Things to do in Yorkshire
60 places worth stopping for and 19 places to stay on a road trip through Yorkshire.
See and do
- History
History · Whitby
Whitby Abbey
Gothic abbey ruins on the east cliff above Whitby, said to have inspired Dracula.
- Town
Town · Robin Hood's Bay
Robin Hood's Bay
A steep fishing village that once ran on smuggling, with tide pools and a Victorian slipway.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · Bridlington
Bempton Cliffs
England's biggest seabird colony, with gannets and puffins on chalk cliffs.
- History
History · York
York Minster
The biggest medieval cathedral in northern Europe, in a walled city of crooked lanes.
- History
History · Ripon
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
The biggest monastic ruin in England, in a Georgian water garden.
- Town
Town · Whitby
Whitby harbour and the 199 steps
A fishing port with a swing bridge, a whalebone arch and cobbled lanes of shops and smokehouses.
- Walk
Walk · Malham
Malham Cove
A curved limestone cliff with a natural limestone pavement on top.
- Activity
Activity · Pickering
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
A heritage steam railway across the moors between Pickering and Whitby.
- Wildlife
Wildlife · KilnseaHidden gem
Spurn Point
A narrow spit curling into the Humber estuary, great for migrating birds and seals.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · HawesHidden gem
Hardraw Force
England's tallest single-drop waterfall above ground, reached through a pub.
History · Helmsley
Rievaulx Abbey
A big Cistercian ruin in a green valley, with a terrace above for the best view.
- History
History · Malton
Castle Howard
A baroque palace in the Howardian Hills, used as Brideshead in two screen versions.
- Walk
Walk · Summerbridge
Brimham Rocks
A moor-top field of weathered gritstone towers shaped by wind and rain.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · Aysgarth
Aysgarth Falls
Three tiers of wide, stepped falls on the River Ure, surrounded by woodland.
- Walk
Walk · Ingleton
Ingleton Waterfalls Trail
A 4.5-mile loop past a string of waterfalls in two river gorges.
- Walk
Walk · Bolton Abbey
Bolton Abbey and the Strid
A ruined priory in a riverside estate, with woodland walks along the Wharfe.
- Town
Town · Haworth
Haworth and the Brontë Parsonage
A steep cobbled main street and the parsonage where the Brontë sisters wrote their novels.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Saltergate
Hole of Horcum
A vast natural bowl in the moors beside the A169, with a big lay-by for the view.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Flamborough
Flamborough Head
A chalk headland with a lighthouse, sea caves and quiet coves on the Yorkshire coast.
- History
History · Wharram-le-StreetHidden gem
Wharram Percy deserted medieval village
A whole village that was abandoned in the Middle Ages, lying in a quiet chalk valley.
Viewpoint · Sutton Bank
Sutton Bank National Park Centre
A cliff-top viewpoint over the Vale of York that James Herriot called the finest in England.
- Walk
Walk · MalhamHidden gem
Gordale Scar
A narrow limestone gorge with a waterfall tumbling through a gap in the rock.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · KeldHidden gem
Kisdon Force and the Swale gorge
A quiet pair of waterfalls on the upper Swale, reached by a walk from Keld.
Gallery · West Bretton
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
A big country park with Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth sculptures out in the fields.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · Ribblehead
Ribblehead Viaduct
A 24-arch railway viaduct striding across moorland, in the shadow of Whernside.
Scenic drive · Hawes
Buttertubs Pass
A high Dales road between Hawes and Swaledale with deep limestone potholes.
- Lake
Lake · BainbridgeHidden gem
Semerwater
A glacial lake in the Dales with legends and good wild swimming.
- Walk
Walk · Horton in Ribblesdale
Pen-y-ghent
The smallest of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, with a short but steep climb.
- History
History · East WittonHidden gem
Jervaulx Abbey
Privately owned ruined abbey in Wensleydale, open from dawn to dusk with an honesty-box entry.
- History
History · CoxwoldHidden gem
Byland Abbey
Free abbey ruin once one of England's greatest monasteries, next to a village pub.
- Garden
Garden · AppletreewickHidden gem
Parcevall Hall Gardens
Twenty-four acres of terraced gardens on a hillside above Wharfedale, with a tearoom.
Activity · LofthouseHidden gem
How Stean Gorge
A deep limestone gorge in Nidderdale with a café, caves and adventure activities.
