Follow us on:

Contact | +44 (0)845 260 1085

A City Discovery: Edinburgh & York

  • England
    •
  • OVERVIEW
  • ITINERARY
  • HIGHLIGHTS


itinerary Map

A City Discovery: Edinburgh & York

14 Days

Explore two of Britain’s most beautiful and historical cities on this two-week journey through England and Scotland. Split your time between exploring the city streets and the peaceful countryside as you uncover the local history and culture.

Begin in York, discovering the city’s long and winding history as well as the beauty of the surrounding area before you travel by train to Edinburgh, Scotland’s vibrant capital. Finally, venture to the rugged Highlands and the charming Isle of Skye.

GET IN TOUCH
  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   

ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS



All of Dream Escape programmes are tailormade and could include any of the following exclusive experiences:

  • Step inside an awe-inspiring cathedral; the largest in northern Europe. Light floods the nave, pouring through the biggest collection of medieval stained glass in England.

 

  • Discover the Scotland of your imagination as you explore the Highlands; where the heather-clad hills and ancient landscapes are filled with castles, clans, and culture.

 

  • Walk down Europe’s best-preserved medieval street, the overhanging timber-framed buildings are just inches apart in some places and date back to the 14th century.

 

  • Get swept away by the scale and beauty of a 18th century stately home, which had designs so ambitious that it took over one-hundred years to build.

 

  • Let a private guide lead you through the cobbled streets of Edinburgh’s Old Town, where the tightly packed buildings, narrow closes and hidden courtyards are brimming with history.

 

  • Go on a guided walk with a local ranger through the Scotland’s most famous glen in heart of an ancient volcano.

 

  • Spend the day exploring one of England’s most beautiful national parks. Filled with spectacular limestone valleys, picturesque villages and historic castles, it stirs the emotions and senses of every visitor.
  • Visit a local farm and enjoy a working sheepdog demonstration which provides fascinating insight into the local way of life.

 

  • Step inside the mighty fortress of Edinburgh Castle and learn about its dramatic and turbulent history.

 

  • Accompany a local guide as they walk you through York; discover its impressive architecture where Georgian mansions, Viking settlements, Gothic masterpieces and Victorian streets are all held within the Roman walls.

 

  • Travel by ferry to the Isle of Skye and escape from the rush of the modern world on this breath-taking and secluded island.

 

  • Board a privately chartered, luxury motor cruiser after being greeted by a resplendent lone piper and sail across the waters of Scotland’s most famous loch.

 

  • Taste the ‘water of life’ with a guided tour and extended tasting at a Scotch single malt whisky distillery.

 

For your accommodation Dream Escape recommends a host of wonderful properties. In York and Edinburgh, stay in two former railway hotels, both grand and luxurious in their own right. Then move onto a stunning Victorian castle nestled at the foot of Britain’s tallest mountain before ending your journey at a beautiful Regency house surrounded by walled gardens, woodland and streams.

Contact our Creative Planners Now


HIGHLIGHTS

VIEW ALL HIGHLIGHTS


  •   
  •   
  •   
  •   

HIGHLIGHTS

VIEW ALL HIGHLIGHTS

THINGS TO DO

YORK MINSTER

If there is one building that epitomises York, it is the majestic Gothic cathedral called York Minster. The site was once the headquarters of the Romans who occupied the city, but the cathedral as it stands today was consecrated in 1472 following a build time of 250 years. It contains what many consider to be Britain’s greatest concentration of stained glass, including the Great East Window.

THE SHAMBLES – YORK

The Shambles are often regarded as Europe’s best preserved medieval street. It is complete with overhanging timber-framed buildings some dating back to the 14th century.

CASTLE HOWARD

Castle Howard is a truly magnificent 18th century house, it is situated in stunning parkland dotted with temples, lake statues and fountains. You’ll also be swept away by the scale and the beauty of Castle Howard’s monumental landscape, which offers spectacular views at every turn.

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Edinburgh Castle, perched on ancient volcanic rock, has stood guard over the city for 900 years and is brimming with tales, from it near destruction on the order of King of Scots, Robert the Bruce to its role as a garrisoned fortress through the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite Risings.

