England's Lakes, Dales, and Moors
Explore England’s most outstanding landscapes with a driver-guide
7 night driver-guided tour
Private driver-guided tour
Customisable itinerary
Luxury Sedan or Vans (Mercedes, Lexus, Jaguars)
Private England's Lakes, Dales, and Moors Tour | Luxury Vacations UK
Mist rolling off a mirror-still lake at dawn. Cobbled York streets so atmospheric they feel plucked from the wizarding film set of Harry Potter. A stone farmhouse tucked into a fold of hills that Beatrix Potter once sketched almost exactly as they look today. This is the Lake District National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage landscape and one of the most photographed corners of England. The best way to see it isn't from a coach window, but from a private car, moving at your own pace, with a chauffeur-guide who knows which single-track lane leads to the view worth stopping for.
This isn't a fixed route bolted together for convenience. It's a fully custom journey threading together three of England's most distinctive landscapes: the fells and glassy waters of the Lake District, the windswept limestone country of the Yorkshire Dales, and the moody heather moorland of the North York Moors, home to the clifftop town of Whitby, where Bram Stoker first imagined Dracula prowling the abbey ruins above the harbour. Literary history runs deep here, from Wordsworth's Grasmere to the real-life village that inspired Hogsmeade Station.
Over eight days, the route unfolds from London to York, out to the ruins of Fountains Abbey and the Dales, then west into the heart of the Lakes for a mountain hike or two, before looping back south by train. Along the way, activities flex around you, enjoy a ghost tour of York one day, a guided ascent of Helvellyn the next, so the pace of the trip is as much yours to shape as the scenery.
Transatlantic flights usually arrive early in the morning UK time.
Take the opportunity before your room is ready to enjoy a panoramic tour of London. See the famous sights or get off the main routes and see lesser-known London, such as Kenwood House, Regents Park and Camden Town. After lunch, head to the hotel for well-deserved relaxation and maybe spa time.
Overnight: London - Best Four and Five Star Hotels, London.
The most efficient way to travel to Northern England is by train. Your driver-guide will take your packed cases north while you enjoy breakfast at your hotel before your short transfer to Euston Railway Station. When you arrive in York, your suitcases will be in your room, and you can enjoy a relaxing lunch in the city.
After lunch, tour one of the world's most splendid churches, York Minster. Your local private guide will show you all the famous medieval back streets and suggest places to shop.
Overnight: York - Recommended Hotel: The Grand Hotel York.
After a hearty breakfast, head to the beautiful Howardian Hills and Castle Howard, one of the great stately homes of Europe. Depending on the weather and interests, stroll the grounds and explore the palatial interiors.
Alternatively, take a short tour of Castle Howard and continue into the North York Moors. Head to Whitby, the seaside town of Whitby or take a scenic steam train journey from Goathland Station, the setting for Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film.
You may like to stop at a country Inn before your return to York.
Overnight: York - Recommended Hotel: The Grand Hotel York.
The ruins of Fountains Abbey are extraordinary. The structure is part of a complex of buildings and water gardens, making the whole worthy of World Heritage Status.
The experience is sublime; First, you will be inspired by the scale of the dissolved monastic ruins and later Fountains Hall. Then the green water gardens reveal themselves as a serene emerald haven. It is a magical place, and on warm days your driver-guide can arrange a picnic on the grounds.
In the afternoon, take a mini hike, visit an old castle, go cheese tasting or see a waterfall. The Yorkshire Dales are magnificently windswept and interesting.
Overnight: The Yorkshire Dales National Park - Recommended Hotel: Swinton Park Hotel.
From the Dales to the Lakes. Your driver-guide will take you on a spectacular driving route over mountain passes, into valleys and stops at historical small towns before arriving at your Lakeland retreat.
There's time for the more energetic to take a short hike up Cat Bells to get the flavour of England's Lake District. For those who prefer less driving, we can arrange Ghyll Scrambling (jumping from one hillside pool to another with all safety equipment and instructors) and Kayaking. Another activity could be "tubing", meaning floating down gentle mountain rapids on an inflatable tube.
Some may prefer afternoon tea with a view. It is up to you.
Overnight: The Lake District National Park - Recommended Hotel: The Samling Hotel.
Some may prefer a big hill and enjoy climbing that and taking in the magnificent views.
For others taking on Helvellyn Peak is a fun challenge that most people in good shape can tackle. The reward is some of the most stunning views in England. This is a fully guided mountain hike.
The more adventurous can approach the summit via Striding Edge, a dramatic sharp ridge with incredible views. We can arrange a lunch BBQ in the valley below or a hearty pub lunch after the climb.
Overnight: The Lake District National Park - Recommended Hotel: The Samling Hotel.
You can enjoy gentle walks to waterfalls and caves if you feel sore from climbing. Stop for a great pub lunch before boarding the train at Preston for your journey to (2hrs 30mins approximately) London. Take a nap on the train while your driver guide whisks your luggage to your London Hotel.
Overnight: London - Best Four and Five Star Hotels, London.
Your chauffeur will be with you 15 minutes before you need to depart to load the vehicle and last-minute room checks.
Ghyll Scrambling
Walk the City Walls
Scrambling through the Ghylls
Three Tuns Pub , York
Stonegate Street in Summer
The Old Shambles York
Crummock Water, the Lakes
The East Window, York Minster
The Glorious Lake District
The road to Dent, Yorkshire Dales
The Yorkshire Dales near Hawes
Striding Edge, Helvellyn Peak, the Lakes
Buttermere, The Lake District
Help us make your trip exceptional
Our UK office-based staff will listen to what you want to see and experience.
Whether you’re planning a romantic escape, a family adventure, a corporate retreat, or incorporating the Lake District into a wider itinerary such as our Classic or Town and Country tours, our team will design a personalised experience tailored to your interests.
To begin planning, we’ll ask for your arrival and departure dates, your travel preferences, and the places or activities you’d most like to include.
We’ll then create a draft itinerary and email it to you for review. Once everything is confirmed, you’ll receive a Booking Confirmation along with your personalised itinerary and information pack.
Contact information
From the UK: +44(0)20 8669 3666
FREE from Canada or the USA: 1-888-472-1799
Email: [email protected]