Dales, Falls and Market Towns

A private Yorkshire Dales day tour from York

The Yorkshire Dales are one of England’s great landscapes: green valleys, dry-stone walls, riverside paths, abbey ruins, waterfalls, stone villages, and market towns that feel a world away from the city.

This private driven tour is built for visitors staying in York who want a proper Dales day out without joining a coach tour, hiring a car, or trying to work around rural transport.

No coach. No car hire. Just your group, your route, and a local guide.

The route

A scenic loop from York into the eastern and southern edge of the Dales, designed to feel full, beautiful, and relaxed without turning the day into a long-distance drive.

Bolton Abbey

Abbey ruins, riverside views, woodland, stepping stones, and one of the most beautiful settings in Yorkshire.

Grassington

A classic Dales village with stone buildings, cafés, independent shops, and a welcoming market-square feel.

Linton Falls

A short scenic stop near Grassington, giving the tour its waterfall moment without dragging the route too far west.

Brimham Rocks

Huge balancing rock formations, open views, and a dramatic countryside stop before returning to York.

A relaxed Dales loop

The day begins with pick-up in York before heading west through countryside, river valleys, dry-stone walls, market towns, and classic Yorkshire scenery.

Bolton Abbey brings the ruins, riverside paths, woodland, and stepping stones. Grassington adds the village charm, stone streets, cafés, and independent shops. Linton Falls gives the tour its waterfall stop, close to Grassington and easy to enjoy without a long walk.

The route then continues through Nidderdale, with time for a market-town break in Pateley Bridge before finishing with the dramatic shapes and open views of Brimham Rocks.

It is a full countryside day, planned as a relaxed eastern Dales loop rather than a long-distance drive.

Frequently asked questions

What’s included?

A private driven tour from York, pick-up and drop-off in York, local guide and driver, a flexible scenic route, photo stops, and short walks where suitable. The tour is for up to 4 passengers.

What isn’t included?

Food, drink, personal purchases, admission fees, and parking charges are not included unless agreed separately. Pick-ups outside York may be possible by arrangement.

How active is this tour?

This is not a hiking tour. It is a private scenic driving tour with optional short walks, riverside views, photo stops, and time in villages and market towns.

Can we keep walking to a minimum?

Yes. Some stops may include uneven ground, stones, slopes, steps, or rural paths, but the day can be adapted around easier viewpoints, shorter walks, and a gentler pace.

Can the route be customised?

Yes. The day can be adjusted around scenery, history, villages, lunch, photography, waterfalls, or a gentler pace.

Can we stop for lunch?

Yes. Pateley Bridge, Grassington, or another suitable stop can be used for lunch, coffee, or a slower break.

How many people can come?

Highwayman Tours carries up to 4 passengers per private tour.

Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns