What to do? Well, that’s a big question.
There is no shortage of family days out in North Yorkshire. Or romantic getaways. Or historic sites, big walks, sporting events and quality shopping. Or marvellous pubs, restaurants and cafes to refresh you after all that.
A full list would take up much more space than we have, but here are some suggested itineraries and links to investigate.
Young families
For primary age children there’s so much to do. Meaning an excellent chance of a good night’s sleep for mum and dad 😉
Saturday – Castle Howard’s marvellous house, garden and adventure playground
Sunday – Rockpooling in Robin Hoods Bay
Monday – Steam Engines at Pickering. From Harry Potter to Whitby Bay in one afternoon.
Tuesday – Picnic at Rievaulx Abbey and join the Pilgrim’s Walk to Helmsley
Wednesday – The Jorvik Viking Museum at York. Travel back in time for all the sights (and smells!) of a real Viking city
Thursday – Flamingo Land Zoo and theme park
Nature lovers
There’s a great deal of nature on your doorstep in Deer Park, but a little exploration will yield treasures…Deer Park is in the heart of the Yorkshire Wildlife Triangle, one of the best nature destinations in the UK
Saturday – Bempton Cliffs. Puffins and Gannets and Gulls, oh my!
Sunday – Mallyan Spout and Falling Foss waterfalls. A beautiful walk across the heart of the North York moors
Monday – Spurn Head. Or the End of the World, as it’s known around here. Amazing place to see migratory birds
Tuesday – The Wolds Way. Untouched, peaceful chalk downland still home to a wide variety of rare orchids, butterflies and mammals
Wednesday – The Yorkshire Arboretum is a wonderful park and tree collection that repays an afternoon’s stroll
Thursday – Rosedale – one of the most beautiful parts of the North York Moors
Or just lovers
From a first holiday together, to getting married or a special anniversary, this is a very special part of the world to share with a loved one.
Saturday – North Yorkshire Moors Pullman Dining Experience. Warning: you will need to book well in advance for this one, but it is well worth the planning
Sunday – For the full gothic romance experience, try to visit St Mary’s Abbey at Whitby as the sun is setting
Monday – The beautiful rose garden in Castle Howard and the view from the temple of the Four Winds takes some beating
Tuesday – Give yourself a little adrenaline burst with a mountain biking or even gliding experience at Sutton Bank
Wednesday – Take a picnic to Hayburn Wyke, a perfectly hidden beach with a smugglers path and waterfall falling to the sea
Thursday – Take a long walk across the beautiful and empty landscapes of Hockneys Wolds. And if you can stay awake in the evening, take advantage of Deer Park’s location in one of the darkest parts of the country to watch shooting stars and see the Milky Way.
The extended family
Bringing teenagers and grandparents? No problem, there are days out here to engage all ages
Saturday – Dalby Forest has walks for all ages, while the more adventurous can try out Go Ape or the mountain biking
Sunday – Eden Camp Modern History Museum Malton
Monday – Whitby’s niche shops and gothic history has a fascination for every generation
Tuesday – Castle Howard and a good walk in the Howardian Hills
Wednesday – York, for shopping, history and maybe a little culture at the National Railway Museum, The Jorvik Centre or the Minster. Although teenagers might prefer The York Dungeons.
Thursday – a trip to Cayton Bay for surfing and swing by Scarborough for a fish supper on the way home (although the chippy in Rillington is also hard to beat)
Wet weather days
They do happen, but fortunately there are plenty of options to keep everyone amused.
The National Railway Museum in York
Eden Camp Modern History Museum has saved our skins on many occasions when faced with bickering children and horrible rain
Sledmere House or Nunnington Hall, both perfect examples of their era.
Cinemas with a twist. Even if you don’t like the multiplex experience, Malton’s Palace Cinema is an art deco gem and Yorks Arts Cinema shows all the latest independent (and some of the best from the past)
The Deep in Hull. A spectacular aquarium with sharks, rays, turtles and penguins
Don’t forget, all year round there is a busy calendar of festivals and special events – from farmers markets to medieval mystery plays to big days of sports, Yorkshire folk tend to be good at finding things to celebrate
For more ideas on what’s on here are some good local guide sites