Holidays
7 Night Discover More of the Western Yorkshire Dales

7 Night Discover More of the Western Yorkshire Dales

Small group holidays in Yorkshire Dales

7 nights

Jul, Aug

182kg CO2

7 nights from

Add to favourites Remove from favourites

Members

From

£1,179

Non-members

From

£1,209

Groups of 10+

or call

020 3974 8865

Discover the places and people that have helped shape the Western Yorkshire Dales through memorable sightseeing stops and unique experiences. Uncover the area's history at the Dales Countryside Museum and get a taste of the region with a trip to Wensleydale Creamery to try Yorkshire’s most famous cheese. There’ll also be a talk from an expert on Sedbergh’s status as England's official book town, and a stroll to Cotter Force waterfall – one of this landscape’s many natural wonders. You’ll even visit the historic Lake District market town of Kendal, plus a family-run farm in Ravenstondale to find out how local goat’s cheese is made.

What You’ll Love

The Cheesemaking Experience at Wensleydale Creamery
Exploring Kirkby Stephen East Station with a talk by a local train enthusiast
Visiting Piper Hole Goat Farm, Cumbria’s first “Coronation Meadow”
Admiring Kendal Quaker tapestry's 77 embroidered panels
Learning about the past at Sedbergh and Dent Heritage Museum
Spending time in the manicured gardens of Winton Park
A more personalised experience thanks to small group sizes (maximum 15 people)

What's Included

Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
Cream tea on arrival day
Cooked and continental breakfast every morning
Daily packed lunches
Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
Guided sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays leader
All transport included in the itinerary
All entrance fees
Easy-to-follow routes, maps and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently

Trip Suitability

This holiday is active and busy with visits throughout the day. You will need to be able to get on and off minibuses with ease, and be able to walk up to 2 miles, across uneven, grassy terrain where the ground can be slippery underfoot. It is important for your own and your fellow guests’ enjoyment that you can maintain the pace. We’ve provided a simple fitness test below, which will help you assess whether this holiday is for you:

You should be able to do the following:

Walk for one hour at a reasonable pace (2 miles per hour) without needing to take a break to rest
Climb two flights of stairs at a reasonable pace
Stand unaided for an hour
Stand up and sit down ten times in one minute
Please ensure you able to fulfil these fitness requirements, to ensure you get the very best from your holiday.

Itinerary

Close all Expand all

Check-in at the hotel is available from 16:00. If you are a member you can arrive at the house from 14:00. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea at 16:30 and meet other guests.

Start the day with a visit to the Dales Countryside Museum for a talk with one of the curators. It’s then on to Wensleydale creamery for the full cheese experience where guests will be given a cheesemaking demonstration and tour.

In the afternoon, we’ll enjoy a short stroll to Cotter Force, a waterfall on Cotterdale Beck which is a minor tributary of the River Ure.

Our day begins with a trip to Kirkby Stephen East, a station which served the Kirkby Stephen community for over 100 years. There are historical carriages to view and we’ll enjoy a talk from a local train enthusiast who can paint a picture of what life was like when the station was open. Following on from our visit, we’ll have time to explore Kirkby Stephen before we head to Winton Park Gardens. Open for only a handful of days each year, Winton Park was created from scratch by Anthony and Janet Kilvington. Spread over five acres the varying aspects of the garden are linked by a series of paths which culminate with a bridge over the stream at the highest part, giving spectacular views of Wild Boar Fell and Mallerstang Edge.

In the evening, we will be joined by one of Sedbergh’s book shop owners who will talk to us about its status as England’s official book town.

Discover more about Thorns Hall and the local area for ideas on how to fill your free day.

We start the day with a trip to Piper Hole Goat Farm – the farm consists of SSSi meadow land, recognised as Cumbria’s first “Coronation Meadow”. It is also home to a herd of goats. Milked twice per day their milk is made into soap or pasteurised and made into a range of quality goat’s cheese.

After a morning with the goats, guests can walk to Smardale Gill Viaduct. Designed by Cumbrian Engineer Sir Thomas Bouch the viaduct was built wide enough for double track, but never carried more than a single line of rails. Your guide will introduce you to the area's unique geology, too.

On our way home, we’ll will stop by the Fat Lamb Inn for some refreshments. The pub boasts an award-winning restaurant and is as much famous for its food as it is its motoring memorabilia adorning the walls.

Today begins with a trip to the quaker meeting house at Brigflatts before heading to Kendal, where we’ll visit the Quaker Tapestry. This tells the story of quakers over 77 embroidered panels. Once in Kendal, there’ll be a tour of the town before free time to explore. In the afternoon, we’ll visit a farm in Garsdale to learn about regenerative farming and bogs, and have the option to stop by a neighbouring farm which focusses on sustainable livestock farming.

