Based on everyone's input, we're framed a tentative itinerary for the Yorkshire leg of our June 2014 trip. Even though the trip is a year away, we'd like to feel settled about where we're going so we can spend a happy year researching and anticipating what we're doing.

So, here it is:

York - 2 nights - we're looking at Turnberry House. http://www.turnberryhouse.com/pages/home.html

Our tentative plans include a ½ day trip to Holme-Upon-Spalding-Moor and Bubwith (homes of the ancestors), the Cathedral, Railway Museum, and a volunteer walking tour.

En route to our next stop, Helmsley, we'd like to visit Castle Howard.

Helmsley - 3 nights - we're looking at Westway Cottage. http://www.westway-cottage.co.uk/

Our tentative plans include Rievaulx Abbey, possibly the train to Whitby? What's the best way to see the coast?

En route to our next stop, Pateley Bridge, we'd like to visit Ripon (Cathedral, Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal), Masham (Hackfall Woods, Brymor Ice Cream, Black Sheep Brewery), and Bolton Abbey.

Pateley Bridge - 5 nights - we're looking at Prospect House or Lyndale Guest House. http://www.prospecthousebandbexclusive.co.uk/ http://www.lyndaleguesthouse.com/ind...le-guest-house

So far, our "to do" list for the Dales includes Richmond, Swaledale, Wensleydale, Leyburn (Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop), Hawes, Jervaulx Abbey.

Does the order and distribution of nights makes sense?

We'd love suggestions on what to see!

En route to our next stop, Pateley Bridge, we'd like to visit Ripon (Cathedral, Fountains Abbey, Studley Royal), Masham (Hackfall Woods, Brymor Ice Cream, Black Sheep Brewery), and Bolton Abbey.

That is a very long day. I'd allow "the Minster" in Ripon a couple of hours, plus a quick walk into town so another hour to Fountains. Fountains walk is a good 2 to 3 hours and the house (not up to snuff) another hour. Masham is tops 30 minutes away, the square and church need say an hour assuming some shopping, you have to fit in lunch somewhere, either the Black sheep brewery of the White Bear. But the tour takes 30 minutes.

Bolton abbey is about 45 minutes from Masham (pron MAZ-HAM), but you may want to take the odd photo and watch out for cattle on the road as you come out of Masham. (don't know the woods or the Ice Cream)

Bolton Abbey, the basic building and river crossing say 1 hours, but if you want to see the Strid and have a good walk I'd allow 3 hours. Then you have to get to Pateley bridge which is dead easy, I suggest the Sportsman's arms Restaurant( rather than pub) for supper.

I don't know Turnberry house but there are no photos of the road at the front so it may be noisy, I'd use street view a bit.

Prospect house looks way too expensive, it must be something very special

Morgana, your thoughts.

Fulford Road, is the A19, and in my experience very busy!

Thank you, bilboburgler. You may have been looking at the Prospect House rates for the 3-night packages? The website says from £65 per double room, or from £190 for a 3-night stay. I'll check street view for Turnberry House--good tip!

We're counting on the long mid-June days and our endurance (a work in progress!) to enable us to have a few packed days, but maybe we're overdoing it for our Helmsley-Pateley trip?

Thanks, hetismij2, that's very good to know. Do you know Prospect House?

Sorry, hetismij2--I confused myself. So, if not Turnberry, have you recommendations for York?

If you are a fan of James Heriot (All Creatures Great and Small--books and PBS series), you would enjoy Thirsk (Darrowby in the books).

www.thirsk.org.uk/

Www.visitthirsk.org.uk/

His original surgery is there and is now a museum.

Completely agree with Bilbo that you need to cut the Pateley Bridge/Ripon day down considerably. You won't get half of that done. A suggestion would be to cut out Bolton Abbey and visit Jervaulx Abbey instead as it's practically next door to Brymor ice cream.
Also Hackfall Woods are interesting but I wouldn't have them down on a to do list. They can also get very muddy so if you do decide to go, treat it as a proper walk with suitable footwear etc.
However, I don't want to tell you what you should include or miss out, that's your decision. But that day does need a rethink.
A few other thoughts -
I eat out a lot, all over the world, but my favourite restaurant is just a few miles up the road from Pateley Bridge. It's the Yorke Arms, Michelin starred and wonderful. If you fancy pushing the boat out one night (or one lunch time) this is the place to do it. It's where our family goes to celebrate special events. The service is superb and the food amazing.
http://www.yorke-arms.co.uk/
I know a visitor from America who recently stayed at Prospect House and was very happy there. If you follow this link below you can read her report. She's a great lady (I helped her and her group with their Yorkshire trip, now there's a surprise!) and I am sure she'd be more than happy if you contacted her and asked her about the property. You can send her a message via the site once you are registered.
http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/ShowTop...e_England.html

Sorry, no suggestions for a place to stay in York - I always stay with my brother, in Haxby, when I visit.
You could ask for a room at the back of the house at Turnberry of course.

We can recommend The Hazelwood B & B in York, our stay for 3 nights in October 2011. The king room on the ground floor was spacious and quiet. The Hazelwood is in a residential area just outside the walls and an easy walk to the minster.

Just a quick comment - I agree w the others. You can't possibly do all that in one day.

The driving is sloooow. And while the 'days' are longer, the admission times are not.

That day enroute to Pateley Bridge is easily two full days wort - and possibly three.

Thank you all very much. There appears to be consensus that we should rethink that day, so we will!

Morgana and trotters, thank you for the B&B reviews. And irishface, thank you for the Thirsk idea--we were just thinking we should start watching "All Creatures Great & Small!"

Morgana, would eating at the Yorke Arms be a good experience for someone with an assortment of dietary restrictions? E.g., I eat fish and chicken, but no other meat. I'm also lactose intolerant--cheese is okay (thank goodness), but no butter or cream.

I've no personal experience about dietary restrictions at the Yorke Arms so I would want you to contact them directly to check this out. I'd hate to give you false information. However I have always found their service excellent in every way. I don't go there half as often as I would like but they always greet me by name and are lovely. And the food is out of this world!

I've only eaten there once (mostly due to Morgana's recommendation) It was terrific.

The fish/chicken would be fine. They'd always have one or more fish/seafood starters and mains and usually some sort of fowl. The butter/cream might be more of a problem. But probably OK as long as you contact them in advance. I'd phone your reservation and talk to them - w/ previous notice they can likely do most anything.

Thanks, Morgana and janisj. I've visited the Yorke Arms website and it looks wonderful--probably well worth the effort to consult with them in advance.

In the event that either of you check in here again, are you familiar with wool shops in Yorkshire? I know about the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop, but wondered if there might be others.

Mrs Bilbo sees this as expensive http://baaramewe.co.uk/

"…are you familiar with wool shops in Yorkshire? I know about the Wensleydale Longwool Sheep Shop, but wondered if there might be others."

This is a well known woollen shop in Muker, Swaledale www.swaledalewoollens.co.uk

A walk through the hay meadows of Muker to Keld, passing fields of buttercups on a glorious sunny day in June, is one the most life affirming experiences anyone can have. www.mukervillage.co.uk/index.php?id=7

Oh, thank you sofarsogood! Bliss!!

Mrs. Bilbo has excellent taste!

I agree ;-) also http://www.texere-yarns.co.uk/ in Bradford and http://purlandjane.co.uk/the-story-so-far/