You can view our latest blog on Autumn Walks here.
Located in the Yorkshire countryside between York and Harrogate, this National Trust estate is a popular place for families to explore and relax together.
First stop for many is the wilderness play area, all ages can swing from heights with traditional and bucket swings on offer. Test your nerve on the clamber stacks and pick which slide suits your size.
If you prefer creating your own adventures the den zone is prepped to get building and the only limitation is your imagination. Build a den is just one of the ’50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾’ – tick off many more from the popular play list when you visit.
During the holidays try a nature or play themed trails and other hands-on activities to help fill those days away from school. There’s space on the south lawn for ball games, flying a kite or watching the clouds go by, and don’t forget to check on the fishpond!
Head in the hall to see the latest exhibition with hands-on ways to get involved or wander the hall spotting faces and animals in the carvings and tapestries.
Free entry to National Trust and RHS members and under-fives.
Take part in your biggest ever game of hide and seek on your visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Hide in all corners of the large abbey ruins before following the river to the water garden. Race around the moon ponds, see the swans swimming and discover the winding dark tunnel. Emerge from the tunnel to find three fun buildings called follies along this woodland path. With acres of space to explore, hidden places to discover and lots of sniffs to sniff, Fountains Abbey is the perfect place to bring your four-legged friends. Dogs are welcome in all the outdoor spaces and in the Visitor Centre Restaurant too.
Be sure to have a playground adventure. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on…you’ll find a wooden abbey, a woodland house, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman’s poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire for the most daring adventurers of all.
Have a well-earned sit down with a seasonal meal in the Visitor Centre Restaurant, tuck into tea and cake with a lakeside view at Studley Tea Room or a sweet treat at Mill Café.
If there’s still oodles of energy left visit the deer park. Admire the views down to Ripon Cathedral and see if you can spot the deer. There are three different types from small fallow deer to the largest of them all: red deer.
There’s lots to do but don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in this time – we’ll be here another day! Become a member on your first visit and come back for free as many times as you like. Plus, get the feel-goods about it as every time you scan your membership card, you’re contributing towards the essential conservation work we do.
Within historic woodland along the River Nidd is Mother Shipton’s Cave, the birthplace of Yorkshire’s famous prophetess. It is situated next to the Petrifying Well, England’s oldest visitor attraction. The attraction tells the story of Mother Shipton and the water which turns objects to stone.
The park is a unique, unspoilt remnant of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough. During a visit it is an old tradition to make a wish. The Wishing Well is fed by the same magical waters as the Petrifying Well and has been wished upon for over 300 years. Many visitors have been in touch to tell us their wishes have come true!
The park has several scenic picnic areas, a coffee and ice cream kiosk, an adventure playground and museum and gift shop. Dogs are welcome in all areas, apart from the playground.
Themed events run during school holidays. For more information about family events visit our website.
Please check the website for up-to-date opening times and any unforeseen park closures. Open from February.
Swinton Bivouac is part of the 20,000 acre Swinton Estate and a rural experience for friends and family. Sited in a beautiful location, it is one of the most picturesque settings in the Yorkshire Dales.
At Swinton Bivouac enjoy miles of walking trails, bike tracks and pursuits from bug hunting to geocaching, woodland school, Druid’s Temple, outdoor theatres, crafts in the owl barn and an ever changing array of daily activities – plenty to do outside in the fresh air!
The Bivouac Café is the place for guests and visiting walkers, families and friends, with snacks and simple dishes made from local produce, drop by for a coffee, cake, a light lunch, or enjoy a delicious meal in this perfect setting.
The café also hosts fabulous pop-up food evenings throughout the school holidays!
The Mountain Bike track will be open for those seeking some thrills and spills. With a variety of routes for differing ability levels to experience the jumps, bumps and downhill sections, please bring your own bike.
Let the creativity flow with craft activities for children in the Long Barn with a range of activities available.
The Harrogate Bus Company operates buses in and around the city of Harrogate and across north Yorkshire. In particular, it runs the award-winning line 36, which connects Harrogate, Ripon and Leeds with buses every 10 minutes throughout the day.
Our signature style and attention to detail is all about giving you, our customer, a relaxed, enjoyable and great value journey – and, as a research-led business, with all our decisions handled quickly and locally, we always welcome your feedback about everything we do.
With regular buses running to Leeds, Knaresborough, Wetherby, Ripon, Pateley Bridge, Knaresborough and throughout Harrogate catching the bus is the perfect way to start your family day out.
All fares are no more than £2.
For little ones we have our own free to join Bright Sparks Club .
Join today and you’ll get your Bright Spark’s Club bus pass in the post within a few weeks!