Our final day starts with a visit to the heritage museum in Dent, where we’ll learn about the terrible knitters and life in the village over the years. Following the museum, there will be a chance to walk part of the Sedgwick trail before we travel to Kirkby Lonsdale to visit Laura’s Loom, an independent supplier of beautiful blankets woven from fully traceable British wool sourced directly from farms in the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria. From here, we’ll visit Farfield Mill for an introductory talk about this art craft & heritage gallery set on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.

Download trip notes

Accommodation

Thorns Hall

Delivering on all fronts for countryside lovers, this cosy Grade II-listed manor house is just a skip away from Sedbergh – the Cumbrian market town treasured for its cobbled streets, public school, artisan shops, and bookshops (it’s known as England’s official book town for good reason). You’ll also have the Yorkshire Dales National Park on your doorstep as well as the Howgill Fells - the small group of hills adored by legendary fellwalker, illustrator, and guidebook author Alfred Wainwright. The walking opportunities here are outstanding, but if you fancy travelling further afield there’s Kendal (home of the mint cake), Hawes, Wensleydale, Appleby-in-Westmorland, and Lake Windemere all within easy driving distance.

A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).

Evening entertainment

While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.

Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.

The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.

Check in & check out

You are welcome to check in from 4pm at the earliest. HF Members can check in earlier, from 2pm. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team. Check out 10am.

• 25 well-appointed guest rooms • Exclusive occupancy: 30 guests minimum • Check in from 4:00pm • For members check in from 2:00pm • Free Wi-Fi • Free on-site parking • Boot room and drying room • Travel cot & high chair • Discovery Point offering a wide range of local area maps, route guides, and information for self-guided walks • Books and games to borrow • Licensed bar • Lounges • Garden • Electric vehicle charging point - Please note, you will need to bring your own cables to use this EV charging point

Seasonal dining, tailored for you

Our team of skilled chefs design our dinner menus to showcase the best of each season, from warming winter comfort food to vibrant summer dishes, including vegetarian, vegan and high-protein options. We also source fruit and vegetables within a 40-mile radius of each house, open every break with a Chef’s Special menu inspired by dishes and flavours of the local area, and are able to adapt dishes to suit special dietary requirements.

Welcome Cream Tea

What better way to start your stay than with a cream tea, served fresh on arrival to make you feel instantly at home. A quintessentially English tradition, our scones are baked in-house and served with preserves and clotted cream, providing the perfect opportunity to meet fellow walkers.

A hearty breakfast to start the day

Start the day with a freshly-prepared cooked breakfast and a wide choice from our continental buffet, including hot drinks, juices and fresh fruit. Our team offer a quick and friendly service, leaving you fuelled and ready for your day’s adventures.

Our famous picnic lunch

Our personalised picnic lunches are perfect for a day out walking, ready to enjoy when hunger strikes. Choose from a large selection of fresh sandwiches and salads, freshly baked cakes and snacks, including the ever-popular Freddos chocolate bar! Everything is designed to fit neatly into your rucksack, and all of the packaging we provide is recyclable or compostable.

3-course evening meals

Our à la carte evening menus feature a wide choice of starters, mains, and desserts, made with seasonal ingredients and, wherever possible, herbs and vegetables from our own gardens. Shared around sociable tables, dinners are relaxed occasions, with drinks available to order at the table or from the bar, and a traditional Sunday roast to round off the week.

Designed with your comfort in mind, Thorns Hall has 25 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.

Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.

Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.

We love: The spacious Room 25 for its ground floor setting, brick fireplace, comfy seating, large bed, and gorgeous views of the gardens. Room 4 is large and airy while the cosier Room 13 has an exposed wood ceiling and courtyard view.

The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.

Room supplements

Superior	Premium single	Premium double/twin	Choose your room
£25 pppn	£20 pppn	£20 pppn	£30 per room

*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location

For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Thorns Hall

View more details View holidays here

More Information

Carbon Footprint - 182kg CO2

We see it as our responsibility to minimise our emissions, not just for this year but every year to come. Our work with sustainability experts, ecollective, has enabled us to measure our carbon footprint and create a strategy to reduce the carbon intensity of our product by 5% each year. Our ambition is to be net zero by 2040 – earlier if we can.

Learn more

Reviews

Code: SDB07-HCH05

2026

Back to dates

Fri 31 Jul – Fri 7 Aug 2026

Trip Note Download

Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Price - Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Supplement

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Itinerary: 7 Nights - Itinerary

Trip Type: Small group holidays

All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

Fri 14 Aug – Fri 21 Aug 2026

Trip Note Download

Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Price - Land Only

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Single Supplement

Members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Non-members

Call to Enquire

020 3974 8865

Itinerary: 7 Nights - Itinerary

Trip Type: Small group holidays

All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.

7 Night Discover More of the Western Yorkshire Dales

What You’ll Love

What's Included

Trip Suitability

Itinerary