Harrogate area

[Datgal]

Hi all. I'm spending a few days in the Harrogate area in September. Never really been up here before! We're looking at going to Harrogate or Ripon for the day before we can check in to our accommodation. Is Ripon nice? We have a few walks planned whilst there. And we've been to York a few times. Just trying to find great places we haven't been to.
Also thinking on the way back go to Ilkley or Skipton? Is there somewhere else people would recommend? Thank you 😎

you are so close to the Dales there I would go there rather than another town like Ilkley or Skipton. I'd reccomend Grassington as has loads of cafes, bookshop etc. You can walk down to river to the bridge stepping stones. It's gorgeous and not a massive walk/commitment. I'd also visit Malham. You could do the easy walk to the cove and again have a drink in a nice pub. If you like walking are mobile you could have a bigger walk up the cove. Masham is also lovely. Johnny Baghdad's Cafe for breakfast and then the druids temple. Lovely bit of the world.

I'd swap Ripon or Ilkley for Knaresborough. Similar market town but with beautiful river. Also recommend this which is in the area https://www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk/ and Fountains Abbey.

ooh and Brimham Rocks is pretty special

Knaresbrough a great shout if you want to visit a town. Walk along the river :)

Fountains abbey and Studley Royal is lovely.

Amazing! Thanks. Glad I posted. We're doing walks in the dales whilst here...so already have brimham rocks planned. It was more making the most of the days coming and going. As you can't check in until late and then checking out early! Will definitely check out knaresborough. Thanks, it sounds lovely.

Born & raised in Harrogate since 84’ I am happy to help! Valley Gardens in the town centre is your best bet on a nice day. Stream to feed the ducks, mini golf, epic playground area if you have kids, which has a paddling pool and an ice cream kiosk, elsewhere in the gardens is a model boating lake and lovely cafe.

There’s also RHS Harlow Carr which is fabulous and also has its own branch of Betty’s Tearooms and shop. There’s also an RHS garden centre and gift shop which has everything from compost to Emma Bridgewater!
Also, I second a trip to Knaresborough, especially the waterside. You can go on rowing boats and get ice cream. There’s the castle remains and old courthouse museum in the town centre and on Wednesdays, there’s a great market in the market square. Parking can be tricky though On a Wednesday.

Any other questions, I’d be happy to help!

Was toying with malham cove. So thanks for the other recommendations too. Will check it out.
I think that's why I posted...so many nice sounding places. I thought 'this gal needs help!' 😆

If you choose to visit Forbidden Corner, be aware that 1. You MUST book in advance as they don’t accept walk-ins and 2. It’s a bit of a drive away from the Harrogate area! It’s very unique though, full of whimsy!

Car would be useful

Definitely Knaresborough
If you have a car you coud also go here
Where Art Meets Earth | The Coldstones Cut

One last thing - there’s NOTHING in Ripon! A very small market on a Thursday and admittedly a very beautiful cathedral but that’s literally it! Very little in Ilkley too, besides a good selection of shops.

If you want somewhere nice to eat in the area i definitely recommend The General Tarleton. Tommy Banks owns it and the food is amazing.

If you go to Ripon, be sure to visit the Ripon Workhouse Museum, one of the most extensive surviving workhouse complexes in the UK.

In Harrogate, I really enjoyed Konak Meze Turkish Restaurant.

Coldstone Cut near Pateley Bridge! With coffee and cake at Toft Gate Barn Cafe

Don't. The cafe is crap and the cut is nothing special.

Knaresborough is beautiful but absolutely rammed when it’s sunny in summer; go earlier on if you can or aim
for somewhere off the river for food. Somewhere like Grassington is a bit quieter. Riveaulx and Fountains are good, especially if you have heritage memberships.

How mobile are you? The walk up Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet's Foss is so beautiful, and a real gem. The only really difficult bit is the bit up the cove, after that it's pretty straight forward but some really special scenery.

I don’t know Ripon well, but there is definitely plenty in Ilkley to keep one occupied for a day, I go there often.

Yes, good selection of independent and chain shops - and pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants. Cinema, art galleries, theatre, museums, churches, open air Lido.
Lovely river, riverside park with fish and chips and ice cream, riverside walks - the start of the Dalesway footpath that goes all the way to the west coast, woodland walks, nature reserve, spectacular moorland walks straight from the town, you can see prehistoric rock carvings and a stone circle, a historic plunge pool.

If you’re a National Trust member then Beningbrough Hall or Nunnington are worth a visit. Beningbrough has really lovely gardens, and there’s a great walk you can do along the river and through Newton on Ouse.

I like Coldstone Cut, but combine it with Brimham Rocks, rather than its own day out.

The Harrogate Turkish Baths are worth a visit. Maybe after day’s hillwalking. Need to book though.

Don't bother with Ripon it's not very pretty.

Ilkley is beautiful and extremely pretty with nice shops and direct access to the moors for a walk.

Knaresborough is a decent market town with an attractive riverside but less attractive town centre.

Skipton another pleasant market town but wouldn't necessarily be top of my list.

Are you looking to visit towns and villages or would you prefer walking and countryside?

The person saying there isn't much in ilkley clearly hasn't been to ilkley for a long while 🫠

Thank you! It's not until end of September. 😁