HIGHLAND FARM VISIT

Meet the Highland Cattle. With their fluffy hair and long horns, the cows are a true icon of Scotland and make for a great photo opportunity! Perhaps also take the time to meet some of the farm’s smaller residents – chickens, turkeys, pigs, and sheep. Lambing takes place at the end of April, and you will be welcome to feed any pet lambs that may be around.

JACOBITE STEAM TRAIN

Travel over the 21 arches of the Glenfinnian Viaduct, now best known from the Harry Potter films.

TRAQUAIR HOUSE

Traquair House dates back to 1107, the house claims to be the oldest continually inhabited house in Scotland and was originally a hunting lodge for the kings and queens of Scotland. It has hosted 27 Monarchs including Mary, Queen of Scots.

LOCH NESS MOTOR CRUISE

Extending 23 miles, the loch provides spectacular views – the scenery is breath-taking regardless of the time of year.

CAWDOR CASTLE AND GARDENS

A fairy-tale castle is best known for its role in Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

PLACES VISITED

EDINBURGH

Scotland’s historic capital city. Edinburgh, sometimes referred to as the “Athens of the North”, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neo- classical New Town, dating from the 18th century. The harmonious connection of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character and saw it awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1995.

ST ANDREWS GOLF COURSES

St Andrews is the undisputed home of golf. It has seven magnificent courses, including the world-renowned Old Course, which remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris in the mid-to-late 19th century. To play the hallowed grounds of the Old Course is often viewed as the pinnacle in any golfers’ history.

A RANGER GUIDED WALK IN GLENCOE

Scotland’s most famous glen.  It is often considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful places in the country and certainly one of the most dramatic; thundering waterfalls tumble down the sides of mountains into sparkling lochs. Scenery and geology aside, the glen has its place firmly in the history books due to its savage history. It was the site of the infamous massacre of Clan Macdonald of Glencoe by government troops in 1692. Reserved privately, a local guide will take you on a guided walk.

 

ISLE OF SKYE

Unquestionably the most popular isle of the Inner Hebrides. Voted by National Geographic as one of the world’s top five islands, it is rich in history and romance, famed for its natural beauty, traditional charm, breath-taking scenery and wildlife.

LOCH NESS

Extending 23 miles, Loch Ness provides spectacular views regardless of the time of year.The loch’s cold, deep waters are said to be home to the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as Nessie. It is said that the first sighting of the monster was in the 6th century by St. Columba, and sporadic sightings have been reported ever since.

YORKSHIRE DALES

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is home to some of Yorkshire’s most iconic scenery and attractions. With spectacular limestone valleys, picturesque villages and historic castles, it is a place that stirs the emotions and stimulates the senses of every visitor. The National Park was established in 1954 and covers an area of 680 square miles, straddling the central Pennines.

 

  • "Incredible service ! The BEST tour guides, tour options and always available to help smooth over any "snafus" that we ran across during our vacation. 5-star, A+ rating from us."

    Clients of Jessica Thompson, Fairway Travel, Virtuoso

  • "....their time in the U.K. was PERFECT – loved everything you guys did for them, and sang praises for everyone! Thank you!! "

    Connie Hanes, Herff Travel

  • "Everyone, from the Tour Guides to our excellent driver, were amazing. All aspects of the trip were beyond expectations. Even changing our day schedule for outside reasons (like the airline sending my bag to a city 120miles away) they were always happy to help and move the schedule around so we could keep enjoying our trip. Everyone made us feel at home and like family."

    Client of Leah Molinari, Molinari Travel, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dream Escape was the trip of a lifetime. Excellent choice of hotels, tour guide was awesome, the planned tours were wonderful and very informative."

    Client of Trisha Rathke, VIP Travel Designs, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dreamscape designed an itinerary that combined an exploration of Scottish history and culture and a visit to some of the filming locations for the hit TV show Outlander. The tour guides provided were personable and knowledgeable and responsive to our interests. Our driver who was with us for the entire trip was professional and pleasant and again, flexible and sensitive to our interests. The hotels were magnificent and the pacing of the trip, spending at least two nights in each hotel was perfect. The itinerary was everything we wanted!"

