Yorkshire and Northumberland
 

Please help me with some details of our 25th anniversary trip in late May-early June. We will start from Glasgow and have three nights planned around Melrose/Peebles to visit Abbotsford, Traquair House and the abbeys. Then:

Day 4: Travel east to the coast to Lindesfarne (I have the tide schedule) and then down the coast roads staying that night in Alnwick.

Day 5: A second day in Alnwick as we particularly want to see the gardens, and perhaps have lunch at Treehouse.

Day 6: Move southwest to Hexham for two nights, a few hours invested at Hadrian's Wall (yes I know there are mixed feelings about that - an alternative?)

Day 8: Move south to Durham - the cathedral of course, but how much more time to alot to the town? Drive on to Yorkshire - with destination at Hawes?

From days 8-12 we then have five nights in Yorkshire and I cannot decide where to base - one location or two? Hawes and Pateley Bridge? We've looked at all the recent recs and Morgana's picks and cannot readily decide.

Must dos:
Drive the Buttertubs and visit Muker - I'm interested in wool and fiber and have the list of shops rec'd to jhostage last year;
Have a meal at the Wensleydale Heifer and possibly the Kings Arms;
The tour around Skipton (50 miles) posted by Morgana, I think. I've lost the link to that, could someone repost that please?
One of the days needs to be around Halifax as my ancestors came from Shelf 400 years ago and we want to look around (this was a previous post). My husband might want to see Saltaire.

And a final question: these dates are actually June 5-10 and I know the Queen's Birthday is the 8th and just read here that there is a half-term at this time as well. How will this affect opening of shops, restaurants? We have been to York, Harrogate, Fountains, the Moors, etc. previously and want to spend more time on back roads this time. After this we drop our car in Manchester and train to Kent for another week.

Thanks to all of you who have suggestions!

<<I know the Queen's Birthday is the 8th and just read here that there is a half-term at this time as well. How will this affect opening of shops, restaurants?>>

The Queens birthday is not a public holiday in the UK, so its business as usual

<i>(yes I know there are mixed feelings about that - an alternative?)</i>

What mixed feelings?

<i>just read here that there is a half-term at this time as well</i>

No there isn't, in England it will have ended the week before you arrive, in Scotland it would have been the start of May

Out of interest - where are you getting this information, not Rick Steves by any chance?

Your itinerary is looking good!
I believe someone on here recently posted a comment that Hadrian's Wall was nothing but a pile of old stones! Whilst I find that mentality impossible to comprehend, I suppose we are all different in how we view history and the past. To me it is fascinating, and I love to visit the old forts, museums etc (Vindolanda, Chesters). It's a World Heritage Site too of course. If you think you'd find it interesting then I am positive you will if that makes sense!
As far as location goes, I would stay in one place in the Dales to avoid the upheaval of moving. Pateley is 'the land that time forgot' but in a good way of course. Hawes is far more touristy and bustling - the two places are very different. Hawes probably makes more practical sense for you in where you want to go.
Early June is a lovely time to visit, not too busy. Around Askrigg you may still have the wildflower meadows although they tend to bloom in May.
I agree that the link to the Dales Drive seems to have gone. I'm just off to work now but unless anyone finds it in the meantime I'll have a check this evening when I'm back home and have some time.

I am a big fan of Hawes. I'll be there for a week just before you. It's basically at a crossroads, and walking or driving in any direction you'll be in the middle of the most glorious scenery. From Hawes you can drive 15 minutes to Garsdale station and take a train on the picturesque Settle to Carlisle line to Skipton, rather than driving.

I am pretty sure this is the drive that used to be on the Skipton web site. The font looks tiny on my screen but I am sure this could be sorted if you are printing it out.
http://www.grassingtonweb.co.uk/walks/drive/index.asp
Allow yourself all day - there are some wonderful places to explore on the route. Malham Cove is a must see (and a must climb, there are rough steps and it's not difficult).
I would advise you to get your accommodation sorted as quickly as possible - the tour de France isn't until a month after your visit but the number of visitors coming to the Dales and other parts of Yorkshire is going to soar for weeks before. I live a mile or so off the route in Wensleydale and I've noticed a marked increase in cyclists doing part of the stage even during this time of year.

Have you booked anywhere in Northumbria.

http://www.ladythornehouse.co.uk/

Wonderful place, the photos are terrible compared to reality. As opposed to over marketed places where the photos look great.

Yes, Morgana, that is just it - thanks. Would it make sense to leave the route at Skipton to head down to see Shelf, and then return to finish on the northern route, or is that just too much? We'd leave out Saltaire if we did that. Anicecupoftea, that is a brilliant idea for the train, although I'm tempted to go the other way to Carlisle! A stop in Appleby sounds charming. Dickie_Gr, we may need to be south of there that night, but I do love the look of Ladythorne House, thank you!