Settle to Carlisle & Bronte Country

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 After leaving Chelmsford at 7.00am, depending on your pick-up point, we head north, stopping on route to arrive at the Craiglands Hotel early evening in time to settle in before our evening meal.

Day 2 This morning we embark on a circular scenic drive, taking in the wonders of West Yorkshires most famous villages. Our first stop is pretty Hebden Bridge in the upper Calder Valley, a filming location for the popular Happy Valley TV series. We next travel to Keighley via picturesque Haworth, home of the famous Bronte Sisters, and an undisputed literary mecca. In the afternoon we enjoy a one way journey through Bronte Country on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. We return to the hotel early afternoon where we have free time to explore the pretty spa town of Ilkley.

Day 3 We have an early breakfast this morning, before setting off to Settle to board the morning departure on the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway. On our two hour journey, we travel through 72 miles of unspoilt countryside enjoying the breath-taking scenery through the Yorkshire Dales, passing over the world-famous Ribblehead Viaduct, through the Pennines and into Cumbria. On arrival in Carlisle, we enjoy free time for lunch before we continue our journey by coach to our next hotel in Gretna.

Day 4 Today we visit the award-winning Devil's Porridge Museum where the majority of munitions were produced during WWI by an army of women determined to do their bit for the war effort. In the afternoon we visit the Gretna Green Blacksmiths Shop, where we experience a wedding re-enactment at The Gretna Green Story Exhibition, housed within the original blacksmith's cottage and workshop.

Day 5 Today we say goodbye to our hosts and head south with suitable stops on route back to Chelmsford arriving early evening approx.