A Week in North Yorkshire - Places to Visit

[yoshiblue]

We're heading to North Yorkshire next week (staying close to Ripon). Any suggestions for places to visit, more afternoons rather than big day trips, I have a grumpy 11 year old son in tow!

So far I have NT Fountains Abbey and Brigham Rocks on the list. Also Knaresborough and Harrogate.

Also, anywhere with good adventure playgrounds. I know the one at Fountains Abbey is good, son will still play on good equipment if it suits older children.

Thanks!

Get the steam train from Pickering to Whitby. It passes through the glorious North Yorkshire moors. You can then enjoy some time in the lovely seaside town of Whitby. We had a pirate boat trip followed by the best fish and chips ever. Then the return train ride to Pickering.

There's a laser tag place called Action Zone between Harrogate and Knaresborough, but it might be more fun with more people.

My teen recommends the Forbidden Corner.

You could catch a train to Leeds and go to the Royal Armouries.

Byland Abbey is nice (no play ground) and great pub opposite for a decent pie (need to book) then into Helmsley for a mooch and ice cream. Get some home made pastries and cakes from Auntie Anne’s bakery on Castlegate to take home.

if you get to Whitby the Magpie fish restaurant does fabulous food is award winning and lovely people who run it.

Flamingo land is nearby but never been but may be worth a look online for him to see if suitable.

Also agree with the steam railways recommendation. I think that’s for any age !

Steam trains are off at the moment because of moor fires. But Castle Howard has a great adventure playground and the grounds are nice for a romp.

Cayton Bay is a nice little beach and less crowded than Scarborough/Filey. Dalby Forest, where there is a Go Ape if you are so inclined, and also loads of biking trails (I think you can still hire bikes there).

And as PP mentioned, Flamingo Land.

Thorp Perrow arboretum has quite a bit to see and do, plus a decent adventure playground.

Stockeld Park is another place with v good adventure playgrounds

The Forbidden Corner might still suit an 11 year old.
Plenty of castles which mine always loved, still do at 29 and 27, in fact we all went to Richmond castle last month. Middleham is near Ripon.

Flamingo land is a tatty theme park with a zoo, my DC used to love it.
There's also Light water valley. These are a full day out though.

York's only a hours drive from Ripon if you fancy doing the Jorvik centre, city walls etc. Castle Howard is worth a trip, has a big outdoor playground and you can visit just for that and the gardens. Lightwater Valley & Newby Hall are very near to Ripon, if you want playgrounds / rides etc
Harrogate's ok but there's not much to do, if the weather is nice Knaresborough is better as you can take a boat on the river etc. It also has mother shiptons cave which is a bit shit (imo) but they've got a decent playground etc there
Echoing stockeld park, and they've also got a big indoor play hive as well as all the stuff outside (has a boating lake etc)
Birchfield ice cream farm in Summerbridge is about 20 mins out of Ripon, they do their own ice cream, has a nice cafe etc and has a play area, zip line etc (might be a bit young for him tho)

They are not off and never were
They are going past constantly at the moment
They swapped engines to diesel when the fire was active on Wednesday

but its a good 2 hour drive from Ripon at the moment due to the tourist traffic and tractor factor

You could spend a half or full day in either York or Leeds, both have lots of family activities. Forbidden Corner (need to book) and Flamingo Land are great fun - at 11, your DS is probably too old for Lightwater Valley. The national Bird of Prey Centre at Helmsley is very good for a few hours and Helmsley is a lovely little town. North Yorkshire Water Park is worth a visit and has lots of different activities (worth booking in advance).

If you have a car then Beamish in County Durham is only an hour away and is a great day out.

The Heights of Abraham - a cable car trip up to the park, then there are caves,a fossil museum, all sorts of stuff

In the Peak District?
that is a long way from Ripon

Thanks, I knew they switched to diesel only previously, I didn't realise they were back on! But the moors are burning badly at the moment again, so it's not a given that they will carry on running.

whereabouts?

I have driven past the site of the fire twice already today

No visible smoke

someone was flying a drone over at 6.30 am ish

train has just gone past. I was at the back if the house but sounded like a diesel and the house chimney didn’t vibrate with the whistle

I had a bunch in last night back on the wagon from up on Langdale moor, saying that they'd pretty much lost control and showing me photos of the helicopter going in and dumping water. But it was running at about 10k last night, so unless things have died down significantly overnight I've no reason to think it's out yet. They are still putting out warnings to stay away now.

Do you like caves?
There are a few but ive only experienced Stump Cross Caverns & How Stean Gorge.
As previous posters mentioned Forbidden Corner is an interesting place, you need to book ahead for that.
The museums in York, the Train museum is free entry (still i assume).

These are all good suggestions but they are a long way from Ripon. You’ll spend the whole time driving.

Thanks

DH hasnt been able to go out running or cycling all week as the air quality has been so poor.

I had hoped it had stopped as the smoke isnt as visible.

Newby Hall has a great playground, and lots of other things to do.

Kids seem to love Coldstone Cut near Pately Bridge, and the sweet shop in Pately too.

Newby hall next to Ripon has a great adventure playground. You are right to go Bringham Tocks and Fountains Abbey. I know the area well and I would suggest a walk in the dales: grassington is beautiful and you can do a circular along the river and stepping stones. My kids loved it and then a browse through the shops in the square. Once you start driving 2 hours it’s a bit crazy. If you fancy a big day out I think York would be worth the drive for something different. My young teen loved Alpamere in Scarborough, really good water parks. You can normally get half price vouchers for Alpamere and Newby Hall if you Google. North Yorkshire is about slowing down and enjoying the scenery. I wouldn’t ruin it by driving miles every day. Stockekd Park by a previous poster is an excellent shout and close to Ripon. Also close and worth considering are the Himalayan garden at grewelthorpe with a trip to the Druids temple on the Swinton Estate. If you haven’t been to Forbidden Corner it’s like nowhere else! Finally If you want a big day out then Flamingoland is a great theme park; again there are usually half price vouchers on local radio station sites

A day out at Beamish is brilliant, it’s about 50 miles from Ripon, but well worth the trip.

I 'd second this. It's excellent - perfect for grumpy eleven year olds!
(Near Wetherby)

Bear in mind it's Leedsfest over the bank holiday weekend so the traffic around there will be a nightmare, so plan your journey with that in mind.

Thanks so much everyone, will have a good read through and make a list!

You can book paddle boarding and kayaking sessions at Ripley Castle, between Ripon and Harrogate.
Then maybe get Ripley ice cream afterwards, or there are a few nice cafes for lunch. You can get there on a quite luxurious and modern double decker bus from Ripon.