasonal dates
Seasonal tours
Seasonal private tours from York. Our two Christmas experiences are arranged by request, so we can tailor the day to your chosen date.
01
Haunted Yorkshire After Dark
Crayke · Byland Abbey · Helmsley · Castle Howard · Sheriff Hutton
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Travel and explore
Private transfer tours
Getting somewhere? Let me turn the journey itself into the experience. Proper stops, proper sights, no rush.
01
York ↔ Harrogate
Fountains Abbey, Ripon, Nidderdale and Pateley Bridge on the way.
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York ↔ Leeds Bradford Airport
Fountains Abbey, Harrogate and Knaresborough when flight timings allow.
Ask about this transfer →03
York ↔ Whitby
Kirkham Priory, Malton, North York Moors villages and Robin Hood's Bay.
Ask about this transfer →Why go private?
Your group. Your pace.
No transport puzzle.
I pick you up from your York accommodation, handle all the driving, and take you to the places you actually came to Yorkshire to see. No coaches, no strangers, no keeping up with anyone else's schedule.
Hybrid-electric touring
We travel in my Hyundai Ioniq, which uses a petrol engine and electric motor together to help keep fuel consumption down. It's not zero-emission travel, but it's a more fuel-conscious choice for our private Yorkshire days out.
- Completely private, just your group
- Door-to-door from York
- Someone who knows Yorkshire
- Proper time for lunch, photos, and comfort stops
Booking with confidence
Our promise to you
Instant confirmation
Book our standard tours through FareHarbor and get instant confirmation. Christmas experiences are arranged directly by request.
Flexible cancellation
Direct bookings cancelled more than seven clear days before your tour are normally refundable. Cancellations made within seven days may be subject to a cancellation charge. Platform bookings follow their own terms.
Real itinerary changes
Found something better on the day? Bad weather? Tell us and we'll adapt. Your day, your call.
If something isn't right
Tell me and I'll do everything reasonable to put it right.
What's actually included
Transport, guide, route planning, lunch recommendations. All sorted. Entrance fees and lunch are separate.
Last-minute bookings
Need a tour in the next few days? Get in touch via WhatsApp or call. We'll try our best to fit you in.
Questions answered
Questions about our private tours from York
Where do your tours from York start?
I'll collect you from your York hotel or an agreed pickup point. Our day tours return to York, and each booking is private for your group of up to four guests.
Which day trips from York can I book?
Choose a York to Whitby tour through the North York Moors, a Yorkshire Dales day tour from York, or a private tour from York to Haworth. For a shorter day, York Beyond the Walls explores nearby villages and countryside in four hours.
What if I don't know what I want to see?
That's completely fine. Tell me roughly what you're interested in: countryside, history, coast or villages. I'll suggest a tour or build something custom.
Can we change things on the day?
Absolutely. The itinerary is a starting point, not a script. That's the whole point of private tours.
What happens if the weather's bad?
We'll talk through it beforehand. We can adjust the route, prioritise indoor attractions or discuss rescheduling where appropriate.
How far ahead do I need to book?
Ideally two to three weeks, although we can often accommodate shorter notice when dates are free.
What's included in the price?
Your private vehicle, driver-guide, driving and route planning. Entrance fees, food and drinks are normally separate unless explicitly stated.
What about dietary requirements or accessibility?
Tell me when you book. I'll help find appropriate stops and explain any accessibility limitations beforehand.
Do you take groups larger than four?
Not in my vehicle, but contact me and I can discuss whether another arrangement is possible.
Can I book a tour for a special occasion?
Definitely. Birthdays, anniversaries or anything else. Let me know and we can make the day special.
Roch Basson
3 weeks ago
Kes is well informed and drove us on a bespoke Brontë tour that included a stop where my wife spent her childhood summers. We appreciated this flexibility as well as his careful considerate driving.
Deborah Jones
1 month ago
We booked a bespoke tour with Kes to tour Middleham and Bolton Castles. He made the tour memorable by taking booking lunch for us at Redmire where Kes timed it so that we caught a section of the Tour de Britain which was amazing! At Bolton Castle we saw a bird of prey demonstration which was very cool. The we finished at Jervaulx Abbey which was peaceful and impressive. On the way back to York he made a quick stop at a small castle ruin that was a hidden gem. We feel so grateful that we found Kes and Highwayman Tours to make our first visit to England memorable. We highly recommend this to travelers who want a local in depth perspective during their visit to Yorkshire.
