Guide to Holidays in Yorkshire - Holiday Cottages in Yorkshire

Seeing Yorkshire in all its Glory

There really isn't a bad time to visit Yorkshire as each season brings new colours and reveals exciting new views and landscape particularly in the two National Parks. The Yorkshire Dales offers some of the best walking in September and of course the summer is the perfect time to explore the coastline and seaside resorts. The famous Great Yorkshire Show takes place in July each year and if you fancy a Viking inspired break then the February Jorvik Festival in York is the pace to head.

 

Top of your Yorkshire Holiday Itinerary

There is not shortage of things to see and do in Yorkshire but here are a few things that should be on every holiday itinerary.

• Seaside fun at Scarborough - it is where the great British Seaside idea all began. So get out those bucket & spades, donkey rides on the beach, Punch & Judy, walking on the Promenade and some brilliant modern attractions, bars and restaurants. Scarborough is one of our Top 5 British seaside resorts.
• Walking and hiking through the glorious Yorkshire Dales National Park. Walk through the lush green valleys, heather moorlands and explore the Dales picturesque villages towns including Wensleydale and Ribblesdale.
• York is packed full of medieval history and culture, from its narrow streets and 13th Century town walls to the magnificent Gothic cathedral and Jorvik Viking Centre. Very tourist friendly, York offers a great choice of museums, , restaurants, cafes and, of course, traditional pubs.
Seaside fun at Scarborough, the home of the great British seaside to the wonderful scenery of the Yorkshire Dales

• For something a little more cosmopolitan head for the regional city of Leeds. A cultural and arts centre, Leeds is the perfect place to head for shopping, eating, drinking and dancing.
• Rugged and dramatic scenery and, on occasions, all a little moody and foreboding, the North Yorkshire Moors National Park provides a wonderful day out whether you are inland at the hart of the Moor or on the coastal sections near Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay. There is no better way to explore this areas than a trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
• If you want to understand more about industrial Yorkshire.... then the National Coal Mining museum near Wakefield is a great place to start. Or why not head to Sheffield to explore the history of the former 'Steel City'.

 

The south east has lots of attractions and activities to keep everyone in your family or group entertained. Whether you are looking for wildlife and zoos, theme parks and excitement or simply gardens and castles to visit you will find it in the south west. 

Check out our Yorkshire activities and attraction guide to South Yorkshire, East Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire.

 

Cycling in Yorkshire

With 2 National Parks in Yorkshire it will come as no surprise that there is a lot of places to enjoy cycling. Throughout the region there are lots of scenic lanes and routes to follow but please be careful on roads as even the smaller lanes on the scenic routes can get busy during the season. The best known routes include:

• White Rose Cycle Route. This is a 120 mile route that takes in York, the Yorkshire Wolds and the North Yorks Moors. There is also a traffic-free section between Selby and York.
• North York Moors. There are some good cycles routes through this National Park particularly for off road biking on the bridleways and where former rail tracks have been converted to cycle paths
• Yorkshire Dales Cycleway. This is a 130 mile circuit that showcases the best of the National Park. Of course, there are hundreds of miles of bridleways to explore on off-road rides.
• Moor to Sea Cycle Route. Heading from Pickering to the Yorkshire coast with a traffic-free section between Whitby and Scarborough.

You can find lots more great trails to cycle via the Sustrans website.

 

Walking in Yorkshire

With so much beautiful countryside Yorkshire attracts walkers and hikers in their tens of thousands each year. There is certainly no shortage of choice whether you are looking for a short walk or ramble or some serious walking.

Probably the best area for a days relaxing walk is the Yorkshire Dales which always deliver great scenery and views throughout the valleys and the odd hilltop to climb. To the east of Yorkshire the Yorkshire Wolds offer plenty of nice walks as does the North Yorkshire Moors and Coast.

For more long distance walking the best known routes in Yorkshire include the Pennine Way, Wolds Way, Dales Way, Coast to Coast Wales and Cleveland Way.

 

Blue Flag beaches in Yorkshire

If you are looking for a clean and safe beach for family or friends then it is worth looking out for the Blue Flag beaches (reviewed annually against tough standards, only the best beaches get the Blue Flag Award). Yorkshire has a number of Blue Flag beaches in East Yorkshire (Hornsea and Withernsea) and North Yorkshire (Filey Bay, Whitby and Scarborough North Bay). Check out our Blue Flag beach list.

 

Golfing in Yorkshire

Surprisingly, there are not any English Championship Golf Courses in Yorkshire. However, there are lots of great golf courses in the region that provide a golfing challenge, golfing history and superb views. Golf courses worth checking out include Harrogate, Huddersfield, Ganton and Boothferry Park.

 

Yorkshire Places, Where to Head

If you want to explore some of the wonderful areas of Yorkshire but are not sure which towns to head for, then we have put some suggestions below.

Yorkshire Coast locations

Bridlington, Filey, Flamborough, Hornsea, Robin's Hood Bay, Runswick Bay, Scarborough, Staithes, Whitby, Withernsea

Yorkshire Dales locations

Ripon, Skipton, Grassington, Richmond, Leyburn, Masham, Hawes, Middlesham, Reeth, Settle, Sedbergh, Dent, Pateley Bridge

Herriot Country

Bedale, Easingwold, Great Ayton, Helmsley, Northallerton, Stokesley, Swaledale, Thirsk, Wensleydale, Richmond

North York Moors

Danby, Helmsley, Malton, Pickering