Somewhere to break the journey near Catterick?

[SixthWorstOption]

Hi everyone, does anyone have any ideas? We've got a long journey on the A1M tomorrow morning, with Catterick being the midway point. We'll be in that area around 10am-ish. Any good places within half an hour or so? Something more than a service station - eg a national trust type place where we can spend a few hours. Also conscious of the atrocious weather forecast (yay half term weather ) so even better if there's an indoor element!

It's me, DH and the tween DCs.

Thank you 😊

Doesn’t open until 12 ish but The Forbidden Corner, Leyburn? It’s bloody amazing even for adults. You could stop at Mainsgill Farm shop for a really good breakfast first amd or Richmond castle?

I was also going to suggest Mainsgill. You could easily kill an hour in that place! I think they have a pumpkin patch as well. Also try Kiplin Hall?

The Forbidden Corner is also a good shout but a lot of it is outside

Thanks both of you, I'll check out those suggestions.

Also bumping in case anyone else has any other ideas!

Bedale is a pretty little town to visit.

Another vote for Mainsgill.

Northallerton is quite nice too

Mainsgill most definitely.

Wow, pretty unanimous for Mainsgill! Thanks everyone ☺️

Oooh, Barnard Castle isn't too far away, I could go and test my eyesight...

Richmond is nice

Another vote for Richmond.

Richmond is lovely

Masham or Bedale are pretty. A little further North is the Beamish Living Museum. How far north are you going? When we go to the Scottish Borders, we usually stop in Corbridge - mostly for the excellent breakfast and cake at Grants Tea Shop, but there are good Hadrian's Wall attractions nearby.

DH has found the Locomotion museum near Newton Aycliffe which might be a good shout for tomorrow, given the weather. Then on the way home next week we're thinking of either the Forbidden Corner or Richmond Castle. We've got lots of options on the list from the thread too, thank you all!

Oooh the Beamish museum might be good! I think the smalls would need a stop before we got there (if we were to call on the way up), but another option for the way home perhaps when we're not watching the clock. Thank you 😊

Do you like horses? Middleham is nice and you can see racehorses training

Fountains abbey is lovely, possibly not the weather for it tomorrow though!

As others have said, Mainsgill or Richmond for that area. Fountains Abbey at a bit of a wider radius. While Beamish is a great place, it isn’t the right suggestion for this- it is an hour away from the area you’ve mentioned and is a full day out, not a stop off.

If you do go to Middleham on the return leg as @WeirdyBeardyMarrowBabyLadysuggested the Castle is my absolute favourite place in England, you can see the horses getting exercised through the Main Street once the village quietens down too, not that we have decamped to the pub to watch this with some food by this point you understand Now I want to go back!