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!

The thing about N Yorks is that it’s very big and rural. Ripon is well inland. Lovely suggestions for coastal days out - Whitby, Alpamare -will have you driving 1.5-2 hrs each way.

If you get the N York Moors Railway from Pickering (about an hour from Ripon) it’ll take you to Whitby, and Goathland station- also known on screen as Hogsmeade. Goathland village was also Aidensfield in Heartbeat.

This FB page and sister website has some excellent ideas for days out.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1G2LuWQfnD/?mibextid=wwXIfr

From Ripon, I’d suggest Skipton/Skipton Castle/Bolton Abbey/Billy Bob’s ice cream palour (about 40 mins drive). Also Stockeld Park.

Also - The National Birds of Prey Centre outside Helmsley (45 mins). Also an outdoor pool at Helmsley.

York - loads. National Railway Museum. Chocolate Experience. Clifford’s Tower. Street entertainers. The Shambles aka Diagon Alley.

Leeds - The Royal Armouries, Tropical World - both good for wet days. Food court above Trinity Centre in the city centre. (TW is a few miles out of the city centre in Roundhay Park. Good playground across the road). There’s an Alice in Wonderland trail in Leeds until 31 Aug https://wonderlandleeds.com/

Leeds and York both have Park n Rides.

@yoshiblue
If you have a potentially grumpy 11 year old it may help to involve him a lot in how you plan to spend your days.
Treasure Trails are excellent, he can be in charge. We did the one in Richmond, just me and DH, although they are aimed at families. In case the weather is too wet/hot they have driving ones too.
https://www.treasuretrails.co.uk/collections/north-yorkshire

Thanks again all for your recommendations for our holiday. We got back yesterday and wanted to report on where we visited.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (done over two days which paced us better)
Stump Cross Caverns - really enjoyed this including breaking a large geode for £10 which is now on display at home
General wander around shops/charity shops in Ripon and Harrogate. Son very happy we found the latest Pokemon booster set in Harrogate (completely sold out in Manchester!)

Brief stop off in Pateley Bridge to Englands Oldest Sweet Shop - selling sweets in jars, still by the oz!

So many things we ran out of time for, on the list for next time is Brigham Rocks, Knaresborough, Bolton Abbey/Steam Railway. Some more exploring on the dales side too.

Thanks again to pp who warned us of Leedsfest being on. We went via Colne/Skipton and had a great stop off at Robertson Farm Shop and Airsville Park to break up the journey.

Overall we had a peaceful and relaxing time and managed to get our 11 yo out most days for some fresh air. Got some time for board games and reading too. This part of the world is very beautiful and not touristy at all, so will definitely come back in the Summer again. Also not too far at all from Manchester.