    Client of Susan Morley, Journeys around the World, Cadence

  • "Sally Strange was wonderful so knowledgable, friendly and fun. 100% would use her services again. We feel like we have a friend for life! We LOVED our tours, where we ate lunch, and spending the days with Sally......Thanks (once again!) for looking after our clients so well. We so appreciate you. "

    Lauren Ainsley, Black Tomato

  • "Rosie...thank you for giving us such a world-class experience in Scotland. Everyone had such a wonderful time and your presence was a large part of that. Your warmth and generosity in taking care of us on our little excursion is so beyond appreciated and I can’t wait to work with you again soon."

    Alex Martinetti

  • "Thank you so very much for the amazing trip to Scotland that you planned for us!! It was truly a once in a lifetime fabulous family trip!! Not only were the accommodations perfect, the activities were above expectations, given the people involved with so much knowledge and compassion for what they do....Many, many heartfelt thanks for making this trip so very special for our family. "

    Clients of Kristen Meckem, Kristen Meckem Travel, An Affiliate of Brownell

  • "I work regularly with Michael Davies, who I can not praise enough! Michael is a gem to work with and always delivers extraordinary client itineraries. "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "We cannot thank you enough for all you did for us during our stay in Scotland! We loved every minute of it....and we loved you teaching us the history of each town and visit. "

    The Pogue Family - Clients of Amy Spence, Strong Travel

  • "We are so grateful for professionalism, expertise, and purely fun personality to entertain and educate our clients in all things royal! I do believe it was a smashing success. 😊"

    Pat Bowden, Red Letter Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell

  • "Michael does such an outstanding job with making sure every itinerary he works on with me is well thought out. He is attentive to detail and always allows for the clients interest to be reflected in their tours. He makes sure that the perfect tour operator and chauffeur is paired with each client. I wanted you to know what a pleasure it is working with Michael and knowing my clients will always be well cared for when traveling with Dream Escape! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Without a doubt, what made all of it so special and unforgettable was having the true pleasure of having Sally Strange as our guide. She was truly incredible..so full of life, energy, amazing historical knowledge anywhere we visited was extraordinary. Her sense of humor and fun personality made her extra special. Sally was a winner in every way."

    Clients of Betsy Talbot, Travel by Talbot (Brownell)

  • "Your team excelled on all levels! The execution of the itinerary was flawless!!! Well done. The clients LOVED Sally and this was just the second note from them about how exceptional she was. "

    Cathy Major, Cerulean World Travel

  • "I just wanted to send an e-mail to compliment the excellent service I have received with Susie Little. She has been absolutely wonderful to work with. She is quick to respond, easily answers all of our questions, and has had to be patient with my clients as we have made many changes and updates to the itinerary. I really appreciate all of her hard work and the beautiful itinerary she put together for my clients. They said they were in AWE and everything looked fabulous! Thank you for providing such excellent service and I look forward to working with you in the near future! Thank you so much!"

    Krista Boyles, Unique Romance Travel

  • "I want to extend my deepest gratitude for your incredible work on this project, we really could not have gotten it across the finish line without you and your team 😊"

    Marieta Carrrero, Boost Journeys

  • "I just wanted to take a moment to thank everyone at Dream Escape who helped in making the Gialamas' visit to London special. I know Dream Escape has many people behind the scenes that work on making an itinerary such as this flow seamlessly and I just wanted to say thank you for all of your hard work! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Activities & Tours - All the events and guides were outstanding.- Guides - Simply the best. All of them. All outstanding! "

    Black Tomato Clients

  • "Thank you for everything you did to make the entire trip, special presentations and events so special. It has added a sparkle in my life!"

    Gretchen Ashworth Stewart, Client

  • "Dream Escape, to no one’s surprise, is the best in the business. I cannot begin to thank you for crafting a perfect vacation for these clients. They had nothing but fabulous things to say about each and every event."

