BOBH – Day Tours of Yorkshire

BOBH – Day Tours of Yorkshire: The Easiest Way to See Moors, Dales & Whitby from York

If you’re based in York and want to see “big-screen Yorkshire” — rolling dales, wild moorland and coastal towns — BOBH – Day Tours of Yorkshire is one of the most established small-group tour operators doing exactly that.

They operate from Duncombe Place (right by York Minster) and specialise in guided day trips into the North York Moors, Whitby, the Yorkshire Dales, Herriot Country and Brontë Country. York

Below is what to expect, who it’s best for, and a few details you’ll want to know before booking.

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What Is BOBH – Day Tours of Yorkshire?

BOBH (often branded as Best of Britain – Yorkshire Day Tours) is a Yorkshire-based tour company focused on showcasing the region to visitors who’d rather not drive. Their core product is friendly, small-group guided day trips from York, with additional private tours that can start from York, Leeds or Harrogate. York

Key traits:

– Small groups in a comfortable 16-seat minicoach with a driver-guide.
– Day trips from York to:
– North York Moors & Whitby
– Yorkshire Dales National Park
– Herriot Country (linked to All Creatures Great and Small)
– Brontë Country around Haworth
– Mix of public and private tours, so you can either join a scheduled small group or book something made just for your party. – Day Tours of Yorkshire

Review scores on major platforms such as TripAdvisor consistently sit very high (around 5/5 at the time of writing), with guests praising the guides’ knowledge, organisation and scenery-rich routes.

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Their Signature Day Trips from York

1. Whitby & The North York Moors

One of BOBH’s flagship trips is the full-day Whitby & North York Moors itinerary. It combines a classic seaside town with some of the most dramatic moorland in England.

According to Visit York and partner tour descriptions, this tour typically includes: York

– Around three hours of free time in Whitby – enough for the abbey, fish and chips and strolling the harbour.
– A drive across the North York Moors National Park, with heather-clad scenery in season.
– Photo and wander stops at spots such as:
– Kilburn White Horse
– Helmsley, a handsome market town
– Goathland, used as Hogsmeade Station in the Harry Potter films
– Lealholm, a small village set in Eskdale

Live commentary on the coach connects the dots between geology, history and TV/film locations, which is a big part of the appeal for visitors who enjoy storytelling alongside scenery.

2. Herriot & The Yorkshire Dales Day Trip

If you’re a fan of All Creatures Great and Small or want a classic Dales experience without driving, the Herriot & Yorkshire Dales Day Trip is the one to look at.

The official BOBH itinerary includes stops such as: – Day Tours of Yorkshire

– Grassington – used as the fictional town of Darrowby in the new All Creatures Great and Small TV series.
– Masham – a traditional market town in Lower Wensleydale.
– Bolton Abbey – with atmospheric ruins of a 12th-century Augustinian monastery in a river setting.
– Linton Falls – a photogenic limestone waterfall area.

The tour is structured as a full day with multiple short walks and village stops, so it’s more “explore and photograph” than “sit on the bus all day.” Guests often mention cheese tasting at Wensleydale Creamery and other Dales food stops in their reviews.

3. Private Tours & TV-Location Themed Trips

On top of the scheduled public departures, BOBH also offers private day trips, often themed around TV and literary worlds: – Day Tours of Yorkshire

– Private “All Creatures Great and Small” tours in the Yorkshire Dales
– Bronte Country & Yorkshire Dales private day trips
– Tailored private routes into the North York Moors, Whitby or Herriot Country from York, Harrogate or Thirsk

These private options suit travellers with mobility considerations or very specific filming locations they want to see; the company can adjust the pace and stops more easily on a private charter.

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What the Experience Is Actually Like

Group Size & Transport

BOBH’s day trips use a 16-seat minicoach with a professional driver-guide.

That smaller vehicle size matters in Yorkshire:

– It can use narrow rural roads that big coaches avoid.
– You’re not spending your day waiting for 50+ people to get on and off at every stop.
– Guides can respond to individual questions and give a more conversational commentary.

Guides & Commentary

Reviews repeatedly highlight guides by name and describe them as knowledgeable, organised and personable, with a strong grasp of local history, TV/film trivia and practical tips.