Jeremy Tinley
2 months ago
Kes was a great guide on our all day tour. The experience was personable, polite, and we felt very well looked after. We were able to vary up our tour to fit what we wanted which was really helpful. Highly recommend.
Leonie Shorter
2 months ago
I had a great and full day out on my tour with Kes. We visited Pickering Castle, Whitby town and Abbey, Scarborough and a couple of other spots of historical interest and/or gothic legends. It was a convenient way for me to travel from the York area to revisit the Whitby and Scarborough areas, after 30+ years back in New Zealand. The drive over the moors, through the countryside, through various villages and along some of the north-eastern Yorkshire coastline was beautiful. The time flew by and the door-to-door service was excellent. Kes is a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, and a safe driver. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and highly recommend Kes' Highwayman Tours!
Jarrod Casteel
2 months ago
10/10 would definitely recommend!
We had an excellent day with Highwayman Tours and would absolutely recommend them. Knaresborough was a great place to start—the viaduct is even more impressive in person, and the little chapel carved into the rock was one of those unexpected places that made the day memorable.
Haworth and Brontë Country were next, and similarly incredible. We had plenty of time to explore the village, visit the Brontë Parsonage and church, and then get out onto the moors. Penistone Hill was probably my favorite stop of the day. The views were stunning and really gave us a feel for the landscape that inspired the Brontës.
The entire tour felt easy, relaxed, and very well planned. We were never rushed, but still managed to see far more than we ever could have organized on our own. Kes made the day both enjoyable and effortless, and he was a joy to spend time with. If you’re looking to get a true Yorkshire experience, this is absolutely the way to do it.
jan robinson
4 months ago
We had a wonderful experience on the Abbeys, Ruins and Reformation tour. The drive through the Yorkshire countryside was peaceful, comfortable, and really beautiful. Kes was a brilliant guide, and we really enjoyed the conversation and stories about Yorkshire’s history along the way. The whole tour felt relaxed, personal, and very well looked after. We would happily recommend Kes and Highwayman Tours.
Edward Alter
5 months ago
We spent a delightful day with Kestrel touring the ruins of castles and abbeys in the Yorkshire countryside. Highly recommended!
Kestrel was wonderfully amicable and knowledgeable. His customized choice of highlights fit our needs perfectly. Kestrel‘s vehicle was clean and comfortable, his driving was always safe and courteous, and the pace of the day was in no way rushed. It exceeded our expectations in so many ways!
In addition to the spectacular ruins of the abbeys of Byland and Rievaulx, Kestrel took us to view the Kilburn White Horse, and dropped us off for lunch in a lovely café in Hensley.
Driving through the countryside was beautiful, but the Rievaulx Abbey was other worldly. The Abbey was massive, and the ruins include a church, cloister, dining hall and more. The monastery was built on a grand scale, and it’s survived as a hauntingly beautiful shell that needs to be seen to be believed.
Thank you Kestrel for such a special tour. It will not be forgotten!
Sheila Miller-Cobb
5 months ago
Great tour. My family had a great time on this tour and it was a lovely way to spend the day. Kestrel is very knowledgeable of the area and made the trip so fun.
Susan Tibbett
5 months ago
Relaxing 3 hour tour around the Howardian Hills. The tour stopped in all the best places with great views and interesting villages. An enjoyable afternoon and great value for money.
eve mcintosh
7 months ago
My friend and I had a really great day on our customized tour with Kestrel, we are students and always looking for different things to do and wanted to explore more of York and the surrounding area. Kestrel was very informative and accommodating and had a lot of interesting facts about Yorkshire. Very much recommend if you are looking for something different and fun to do in York!
Roch Basson
3 weeks ago
Kes is well informed and drove us on a bespoke Brontë tour that included a stop where my wife spent her childhood summers. We appreciated this flexibility as well as his careful considerate driving.