Bilton “The old railway line in Bilton, can either walk towards starbeck or go other way to viaduct which is Knaresborough way. Car park off Bilton Lane. we go a lot with the dogs and bike rides and it is fine for pram”
“Bilton lane is lovely, you get to see horses, cows, ducks and lots of chickens! We live down Bilton lane and quite often do the walk straight down towards Conningham hall but can also go off towards the viaduct (this soon to be the walk to Ripley too) and along the river. Though that part is not so pram friendly!”
There is a lot of fun to have at Bolton Abbey including 60 stepping stones and a large beach area where you can enjoy a paddle and a picnic – but maybe not at the same time!
Dramatic moorland rock formations. Explore Brimham Rocks, and have a great day out at nature’s playground.
This amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations makes a great day out for families, climbers and those wanting to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and magnificent views over Nidderdale.
There’s no admission charge at Brimham Rocks. Parking is free for National Trust members.
Non National Trust members, our car parking charges are as follows: £6 up to four hours, £8 thereafter
Book a personalised family fun day out with a difference! We provide friendly qualified instructors and kit for guided hill walking, gorge scrambling, mountain biking, rock climbing, bushcraft, kayaking and much more! Activities available for adults and children aged 7+ with no previous experience necessary.
Tel: 0113 812 8627
Danes Dyke; Jutting out miles into the North Sea, the headland has in the past been effectively cut off by the construction, in the Iron Age, of the erroneously named Danes’ Dyke, which encloses five square miles of the peninsula. The end of the Dyke is a deep ravine on the south side of the Headland, where it exits into Bridlington Bay There are a number of nature trails in the Dyke which can be accessed easily from the car park off the main Bridlington to Flamborough Road.
Danes Dyke, Flamborough Head, Flamborough, East Yorkshire YO15 1AG
*Updated July 2020* The Adventure Park is not currently open. This summer they offering short stays for families instead.
The Woodland Kingdom is open on 10am-5pm weekends and school holidays until November at Camp Hill Estate, Kirklington, Bedale, North Yorkshire, DL8 2LS
Fun family days out in our adventure park with Quad Biking, Segways and Footgolf. Enjoy a Picnic in our Woodland Kingdom with slides, swings, assault course, treehouse fort and more! £5 per car and then £15 per car from 27th May. Free entry to the Woodland Kingdom with pre-booked activities.
Contact Emma on 01845 567788
“There are great paths around the Harewood estate (outside of the “need-to-pay” boundaries). You can park in the village hall car park where there’s an honesty box, or just down that little road (the road on the right before you get to the lights that used to have a little sofa / upholstery shop on the corner) then walk down the main path into the estate. Amazing views and very buggy-friendly – can do quite a good big circuit”
The walk will take place on the first and last Friday of every month. It starts at 8:30pm promptly, meeting at Harrogate Royal Pump Room.
Tickets cost £8.00 for adults and £5.00 for children. Please book a ticket where possible. Cash payments can be taken. There Is a cashpoint nearby but please bring the exact change with you.
Please check the website before you set off for daily updates and weather warnings.
Plenty of lovely views and tea rooms!
The North York Moors National Park is a beautiful landscape of stunning moorland, spectacular coast, ancient woodland and historic sites.
Find out what there is to see and do and discover how the National Park Authority works with the people who live here to care for this beautiful place.
“You can do a loop; down Mill Lane, along Crimple Beck, through the woods to Crimple Meadows playground (though tricky with pushchair, you can also just go along road). There’s also a nice walk around the back of the Black Swan at Burnbridge through fields and woods, I’ve done it with a pushchair but it is rough terrain so you’d need a pushchair with large wheels up to the job.
Peasholm Park Scarborough, North Yorkshire is open for everyone to enjoy all year round, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Entrance to the Park, which is never closed, is FREE.
Facilities:Sun Parlour Cafe, Childrens Play Area, Maze, Football pitch, 3 Tennis courts, Flat Green Bowling, 18 hole Putting and 9 hole Crazy Golf.
“You only pay for parking so it’s much cheaper than fountain’s abbey and you still get to feed the ducks!”
Stump Cross Caverns is an ancient natural cave formation deep underneath the Yorkshire Dales. As well as the caves, they’ve also got a cinema, cafe, time out private dining pod, shop and visitor centre on site. They are located on the B6265 between Pateley Bridge and Grassington and open seven days a week (9am-6pm).
“Fewston is Pram Friendly. One uphill part of about 100 metres that gets the heart pumping but apart from that all flat with the odd tree root to dodge”
You can walk from the bottom entrance at the Pump room museum right up through the valley gardens and pinewoods to Harlow Carr and either loop round or come back along Otley Road (Via the play park!) and either Coldbath Road or Cornwall road.
“It’s not very long (unless you do it several times) – It’s a circuit but has a little park and the fab fish and chip restaurant round the corner if you’re feeling naughty! Is very flat and perfect for pushchairs and my older one loves scooting and seeing the ducks and sometimes model boats.