Expect:

– Live commentary between stops
– Short orientation walks in villages
– Suggestions for lunch spots and quick sights at each stop
– Time built in for photos rather than constant driving

Typical Day Structure

For public day trips, the schedule usually looks like: – Day Tours of Yorkshire

– 09:00 – Departure from Duncombe Place, outside the Dean Court Hotel (by York Minster).
– Morning – First scenic drive and photo/village stop.
– Midday – Longer stop for lunch (often in a market town or Whitby).
– Afternoon – Additional viewpoints, villages or attractions.
– Late afternoon – Return drive to York, ending where you started.

Durations listed on partner booking sites are typically full-day (around 8+ hours).

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Accessibility, Inclusivity & Practical Constraints

BOBH publishes some clear information on accessibility, which is important if you’re travelling with mixed abilities.

From official listings:

– Wheelchairs:
– Standard wheelchairs can be carried in the luggage compartment of the minicoach.
– Boarding the coach:
– There are three steps up into the vehicle.
– Handrails are available at the entrance to assist with boarding and exiting.
– Assistance dogs:
– Registered assistance dogs can usually be accommodated on trips by prior arrangement (they ask guests to contact the team before booking).

Reality check:

– The tours involve getting on and off the coach multiple times and walking on uneven surfaces in villages and countryside (for example around waterfalls and abbey ruins).
– Travellers with limited mobility who can manage a few steps and short, gentle walks often find it manageable, but those needing completely step-free access should contact BOBH directly to confirm what’s currently possible.

Tour commentary is in English; if you’re travelling with someone who’s not confident in English, it’s worth planning ahead with maps or written notes so they still feel included.

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Meeting Point, Location & How to Get There

According to both destination listings and BOBH’s own tour descriptions, public day trips from York generally: – Day Tours of Yorkshire

– Start and end at:
– Duncombe Place, York YO1 7EF, United Kingdom
– Outside the Dean Court Hotel, very close to York Minster
– Use a clear sign or branded minicoach so you can identify your group on arrival.

The at the mapped coordinates — 53.962039, -1.083939 — line up with this central York location, making it easy to reach on foot from most city-centre accommodation.

If you’re travelling in by train just for the tour, York Station is roughly a 10–15 minute walk from Duncombe Place depending on your pace.

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Booking, Prices & What Might Be Outdated

At the time of writing, sample prices on official and partner sites look roughly like this: – Day Tours of Yorkshire

– Public day tours (e.g. Herriot & Yorkshire Dales) – listed around £90 per person.
– Private TV-location tours (e.g. “All Creatures Great and Small” from York or Harrogate) – listed from around £595 per group (up to four people) on some platforms.

These figures are indicative only and particularly vulnerable to change due to:

– Seasonal demand
– Fuel and operating costs
– Third-party booking fees or discounts

For accurate current pricing, departure days and seasonal availability, always cross-check directly on the official website (bobholidays.com) or through the booking partner you actually use. – Day Tours of Yorkshire

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Who BOBH Is Best For

Based on the routes and structure, BOBH – Day Tours of Yorkshire is especially good for:

– Travellers without a car in the UK who still want to see the Dales or Moors in a single day from York.
– First-time visitors to Yorkshire who want a curated “highlights reel” with some context rather than driving blind.
– Fans of British TV and literature, particularly:
– All Creatures Great and Small
– The Brontë novels
– Harry Potter (for the Goathland/Hogsmeade filming location) – Day Tours of Yorkshire
– Solo travellers and older guests who prefer the security of a guided group and don’t want to navigate rural roads.

If you already know Yorkshire extremely well and you love slow, multi-day hikes, you might find a single day tour too “greatest hits” — but for most visitors based in York for a short stay, the format works.

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How to Get the Most Out of Your Day Tour

A few practical, non-obvious tips:

– Book earlier for peak season. Summer and school holidays can fill up because there are only so many seats on a 16-passenger coach.
– Arrive 10–15 minutes before departure. The coach leaves at 09:00, and rural itineraries don’t have much slack for latecomers. – Day Tours of Yorkshire
– Pack for changeable weather. Yorkshire is famous for giving you sunshine, wind and rain on the same day. Layers and a light waterproof are more useful than heavy gear.
– Wear sensible shoes. Abbey ruins, village lanes and waterfall viewpoints can all involve uneven ground and occasional mud.
– Plan your York time around the tour. Use the tour day for countryside, then keep another day largely within the city walls for museums, Minster and chocolate-themed attractions.

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