    Nancy Ebel, Virtuoso Travel Advisor

  • "Couldn’t have asked for a better 1st trip to London!......The sites we saw were the best & Sally, you went above & beyond to make it memorable"

    Shannon Marie Long - Reed and Mackay

  • "Delightful to spend time and see the incredible city of London with you all. Dream Escape for a flawless job in seeing the best bespoke sites, Sally you are amazing. Thank you again as this was amazing"

    Josh Whitaker - Owner, Rudi Steele Travel

  • "Probably the best of the best in the UK and Ireland for organising amazing trips. They know their stuff, have fantastic relationships with suppliers and always go the extra mile."

    Rob Arrow, Al Tayyar Group

  • "Lovely suite. Fabulous private tours. Everything has exceeded our expectations. "

    William A Heim, Client

  • "I had the most wonderful time with you and learned so much...What you offer is rare and much needed in the truly exclusive travel world. "

    Jean Newman-Glock, Signature Travel Network

  • "You were the heart and soul of the trip….I truly admired your sunny personality, sense of humor, organization and professionalism.  You also demonstrated  that a guide’s work is never done as you were constantly researching….. Did you ever rest??? "

    Sharon Delano, Frosch

  • "We want to thank you and the team from Dream Escape.  All six of us in our group had a wonderful time, and we all agreed we owed that in large measure to the work of Dream Escape. From the onset of working with you, you demonstrated a tremendous knowledge about all the activities we wished to pursue —from playing golf to dining at excellent restaurants to seeing historical sites and the Tattoo and Fringe Festival.  And, then you executed "

    Thomas Cohen, Client

  • "THANK YOU a zillion times over for choosing/assigning Rosie to be with this family.  She MADE the trip for them – there’s no other way to put it! "

    Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

  • "Our holiday in Scotland now tops their lists of best trips…… To their growing list of amazing and memorable first-time experiences, our sons may add fishing for trout and salmon on the River Tay; steering a motor boat on Loch Ness; and taking private guided tours on Culloden Moor Of the eight full days we were in Scotland, Alex and Mattie thought each and every day was the best"

    Michael Guadarrama & Trammi Nguyen, clients of Peter Carideo. CRC Travel

  • "All six of us were deeply moved by the whole experience. Bravo Dream Escape "

    Max Levy, Direct client

  • "Thank you Karen and all of the staff and guides affiliated with Dream Escape…..the Flemings are having an awesome tour of Scotland. You all have made me look like a star! "

    Joni Gerace, The Travel Society, LLC

  • "Thanks for all your help and we can chalk this one up as a big success!   Our anniversary celebration was all we could have hoped for "

    Clients of Courtney Regan, Affiliate of Brownell Travel

  • "Rosie was MORE than outstanding – she went out of her way to help us in every regard...She was so knowledgeable – we all loved her"

    Jill A. Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

  • "I cannot thank you, Nicola and all the Dream Escape “clan” for the wonderful care & attention you have provided, and are providing for my clients"

    Cindy Evans, Travel Consultant

  • "I hope I have another opportunity to work with Dream Escape in the near future. The company is so professional, yet approachable and easy to work with. It has been a pleasure!"

    Carole McFarland, Universal Travel

  • "Dream Escape is delivering in a superb manner. Jim Johnston is a great driver and one of the best guides we've had - I wish to very much thank the Dream Escape Team for fulfilling a Dream…"

    Donald M. Davis, President, Luxury Travel, Inc.

  • "Thank you all so much it's great to have trusted friends on the ground to take care of our clients!"

    Peter Carideo, CRC Travel

  • "The trip was great.... Dream Escape is the name of the game"

    Ann Lipschitz, Worldview Travel

  • "Your level of service is just outstanding"

    Debra Fini, VWTI

  • "Dream Escape don’t just organise trips – they create adventures"

    Financial Times, How to Spend it

  • "It was, without doubt, one of the most spectacular weekends I have ever had"

    Country Life

  • "David Tobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates and he’s well connected.... "

    Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

  • "The level of service they provide is outstanding. They truly care about every aspect of the trip to ensure you have a fantastic stay. Rosie is a hidden gem of a tour guide. Just fabulous."

    Yvonne Malka, Signature Travel Network, April 2018

FAQ’S | T&C’s | Privacy Policy | Photo Credits

All rights reserved © 2017 DREAM ESCAPE