Private driven tours from York
Places We Visit
From abbey ruins and gothic coastlines to market towns, waterfalls, literary villages and haunted roads — these are some of the Yorkshire places featured across Highwayman Tours.
Yorkshire, properly connected.
Highwayman Tours links together the places that are awkward to reach without a car: ruined abbeys, coastal castles, Dales villages, literary landscapes, strange rock formations and historic towns.
Each tour is private for your group only, with Kes as your driver-guide. No coach, no car hire, no sharing with strangers — just your group, your route and a local guide.
Some places appear on more than one route, and bespoke private tours may be possible depending on timing, distance and availability.
Tour areas include:
Abbeys & ruins: Byland Abbey, Rievaulx Abbey, Fountains Abbey and Clifford’s Tower.
Coast & castles: Pickering Castle, Whitby, Whitby Abbey and Scarborough Castle.
Dales & market towns: Bolton Abbey, Grassington, Linton Falls, Pateley Bridge and Brimham Rocks.
Literary Yorkshire: Haworth, Brontë Parsonage, Penistone Hill and the moors around Stanbury.
Haunted roads: St Giles, Crayke, Byland Abbey, Helmsley and Dick Turpin’s Grave.
Places featured on our tours
Tap each place to read a short description and open it in Google Maps.
Byland Abbey Abbeys, Ruins & Reformation / Haunted Highways
Atmospheric Cistercian ruins and one of the strongest abbey stops on the private abbeys and haunted routes.
Open in Google MapsRievaulx Abbey Abbeys, Ruins & Reformation
One of Yorkshire’s great ruined abbeys, set in a secluded valley and central to the story of monastic power and the Reformation.
Open in Google MapsFountains Abbey & Studley Royal Yorkshire Icons
A major Yorkshire historic landscape with abbey ruins, parkland, deer park atmosphere and memorable views.
Open in Google MapsBrimham Rocks Yorkshire Icons / Yorkshire Dales
Strange natural rock formations, wide views and one of Yorkshire’s most memorable outdoor stops.
Open in Google MapsKnaresborough Yorkshire Icons
A riverside town with viaduct views, historic streets, castle area and classic Yorkshire character.
Open in Google MapsBolton Abbey Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns
Riverside ruins, woodland atmosphere and a beautiful opening stop for the southern Yorkshire Dales route.
Open in Google MapsGrassington Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns
A classic Dales village with stone streets, market-town character and a relaxed Yorkshire atmosphere.
Open in Google MapsLinton Falls Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns
A scenic waterfall stop close to Grassington, adding riverside views to the Dales route.
Open in Google MapsPateley Bridge Yorkshire Dales, Falls & Market Towns
A traditional Nidderdale market town used as a natural pause on the southern Dales route.
Open in Google MapsHaworth Brontë Country
The literary heart of Brontë Country, with steep village streets, moorland atmosphere and strong Brontë connections.
Open in Google MapsBrontë Parsonage Museum Brontë Country
The former Brontë family home and one of the key literary stops on the Haworth route.
Open in Google MapsPenistone Hill & Brontë Moorland Brontë Country
Open moorland views around Haworth, with short stops designed to give atmosphere without turning the day into a hike.
Open in Google MapsWhitby Castles, Coasts & Gothic Legends
Harbour streets, sea air, gothic atmosphere and one of Yorkshire’s most famous coastal towns.
Open in Google MapsWhitby Abbey Castles, Coasts & Gothic Legends
Ruined abbey views above Whitby, strongly linked with gothic atmosphere and coastal Yorkshire drama.
Open in Google MapsPickering Castle Castles, Coasts & Gothic Legends
A medieval castle stop on the route towards the coast, adding castle history before Whitby and Scarborough.
Open in Google MapsScarborough Castle Castles, Coasts & Gothic Legends
A dramatic coastal castle site with sea views, headland atmosphere and a strong finish to the coastal route.
Open in Google MapsHelmsley Abbeys / Haunted Highways / North Yorkshire
A handsome market town used as a natural pause on abbey, haunted and wider North Yorkshire routes.
Open in Google MapsCoxwold Abbeys, Ruins & Reformation
A quiet village stop with stone buildings, rural character and a natural place between abbey landmarks.
Open in Google MapsKilburn White Horse Abbeys, Ruins & Reformation
A dramatic hillside landmark carved into the Hambleton Hills, used as a memorable viewpoint on the abbeys route.
Open in Google MapsYork Minster York / Abbeys / Haunted Highways
A landmark starting point for religious, historic and haunted stories connected to York and wider Yorkshire.
Open in Google MapsClifford’s Tower York / Abbeys / Haunted Highways
One of York’s most powerful historic landmarks, often used to bring wider Yorkshire stories back to the city.
Open in Google MapsSt Giles Church, Skelton Haunted Highways
A quiet churchyard stop used on the haunted routes for older village atmosphere and local storytelling.
Open in Google MapsSt Cuthbert’s Church, Crayke Haunted Highways
A historic village church linked with old routes, saintly tradition and the haunted atmosphere of North Yorkshire.
Open in Google MapsAmpleforth Abbey Haunted Highways Full Day
A striking religious site set within the Howardian Hills, used as part of the longer haunted route.
Open in Google MapsDick Turpin’s Grave Haunted Highways / York
A York stop tied to highwayman legend and the darker folklore thread running through the haunted routes.
Open in Google MapsChoose your Yorkshire route
Browse the full collection of private driven tours from York, including abbeys, Dales villages, coastal castles, Brontë Country, Yorkshire Icons and specialised haunting routes.
Highwayman Tours
Private driven tours from York · Up to 4 guests
Email: keswebster@highwaymantours.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +44 7345 588905
Open 10AM - Midnight
Private driven tours from York · Up to 4 guests
Email: keswebster@highwaymantours.com
Phone / WhatsApp: +44 7345 588905
Open 10AM - Midnight