- Beach
Beach · CloughtonHidden gem
Hayburn Wyke
A woodland walk to a shingle cove where a waterfall drops onto the beach.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · CotterdaleHidden gem
Cotter Force
A small, graceful waterfall reached by a short field-and-woodland walk from Cotterdale.
- Walk
Walk · AppletreewickHidden gem
Troller's Gill
A dry, craggy limestone gorge near Appletreewick with a folklore story of a barguest.
- Lake
Lake · MiddlesmoorHidden gem
Scar House Reservoir
A huge reservoir at the head of Nidderdale, ringed by moor and walkable around the dam.
- History
History · Skipton
Skipton Castle
One of the most complete medieval castles in England, in the market town of Skipton.
- History
History · Castle Bolton
Bolton Castle
A 14th-century fortress in Wensleydale where Mary Queen of Scots was once held, with gardens and a tearoom.
- Beach
Beach · Runswick BayHidden gem
Runswick Bay
A sheltered curve of sand backed by red-roofed cottages, safer than most on this coast.
- Walk
Walk · Hebden BridgeHidden gem
Hardcastle Crags
A deep wooded valley with a restored mill, lots of walks and quiet streams.
- Beach
Beach · Sandsend
Sandsend beach
A long sandy beach between two cliffs, backed by the old Whitby railway line.
- Viewpoint
Viewpoint · RavenscarHidden gem
Ravenscar and the Peak
A headland village that was meant to be a Victorian seaside resort, with huge cliff views and seals below.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · GoathlandHidden gem
Mallyan Spout
A 70-foot waterfall in a wooded gorge, a mile's walk from Goathland village.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · SneatonHidden gem
Falling Foss waterfall
A woodland waterfall in Little Beck wood, with a seasonal tea garden near the top.
- Walk
Walk · Thornton-le-Dale
Dalby Forest
A big forest drive with bike trails, walks and a dark-sky festival atmosphere at night.
- Walk
Walk · FileyHidden gem
Filey Brigg
A rocky peninsula at the end of Filey's beach, with rock pools, seals and big skies.
- History
History · Scarborough
Scarborough Castle
A headland fortress between Scarborough's two bays, with ruins and big sea views.
Roadside oddity · Knaresborough
Mother Shipton's Cave and the Petrifying Well
England's oldest tourist attraction, a dripping rock where objects turn to stone.
- Cave
Cave · Ingleton
White Scar Cave
England's longest show cave, with an underground river and big formations.
Town · MukerHidden gem
Muker and the Swaledale meadows
A stone village in Swaledale ringed by flower-filled hay meadows and barns.
- History
History · Richmond
Richmond Castle
A Norman castle on a bluff above the Swale in a Georgian market town.
- Beach
Beach · WhitbyHidden gem
Saltwick Bay and the Rohilla wreck
A rocky cove with the remains of a hospital ship wreck and a seal colony on the rocks.
- History
History · LastinghamHidden gem
Lastingham church and crypt
A village church with a complete Norman crypt, in a quiet moorland village.
- History
History · Beverley
Beverley Minster
A Gothic minster that rivals many cathedrals, in a good-looking market town.
- Lake
Lake · Sutton BankHidden gem
Gormire Lake
A small natural lake sitting under a cliff, said to have swallowed a horse and rider.
- Waterfall
Waterfall · MalhamHidden gem
Janet's Foss
A small waterfall into a deep pool in a mossy wooded dell, with a wild swimming spot.
- History
History · RichmondHidden gem
Easby Abbey
A free ruined abbey on the Swale, a mile's riverside walk from Richmond.
- Village
Village · BuckdenHidden gem
Hubberholme
A hamlet on the River Wharfe with a medieval church and a pub next door.
- Town
Town · Shipley
Saltaire
A Victorian model mill village with a Hockney collection in an old textile mill.
Walk · Ilkley
Cow and Calf Rocks, Ilkley Moor
A gritstone crag on Ilkley Moor with a smaller boulder alongside, above a moorland town.
Food stops
- Pub
Pub · Reeth
Tan Hill Inn
Britain's highest pub, a lonely inn on the moor at 528 metres.
Restaurant · Whitby
Magpie Cafe
Long-running harbourside fish and chips, famous enough that there's usually a queue.
Café · Harrogate
Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate
A genteel Swiss-Yorkshire tea room, famous for fat rascals and afternoon tea.
Bakery · WhitbyHidden gem
Fortune's Kippers
A family smokehouse since the 1870s, selling kippers hot from the fire.
- Brewery
Brewery · Masham
Black Sheep Brewery visitor centre
A family brewery in a former maltings, with tours, a bistro and a bar.
