North York Moors | 5 Ideas for a Fun Filled Family Weekend in North Yorkshire
Each time we return to the North Yorks Moors, it immediately reminds us of its endlessly diverse beauty that always seems to leave us more enchanted than the last time. Yet it also has a very gentle side. Safe, quiet areas where you can picnic with the family, easy to follow trails for strolling, walking and cycling. Allowing children to explore to their heart’s content and a huge number of child friendly and dog friendly places to stay, to eat and attractions to visit. So just how much family fun could we find over a weekend on theNorth Yorks Moors!
1. Take a trip up fryup dale for a family picnic to remember
The North Yorks Moors is an ancient landscape of stunning views, awe inspiring trails, deep wooded valleys with fast flowing rivers, and rugged, wide open spaces. However the peak of the North Yorkshire Moors beauty is perhaps best seen during late August when the heather blazes a blanket of purple colour across the moors.So the perfect chance to explore Little Fryupdale’s quiet and unspoilt dale. Considered one of the most beautiful dales in the North Yorks Moors, it’s full of rights of way and breathtaking views and may even owe it’s name to the Norsemen who named it after their favourite goddess Freya.
But to see it at its best, you’ll have to take one of our favourite family hikes up Little Fryup. The hike finishes overlooking the conical hill, imaginatively named Round Hill, with the fantastically named Fairy Cross Plain. An easy hike with plenty of viewpoints and rest points… just make sure you bring a picnic bag that’s easier to carry than ours!! (click here for maps)
If you’re looking to keep to a budget on your visit to the North Yorks Moors. Try staying at the new Helmsley Motorhome Aire (6 spaces) or if not the Pickering Antique Centre (5 spaces)
LifeinourVan Motorhoming TipIf you’re looking for some well located campsites – try the site at Rosedale Abbey near the ‘famous Chimney Bank’ or Hook House Farm near Robin Hoods Bay
LifeinourVan Campsite Tip
2. see one of yorkshire’s famous ‘country agricultural shows’
Located in one of North Yorkshires’s most scenic valleys at Bilsdale lies one of our daughters favourite agricultural shows. These agricultural, country and village shows are an important part of summer in the North York Moors showcasing the best of livestock, crafts, food and rural pursuits from the local community.
Although we live in North Yorkshire, we’ve found that these traditional agricultural shows are for the local community and visitors alike. With plenty for you and your family to do, for instance, dog shows, vintage vehicle collections, displays of cattle, sheep and horses, motorcycle displays, a heavy horse show and much more. So if you’re interested in animals and horticulture you’ll have a great day out, as will anybody who enjoys seeing lots of different farm yard animals so younger kids should love it too!
If the idea of visiting an agricultural shows grabs you then there are still more to come this year (check here for details of more agricultural shows until the end of September) or if you’re heading north towards Durham, then why not try the Beamish Show which is held between the 14th-17th September to celebrate a month long ‘Festival of Agriculture‘
3. test your nerves on one of the steepest roads in England
It’s been a firm family favourite of ours for years (just check out the picture of a young Lottie below). So you might just love the trip up/down ‘Chimney Bank’ near Rosedale Abbey. This unspoilt region of the North Yorks Moors is so varied and scenic, that it’s even going to make it into our ‘Top 10 Scenic Drives across Europe‘
Famous for not making it into the first ‘Tour of Yorkshire‘, Chimney Bank has a steep incline/descent that reaches peaks of 1/3 or 33% (see article here)… So you could tackle it on foot, bike or by car/motorhome… But either way the stunning views or interesting historical sites are sure to make it an interesting addition to any day on the North Yorks Moors.
However if your love combining family time with some healthy outdoors adventures then it might just be the bike for you? And it’s definitely on our list of rides to add to our European Bike Adventures for 2017. So whilst we’ll leave the Chimney Bank video to the experts below (thanks Cycling Weekly!) if you’re considering doing something more challenging than just cycling or hiking. Have you ever considered Bobsleighing or even a SUP Safari?
4. explore the coastline to experience the fun of rock pooling!
The Yorkshire coastline is studded with spectacular opportunities to discover your own cove or small beach. Each with pools hosting all manner of minibeasts: gobies and blennies, crabs and prawns, limpets and whelks and mussels, starfish and anemones of dazzling hues.
But where do you rockpool when visiting the North Yorkshire Coastline? Well, the National Trust house a brilliant centre at Robin Hoods Bay where some of the above photographs are taken. So grab a bucket, a net and this handy beach guide for North Yorkshire and head to your nearest beach for a spot of family rock-pooling!
Just don’t forget the other coastal highlights such as Runswick Bay, Staithes or Port Mulgrave. But for us, rockpooling on the Yorkshire Coast offers a fantastic opportunity to experience nature as the tide recedes out to leave behind a world of amazing sealife, ready to be discovered. (So why not find out more can be found on rockpooling in this great little guide from the National Trust) .
5. take your pick at the north york moors centre at Danby
It took us over 5 years to work this out, but if you’re pressed for time. Take our advice and just head straight for one of the North Yorks Moors Visitor Centre. Our choice would be the Danby Visitor Centre but others will love the Sutton Bank Visitor Centre due to its impressive walks underneath the circling gliders. But if you’re looking for information on the North York Moors? You’ll find all you need here to plan your visit including plenty of information on attractions, accommodation & events! Not forgetting plenty of hands on exhibitions, indoor climbing wall, films and outdoor activities (including the adventure playground, maze, and woodland walks)
The North Yorks Moors certainly has the capacity to offer something for everyone, regardless of your hobby, interest or passion.
- For those who are looking forward to getting out and being active, there’s a huge number of activities to choose from. (including the new North Yorkshire Water Park or Dalby Forest MTB or Go Ape Trails)
- For the children try one of the family friendly attractions or perhaps take a trip on a steam train at the NYM Railway
So just why do we love the North Yorkshire Moors so much? Put simply, it’s just like another of our favourites in Pembrokeshire. It’s a place to lose yourself for hours in the most enchanting of wild scenery…. The North Yorks Moors is easily accessible by motorhomes with plenty of campsites scattered across the area (click here) and has two fantastic nearby cities in York & Durham for when you’ve run out of steam up on the moors!!
A perfect mix for a Family Friendly Weekend with or without a motorhome!
If you’re looking to keep to a budget on your visit to the North Yorks Moors. Try checking the Visit North Yorks Moors events calendar page for dozens of ideas and inspiration
LifeinourVan Top TipIf you’re looking for a few hidden gems. We’d happily recommend the ‘Falling Foss Waterfall and Walking Trail‘, ice creams from Ryeburn in Helmsley or the Whitby Sea Regatta
LifeinourVan Top TipNorth York Moors centre
fryup
runswick bay
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