Begin beside York Minster, one of the great cathedrals of northern Europe. This short opening stop sets the scene for the tour: medieval religion, power, wealth, pilgrimage, architecture and the religious upheaval that later reshaped England. Admission tickets are not included. Any paid entry is optional and payable directly to the attraction, either on-site or in advance. Entry is not required to enjoy the tour, as all sites can be viewed and experienced from the exterior. Admission prices are set by the attractions and may vary.

Visit the atmospheric ruins of Byland Abbey, once one of Yorkshire’s great Cistercian monasteries. Its scale, setting and surviving architecture show how powerful these religious houses became before the Reformation changed everything.

A beautiful historic village with strong connections to the surrounding abbeys, estates and landscapes of North Yorkshire. This stop gives guests a quieter look at village life, local heritage and the world that grew around Yorkshire’s great religious houses.

Visit one of Yorkshire’s most striking landmarks: the huge white horse carved into the hillside above Kilburn. This scenic stop gives guests sweeping views across the Vale of York and a sense of the landscape that connected abbeys, villages, estates and old routes across North Yorkshire.

Visit one of England’s most atmospheric ruined abbeys, hidden in a quiet valley beneath wooded hills. Rievaulx was once one of the most powerful Cistercian monasteries in the country, and its ruins tell the story of faith, wealth, landscape and the dramatic destruction brought by the Reformation. Guests can choose to enter the abbey, or enjoy views of the ruins and surrounding valley from outside. Admission tickets are not included. Any paid entry is optional and payable directly to the attraction, either on-site or in advance. Entry is not required to enjoy the tour, as all sites can be viewed and experienced from the exterior. Admission prices are set by the attractions and may vary.

Stop in the historic market town of Helmsley, one of the most attractive towns on the edge of the North York Moors. This is a good chance for guests to stretch their legs, enjoy refreshments, take photos, and see how Yorkshire’s abbeys, castles, villages and market towns all connected across the landscape.

A quiet historic church stop in the village of Oswaldkirk, giving guests a more intimate glimpse of Yorkshire’s religious landscape beyond the great abbeys. This is a short atmospheric stop, useful for linking the grand monastic sites with the smaller parish churches and villages that shaped everyday medieval life.

End the tour at Clifford’s Tower, one of York’s most recognisable historic landmarks. This final stop brings the story back to the city, linking York’s religious importance with royal power, medieval conflict and the darker layers of its past. Admission tickets are not included. Any paid entry is optional and payable directly to the attraction, either on-site or in advance. Entry is not required to enjoy the tour, as all sites can be viewed and experienced from the exterior. Admission prices are set by the attractions and may vary.