Ice cream · MashamHidden gem
Brymor Ice Cream, Jervaulx
A dairy farm ice cream parlour in Wensleydale, long a favourite with drivers and cyclists.
Farm shop · Hawes
Wensleydale Creamery visitor centre
The home of Wensleydale cheese, with tastings, a cheese-making viewing area and a cafe.
Café · Horton in RibblesdaleHidden gem
Penyghent Cafe
The walkers' cafe at the foot of Pen-y-ghent, a legend of the Three Peaks.
- Pub
Pub · Low RowHidden gem
Punch Bowl Inn, Low Row
A Swaledale inn near the Coast to Coast midpoint, serving food and ale.
- Pub
Pub · StarbottonHidden gem
Fox and Hounds, Starbotton
A 400-year-old Wharfedale pub with flagged floors, an open fire and local cask ales.
- Pub
Pub · LevishamHidden gem
Horseshoe Inn, Levisham
19th-century country pub with rooms, a short walk from the steam railway at Levisham.
- Farm shop
Farm shop · Kilnsey
Kilnsey Park
A trout farm and estate under Kilnsey Crag with a lakeside café and smokery.
Places to stay
Lodge · Blakey Ridge
Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge
A 1553 freehouse on the highest point of the moors with 13 rooms, open fires and food all day.
Lodge · Robin Hood's BayHidden gem
YHA Boggle Hole
A hostel in an old mill right on the beach at Boggle Hole, on the Cleveland Way.
Holiday park · Rosedale Abbey
Rosedale Abbey Caravan Park
A moorland touring park in Rosedale, with tent pitches, serviced pitches and pods.
Hut · FremingtonHidden gem
Dales Bike Centre bunkhouse
A barn-conversion bunk loft in Swaledale, handy for riders and walkers.
Lodge · GrintonHidden gem
YHA Grinton Lodge
A castle-like Victorian shooting lodge turned hostel, above Swaledale.
- Campground
Campground · Robin Hood's Bay
Middlewood Farm Holiday Park
Clifftop pitches above one of Yorkshire's prettiest fishing villages.
Campground · Osmotherley
Cote Ghyll Caravan and Camping Park
A hillside park near Osmotherley with tents, tourers, bell tents and an on-site shop.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Little Stainforth
Knight Stainforth Hall Camping and Caravan Park
Riverside touring park by the Ribble with 100 pitches, a restaurant and a sauna.
- Campground
Campground · KettlewellHidden gem
Wharfe Camp, Kettlewell
Adults-only camping and glamping pods with big hedged pitches, five minutes from Kettlewell.
- Campground
Campground · Austwick
Dalesbridge campsite and pods
Big campsite with pods, walkers' cabins and a weekend bar, right beside the A65 at Austwick.
- Holiday park
Holiday park · Oswaldkirk
Golden Square Caravan and Camping Park
Family-friendly touring park near Helmsley with play areas, a shop and dog-walking woods.
- Lodge
Lodge · Malham
The Lister Arms, Malham
A coaching inn in Malham village, handy for the Cove, Gordale and the Pennine Way.
- Campground
Campground · Barden
Howgill Lodge Camping
Terraced Wharfedale campsite with valley views, alpacas and glamping.
- Campground
Campground · KeldHidden gem
Hoggarths Campsite, Keld
Flat riverside field in upper Swaledale on a working sheep farm, open March to October, tents, vans and caravans.
- Campground
Campground · Settle
Knight Stainforth Hall Caravan and Camping Park
Family-run Dales site since 1927 with 100 touring pitches, a riverside sauna and a restaurant, beside the Ribble.
Holiday park · Hawes
Bainbridge Ings Caravan and Camping Site
A family-run touring and camping site on the edge of Hawes.
- Campground
Campground · NawtonHidden gem
Nawton Grange Caravan and Camp Site
Small, quiet family-run site on a farm near Helmsley, with a pizza night in summer.
- Lodge
Lodge · Carperby
Wheatsheaf Inn, Carperby
Wensleydale inn with 14 rooms, less than a mile from Aysgarth Falls.
- Campground
Campground · Appletreewick
Masons Campsite, Bolton Abbey
Nearly 70 years old, with flat hook-up pitches and canvas yurts and safari tents in lower Wharfedale near Bolton Abbey.
Plan the drive, not just the stops
Roadtrip works out what the drive costs in fuel for your car, splits it into days with the best stops and places to sleep, and finds the cheapest fuel on the way.
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