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Use our Travel forum for recommendations on everything from day trips to the best family-friendly holiday destinations.

Original poster

Baby-friendly walks in North Yorkshire?

21 replies

Twinklemegan · 14/02/2007 19:53

Hello all. My SAHD DH would really like to take our 6 month old out for walks. It doesn't seem like a backpack-type carrier would be practical if he's on his own (although we'd be interested in any experiences) so he's looking for countryside paths that would be suitable for a pushchair. Canal/riverside walks for example. Any suggestions gratefully received!

OP posts:
Original poster
Twinklemegan · 14/02/2007 20:31

Big fat bump

OP posts:
fryalot · 14/02/2007 20:37

this might help

Donk · 14/02/2007 20:43

Bolton Abbey - car parking is £5, but then no further charges. The path from Sandholme up the valley is push chair friendly!

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 14/02/2007 22:35

Thank you for the suggestions - I will pass them on. Anyone else?

OP posts:
StrangeTown · 14/02/2007 22:45

Some lovely walks around Grassington - some hills, but very manageable for a DH with a buggy.

OttergavebirthonValentines · 14/02/2007 22:53

are you near ilkley....

overthehill · 14/02/2007 22:59

Whereabouts (roughly) are you based? There's always the stately homes such as Castle Howard (which is open all year round & has a tea room) or castles with big grounds - or cycle paths that go along old railway lines??

phatcat · 14/02/2007 23:01

Ribblehead Viaduct

Miaou · 14/02/2007 23:03

Fountains Abbey - NT so you have to pay to get in if you are not members - but loads of good paths, suitable for buggies, lots to see too.

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 14/02/2007 23:05

Thanks for the cycle path suggestion - hadn't thought of that. We're in Northallerton area - one of the least interesting parts of the county unfortunately. But DH loves the Dales and Moors and will certainly be willing to travel a bit.

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overthehill · 15/02/2007 16:41

How about Sutton Bank, Rievaulx (Abbey, Terrace and Temples)/Helmsley (castle, river, walled garden) area, Newby Hall in spring/summer - also good whan db older. You could join Historic Houses Association & get free admission to places such as Newby Hall, Castle Howard & Ripley Castle. Thorp Perrow Arboretum is a good place & quite near, also Harlow Carr Gardens in Harrogate, which is open all year and has a Betty's cafe. Dalby Beck Walk (Dalby Forest), Brimham Rocks (better while db in buggy/backpack as would be lethal with toddler!). A bit further away (in the Pocklington area) are Burnby Hall Gardens , Millington Woods and Pocklington Canal (Canal Head on A1079)..

KathyMCMLXXII · 15/02/2007 16:45

I should put you onto my dh as we are in the York area and he is a keen walker with dd in backpack. He goes out on his own with her in the backpack all the time so I'm not really sure why you think it wouldn't be practical?

Will email him this thread and if he has a spare moment at work maybe he can suggest something.

tenbygirl · 15/02/2007 17:32

I used to manage fine with dd in a backpack by myself. It would certainly increase where he can go if he can use one.

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 15/02/2007 22:35

Thank you people - lots of suggestions there, some we knew about, some we hadn't thought of.
Please can those of you who have used backpacks on your own explain how that works? We haven't tried one but it strikes us that it would be really difficult to get DS in and out, or at least on and off DH's back, if DH was on his own. How do you manage (please excuse my ignorance on this one)?

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KathyMCMLXXII · 16/02/2007 10:26

We have a Little Life carrier and it's designed to do it yourself - you put the child in while it's on the ground (one very nicely designed feature is a toe-hole so you can hold it steady with your foot while you're doing this) then swing it on just like you would with a normal backpack.
The only thing that can be a bit tricky is putting the raincover on - my dh can do this on his own but we have friends with the same model who can't.

DH says the crinkly bits of the Wolds have some lovely short walks - just find a map and a footpath - but they'd be backpack walks rather than buggy walks.
If you specially like riverside walks, a nice one is along the Derwent from Kirkham Priory, in either direction.

Overthehill, are you in the Pocklington area? DH said you must be local or you wouldn't know about Canal Head, Millington Woods etc.

KathyMCMLXXII · 16/02/2007 10:29

Oh - other vital tip for solitary backpack using: carry a handbag mirror so you can see if your child is happy (the Little Life carrier comes with one on a piece of string).

Original poster
Twinklemegan · 16/02/2007 22:50

Thanks again everyone. Are some of you in the East Riding then? I used to live in a village near Driffield and I really really miss it.

OP posts:
filthymindedvixen · 16/02/2007 23:06

overthehill - whereabouts (roughly!) are you ?

filthymindedvixen · 16/02/2007 23:07

Twinklemegan - Ripon had some lovely riverside walks (with lots of ducks for feeding) or a pleasant canal walk - lots of parks on route, and not too far from you. Also Richmond.

tenbygirl · 17/02/2007 13:38

I think it was a MacPac carrier we had - it had a frame bit which unfolded when in use. But could be flipped out so that the backpack would stand up by itself with DD in.

So I could stand backpack up on ground without having to hold it up, put dd in, fasten her in and then pick it up and swing it onto my back. Very easy to do and I'm very petite and not that strong.

Then when I wanted to put her sown, I'd just take it off like a rucksack, pop it on the ground and flick the bar thing out.

tenbygirl · 17/02/2007 13:38

down not sown

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