Wild Yorkshire Dales
Go deeper into the Dales.
Finish at Ribblehead.
Live availability
Choose your Dales day.
This private tour normally starts at 10:00 and lasts around nine hours.
The live calendar below shows the dates currently available. Your York collection details are confirmed after booking.
One fixed group price. No per-person supplement is added for guests two, three or four.
A wilder side of Yorkshire
A longer Dales day built for Wensleydale and Ribblehead.
Some of the best-known landscapes in the Yorkshire Dales sit too far west to squeeze comfortably into our standard Dales route. This tour gives them their own day.
Travel from York into Wensleydale for medieval Bolton Castle and the waterfalls at Aysgarth.
Continue to Hawes for a proper market-town stop and time for lunch, then head further west through increasingly open country.
The outward journey finishes at Ribblehead Viaduct, one of Yorkshire’s great landmarks, before the scenic drive back to York.
The whole road tour is private for your own group of up to four guests.
The route
Castle, waterfalls, Wensleydale and the western Dales.
York → Bolton Castle → Aysgarth Falls → Hawes → Ribblehead Viaduct → York
Bolton Castle
Begin in Wensleydale at one of Yorkshire’s best-preserved medieval castles, set high above the valley.
Aysgarth Falls
Walk beside the River Ure and see the famous series of limestone waterfalls surrounded by woodland.
Hawes
Spend time in the traditional market town of Hawes, with a chance to explore, browse and stop for lunch.
Wensleydale
Travel through classic Dales scenery of stone walls, farms, valleys and open countryside as the road heads west.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Finish the outward journey beneath the 24 great stone arches of one of Yorkshire’s most recognisable landmarks.
Why this tour is different
We do not bolt Ribblehead onto an already full Dales day.
Wensleydale, Hawes, Aysgarth and Ribblehead deserve more than a hurried detour. They sit much further west than the places on our standard Yorkshire Dales route.
That is why this is a separate nine-hour tour. The extra time lets us reach the western Dales without turning the day into a race.
You still get a private vehicle, your own driver-guide and sensible flexibility around the weather, traffic and how your group is enjoying the day.
- Completely private for up to 4 guests
- York hotel or accommodation pick-up and return
- Longer nine-hour route into the western Dales
- Time for lunch and independent exploring in Hawes
- Scenic stops where time and conditions allow
Before you book
What's included.
Your booking covers the private vehicle, local driver-guide, route planning and York-area collection and return.
- Private vehicle and local driver-guide
- York-area pick-up and return
- Private tour for up to 4 guests
- Bolton Castle, Aysgarth Falls, Hawes and Ribblehead route
- Scenic driving through Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales
- Route planning and local recommendations
- FareHarbor booking fee
- Bolton Castle admission
- Other attraction admission unless specifically stated
- Food and drink
- Personal purchases
The advertised £489 is the total online price for your private group of up to four guests. The FareHarbor booking fee is already included, so there is no extra booking fee to add.
Your day
What the nine hours look like.
Pick-up in York
We collect you from your hotel, accommodation or another agreed York-area pick-up point and head west towards the Yorkshire Dales.
Bolton Castle
Our first major stop is the medieval fortress overlooking Wensleydale. Explore the castle if you wish or enjoy the setting and surrounding views.
Aysgarth Falls
Continue through Wensleydale to Aysgarth Falls for a walk beside the River Ure and its broad limestone waterfalls.
Hawes
Spend time in Hawes to explore the market town, browse local shops and stop for lunch before we continue further west.
Ribblehead Viaduct
Travel through open Dales scenery to Ribblehead, with time to see the viaduct at close range and take in the surrounding landscape.
Return to York
Begin the scenic journey east and return to your agreed York drop-off point, normally around nine hours after collection.
Common questions
Before you book.
How much does the tour cost?
The final online price is £489 for your whole private group of up to four guests. The FareHarbor booking fee is included.
How long is the tour?
The tour lasts approximately nine hours from York and normally starts at 10:00.
Where does the tour go?
The standard route is York, Bolton Castle, Aysgarth Falls, Hawes, Ribblehead Viaduct and back to York, with scenic driving through Wensleydale and the Yorkshire Dales.
Is this the same as your other Yorkshire Dales tour?
No. Our standard Dales tour concentrates on the southern Dales. This longer route travels much further west into Wensleydale and reaches Hawes and Ribblehead.
Is Bolton Castle admission included?
No. Attraction admission, food and drinks are not included unless specifically stated in your booking.
Is this a private tour?
Yes. The vehicle and driver-guide are completely private for your own booking group, with a maximum of four guests.
Where will you pick us up?
York-area collection can be arranged from your hotel, accommodation or another agreed collection point.
How much walking is involved?
You can keep the walking fairly gentle, but Aysgarth Falls and Ribblehead include uneven natural surfaces. Tell us about mobility requirements before booking and we will adapt the pace where reasonably possible.
What should we wear?
Wear suitable footwear and clothing for the weather. Paths and natural surfaces can be wet, muddy or slippery, particularly around Aysgarth Falls and Ribblehead.
Is the FareHarbor booking fee included?
Yes. The £489 price shown on this page already includes the FareHarbor booking fee.
Is full payment required when booking?
Yes. Full payment is required at the time of booking.
What is the cancellation policy?
Cancel more than 7 days before your tour for a refund, less any non-recoverable third-party costs. Cancellations made between 48 hours and 7 days before the tour may incur a charge of up to 20%. Cancellations within 48 hours may incur a charge of up to 100%.
Highwayman Tours Journal
Planning a Yorkshire Dales day from York?
Useful reading about choosing a Dales route, travelling without a car and why the western Dales work better as a separate day.
One Day in the Yorkshire Dales From York
A practical guide to building a Dales day without trying to cram the whole National Park into one itinerary.
Read the guide →How to Visit the Yorkshire Dales From York
Compare ways to reach the Dales and understand why different areas work better as separate routes.
Explore the guide →Best Day Trips From York Without a Car
See how the Dales compare with Whitby, Haworth, abbeys and other Yorkshire day trips from York.
Read the full guide →Wild Yorkshire Dales
Wensleydale. Falls. Hawes. Ribblehead. Your group.
Check the live calendar and choose the Dales day that works for you.