Yorkshire..where good to stay for base as well as visting surrounding area?

[futurity]

Thinking of going to Yorkshire in May half term and wondered where would be the best place to stay as a base for the holiday but which would also be central for visiting such places as Harrogate/Whitby/York/Castle Howard/Lightwater Valley.

Also, any self catering cottage recommendations would be helpful! (me, DH and energetic 5 and 2 year old DS's!)

The Thirsk area is pretty central to those places. Can't recommend any cottages though, I'm afraid.

try here

thanks..I will look at that website.

Pickering area (just south of N York Moors)is good for Whitby, York and Castle Howard though it is a bit far from Yorkshire Dales/Harrogate. It is near Flamingo Land (very tacky theme park according to my DSs). Here is the accommodation site for the local area.

I have just booked this cottage for Easter. Was £406 all in for the week. We will be doing same types of places, and also a day trip to Beamish.

Try Laskill Grange, farm cottages, mr to Helmsley and Pickering. Ideal for so many places, Scarborough, Castle Howard, steam train at Pickering, near Rievaulx Abbey which is great to walk round.

Big field for little ones to play in and run off energy.

Went to Flamingo Land last year, tacky yes, but LOADS to do and entertain for the day.

thanks for all your help. busy looking round various websites at the moment! Any other places to visit gratefully received!

Depending on how far north you end up being, Forbidden Corner is definitely worth a visit. You have to book your time/day in advance, but it a good half day out.

And Beamish - again a bit further north, is an excellent day out. 4yo DD loves it.

thanks again..have booked holiday for August in Pickering (this is very new to me..booking holiday in advance and in the summer holidays!). I have also looked and I can spend my Tescos vouchers on lots of the activities which tends the edge of having to go on holiday at peak time (DS1 just started school)

Forbidden corner is fantastic (and fairly unigue too i would imagine)...your two will be a good age to really enjoy it too.

Reviving this thread as holiday in 4 weeks and would appreciate any recommendations of places to visit (staying in Pickering)

I think you can go to Whitby on the steam train from Pickering!

Ryedale Folk Museum

Ok you have
Flamingo Land
Lightwater Valley
Forbidden Corner

Then all the York places like
Jorvick Centre
City Walls
Dungeons
Cliffords Tower
Minster
Castle Museum
Museum Gardens
Boat trip up the Ouse

Whitby and Robin Hoods Bay is fab. Fossil hunting at Robin Hoods is the best.
Scarbourgh is a nice beach to visit and they have a sea life centre there.
If you fancy a trip to Hull theres the Deep by the marina which is meant to be good too.

Still thinking. Theres loads more.

yes, The Deep is pricey but excellent.

How much is entrance to the Minster now Kathy?

Harrogate, Harrogate, Harrogate, Harrogate

you are all stars! thanks for this...keep them coming! (she says copy and pasting into her super organised days out document!)

Go to evensong at York minster, hence free

then when your 2-year-old kicks off, leave and have nice wander round

Also amazed that no-one seems to have mentioned National Rail Museum in York - see if they are having a Thomas Day or whatever, but even without that it is brilliant, and free

Theres a good farm at a place called Bedale, Big Sheep Little Cow.

Its really good.
Thats not a million miles away either.

Oh yeah National Railway Museum. Good one Choosy!

And they have the York eye there now

Embsay/Skipton steam railway
Caves at Grassington
Bolton Abbey (esp. stepping stones and river beach)
Fountains Abbey (esp valley of 7 bridges for a picnic)
Malham Tarn
Air Museum at Elvington (York)
Farm museum nr Elvington
Newby Hall (miniature railway, paddling pool, sandpit, manoloes etc.)
Harewood House
Tropical World in Leeds
Temple Newsam in Leeds
Golden Park in Leeds
Otter sancturay nr Barnard Castle
Wensleydale dairy in Hawes

All of these can be accessed from Harrogate very quickly

York also still has the Yorkshire wheel, a sort of small version of the Millenium Wheel right by the Railway Museum. That's good fun if you don't suffer from vertigo. In fact Railway Museum is usually a big hit, as is the Yorkshire Museum and Museum Gardens.
Castle Howard is great, and you could try Flamingo Land for a good old fashioned cheesy theme park and zoo. We always have fun at Pickering Castle and taking the steam train to Whitby is just lovely.

Sadly the Golf Balls at Fylingdale have now gone, but picnics on the Moors are fun. Good bits of seaside include Filey Brigg, Spurn Head (if you can still drive down to the tip - it's often touch and go) and there is a seriously beautiful, very bouldery cove just north of Whitby called ...brain fade... forgotten now, but I'll post as soon as I remember.

Overall I'd recommend looking in the triangle between York, Pickering and Malton for ease of access to most things in the East and North Riding. My mother used to run some cottages that would have been right up your street but sadly they have people living in them now.

Oooohhh, Balls, I think there's scope for two holidays here: an east Yorkshire/west Yorkshire split!

we are going to be busy! We are staying in Pickering but obviously willing to travel within reason for a good day out