Would you recommend a trip to Scarborough as well as York?

Well, Bolton is in Greater Manchester (although historically it’s in Lancashire) - I assume you have a specific reason for visiting as it’s not on the usual tourist trail. Manchester (the city centre) is well worth a visit if you enjoy big busy cities with interesting Victorian architecture. There are some significant museums there and also the extraordinary Chetham’s Library. It is very much the capital of the Industrial Revolution and full of fascinating stuff but it’s big and noisy and not “picturesque” in any way.

Scarborough is known in the UK as a classic old fashioned seaside resort with a beautiful setting. Lovely beaches, can be a bit bracing weather-wise but really nice if you have a taste for that kind of thing. Overseas tourists tend to go more to the nearby small fishing town of Whitby, I think, with its Dracula connections.

Newcastle (one word) is - like Manchester - a very big brash city. The setting is great. I like it very much but I see it more as a fun city to hang out than a particular tourist destination. I’ve been for work a few times (conferences etc) and like it but haven’t ever considered going there to visit as a tourist.

If you are visiting Bolton you could actually consider staying there. Looking at your other thread about walking there is also very good walking very close to Bolton- especially Rivington Pike, just beyond Horwich on the western fringe of the town.
There are, I think, more places to stay than when I worked there a few years ago- conversely the little B and B I stayed at as my digs, in a quiet, leafy part of town no longer exists.
Bolton is also a good base for Manchester- with very frequent train service taking 15 minutes or so, and a lot of bus routes- one of which has just started 24 hour service.

If going to Scarborough by train or bus you could have a stop over in Malton on the way.

If it interests you then on Thursdays in August you could even take the Scarborough Spa Express steam train from York.

At Newcastle (and easily accessed by the Tyne and Wear Metro) you could go to Segedunum (the end, or start, of Hadrian' Wall at Wallsend)- the fort at Wallsend. Lots of folk on the Forum go to see the well known central parts of the wall, few seem to follow the story east or west.

In Newcastle a really good way to start to tour the City is the open top 'Toon Tour', from outside Central Station. The script on that web page gives you a good introduction into the places there are to visit in the City

There's loads to keep you occupied in and around York.

Are you planning on a day trip from York to either Newcastle or Scarborough, or planning on them as a base for a few days?

Scarborough is easily reached from York by either bus or train and is a typical sea side town with pier, harbour and ruined castle high above the town. The south beach is the main tourist area with the arcades and amusements. North beach is more upper class.... There is an open top bus that runs between the two. A cliff railway runs from the south beach to tetheh town (saves the uphill climb!) The church is interesting and Anne Bronte is buried there (the only one of the Bronte family not to be buried at Haworth). Peasholme Park is also popular. Do chose a nice day as Scarborough isn't much fun if it is wet...

What attracts you to Newcastle? I'm asking as it isn't the usual place on the list of places to go from York. There is a castle, cathedral, blinking eye bridge, museums, and you can walk along the quayside. Across the river is Gateshead with the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Hadrian's Wall is probably getting a bit too far for a day trip. (I was really disappointed by Segedunum although it is esaily done from Newcastle if you are desperate to see some Roman remains. I prefered Arbeia across the river in South Shields...)

Have you thought about Durham with its Norman Cathedral, Castle, walks along the river and Crook Hall Gardens?

Thanks to all of you for your very thoughtful responses and detailed information. It made my planning so much more enjoyable. I
am very impressed with this wonderful service!

I have booked 4 nights in Settle! I look forward to the beauty and walking. I will travel there after York.

All the best to you. J

Settle is great for walking. We've had several holidays based in the town and haven'tneeded to used the car while we were there. We either walked directly from our s/c property or caught the bus or train and then walked. There's lots of ideas to get youy started here.

Back in Newcastle you could also use the Tyne and Wear Metro to go down to Tynemouth for the Priory and Castle.

Also the North Shields Fish Quay remains as an important fish landing quay, but is also a bit of a local destination for food and drink. There is also the Old Low Light Heritage Museum. That is within Cliffords Fort- which was a defensive structure built in the Anglo-Dutch Wars. The coast line around Tynemouth is quite rugged, with beaches- hence the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and their museum.
There is also the Tynemouth Aquarium

Go on a Saturday or Sunday and there is a big market on Tynemouth Station, known throughout the region.

Go to Whitley Bay on the Metro then a short bus ride for St Mary's Isle and Lighthouse, especially at dusk. This summer it is under repair so access will be limited in September and October, and the lighthouse is currently covered in scaffolding.

If you have done the Toon Tour all local buses are included in the price of that ticket. Tynemouth, North Shields and Whitley Bay/St Mary's Isle all have direct and frequent buses from Newcastle.

Unlike York, Durham, Whitby and Scarborough you are not going to be dealing with hordes of tourists in this area either.

From North Shields you can take the ferry across the Tyne to South Shields where there are more beaches, and down the seafront to the Souter Lighthouse and the Leas (a National Trust property).

Closer in to the city there is Jesmond Dene to explore.

You didn't mention Hadrian's Wall but Hexham for the AD122 bus is under 2 hours by train from York- so an early start and a lateish return gives you meaningful time on the touristy part of the wall- Housesteads, Vindolanda and the Roman Army Museum are all easy to do on a day trip (not on the same day, that would be overkill!)

Thanks again everyone. I am going to have to come back several times to fit in all your great recommendations!

That is brilliant information for Settle. That will really help me organize my days of hiking.

Happy summer!

Cheers,
Jaz