Deborah Jones
1 month ago
We booked a bespoke tour with Kes to tour Middleham and Bolton Castles. He made the tour memorable by taking booking lunch for us at Redmire where Kes timed it so that we caught a section of the Tour de Britain which was amazing! At Bolton Castle we saw a bird of prey demonstration which was very cool. The we finished at Jervaulx Abbey which was peaceful and impressive. On the way back to York he made a quick stop at a small castle ruin that was a hidden gem. We feel so grateful that we found Kes and Highwayman Tours to make our first visit to England memorable. We highly recommend this to travelers who want a local in depth perspective during their visit to Yorkshire.
Jeremy Tinley
2 months ago
Kes was a great guide on our all day tour. The experience was personable, polite, and we felt very well looked after. We were able to vary up our tour to fit what we wanted which was really helpful. Highly recommend.
Leonie Shorter
2 months ago
I had a great and full day out on my tour with Kes. We visited Pickering Castle, Whitby town and Abbey, Scarborough and a couple of other spots of historical interest and/or gothic legends. It was a convenient way for me to travel from the York area to revisit the Whitby and Scarborough areas, after 30+ years back in New Zealand. The drive over the moors, through the countryside, through various villages and along some of the north-eastern Yorkshire coastline was beautiful. The time flew by and the door-to-door service was excellent. Kes is a friendly and knowledgeable tour guide, and a safe driver. I thoroughly enjoyed my day and highly recommend Kes' Highwayman Tours!
Jarrod Casteel
2 months ago
10/10 would definitely recommend!
We had an excellent day with Highwayman Tours and would absolutely recommend them. Knaresborough was a great place to start—the viaduct is even more impressive in person, and the little chapel carved into the rock was one of those unexpected places that made the day memorable.
Haworth and Brontë Country were next, and similarly incredible. We had plenty of time to explore the village, visit the Brontë Parsonage and church, and then get out onto the moors. Penistone Hill was probably my favorite stop of the day. The views were stunning and really gave us a feel for the landscape that inspired the Brontës.
The entire tour felt easy, relaxed, and very well planned. We were never rushed, but still managed to see far more than we ever could have organized on our own. Kes made the day both enjoyable and effortless, and he was a joy to spend time with. If you’re looking to get a true Yorkshire experience, this is absolutely the way to do it.
jan robinson
4 months ago
We had a wonderful experience on the Abbeys, Ruins and Reformation tour. The drive through the Yorkshire countryside was peaceful, comfortable, and really beautiful. Kes was a brilliant guide, and we really enjoyed the conversation and stories about Yorkshire’s history along the way. The whole tour felt relaxed, personal, and very well looked after. We would happily recommend Kes and Highwayman Tours.
Edward Alter
5 months ago
We spent a delightful day with Kestrel touring the ruins of castles and abbeys in the Yorkshire countryside. Highly recommended!
Kestrel was wonderfully amicable and knowledgeable. His customized choice of highlights fit our needs perfectly. Kestrel‘s vehicle was clean and comfortable, his driving was always safe and courteous, and the pace of the day was in no way rushed. It exceeded our expectations in so many ways!
In addition to the spectacular ruins of the abbeys of Byland and Rievaulx, Kestrel took us to view the Kilburn White Horse, and dropped us off for lunch in a lovely café in Hensley.
Driving through the countryside was beautiful, but the Rievaulx Abbey was other worldly. The Abbey was massive, and the ruins include a church, cloister, dining hall and more. The monastery was built on a grand scale, and it’s survived as a hauntingly beautiful shell that needs to be seen to be believed.
Thank you Kestrel for such a special tour. It will not be forgotten!
Sheila Miller-Cobb
5 months ago
Great tour. My family had a great time on this tour and it was a lovely way to spend the day. Kestrel is very knowledgeable of the area and made the trip so fun.
Susan Tibbett
5 months ago
Relaxing 3 hour tour around the Howardian Hills. The tour stopped in all the best places with great views and interesting villages. An enjoyable afternoon and great value for money.
eve mcintosh
7 months ago
My friend and I had a really great day on our customized tour with Kestrel, we are students and always looking for different things to do and wanted to explore more of York and the surrounding area. Kestrel was very informative and accommodating and had a lot of interesting facts about Yorkshire. Very much recommend if you are looking for something different and fun to do in York!