Best area to base ourselves in for Yorkshire holiday?

[CoconutSty]

Any tips welcome as we don't know the county at all and it's obviously a huge place! It's for me and DH plus DCs aged 5 and 3. We want to be close to child-friendly walks and some pub/cafe/farmshop options. Amazing scenery essential (hard to avoid I should imagine 😆) and a good family-friendly cycling spot would be fantastic.

Sounds like you want to be near Dalby Forest to me

Pickering, close to Dalby forest for bike rides and loads of other things to do not too far away. Lovely little town, we stayed in a great cottage with very secure bike storage in the yard.

Skipton. Nice little town. Access to the Dales. Train to Leeds or Bradford for a wet day activity.

https://www.sykescottages.co.uk/cottage/North-York-Moors-Coast-Pickering/Dove-Cottage-1033746.html

Another vote for Pickering. As well as the castle and steam railway in the town and Dalby Forest for cycling you’ve got moors, York and Scarborough and Whitby at hand.

Pickering is a good shout. Just a few miles south is Malton which puts you close to the York to Filey road, both great days out. Filey has a super beach and rock pooling.

Knaresborough has everything you are looking for.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knaresborough