- Itineraries
- Unleash Your Wild Side And Unwind In North Yorkshire
Unleash your wild side and unwind in North Yorkshire
A guide to exploring Wensleydale, Nidderdale and the Southern Dales
About This Itinerary
There’s far more to North Yorkshire than first meets the eye.
There’s no doubt that the scenery will blow you away but look a little closer and you’ll discover some truly unmissable, unique attractions.
If you’re looking for a getaway combining adrenaline adventures and relaxation you’ve come to the right place... From weird and wonderful attractions and ancient rock formations to dramatic gorges, historic luxury baths, and beautiful gardens, this four-day itinerary takes you through Wensleydale, Nidderdale, and Harrogate. You’ll be desperate to tell all your friends about it!
Itinerary Schedule
Leyburn
Seeking that authentic Yorkshire Dales experience? Leyburn is the epitome of Dales life with its cobbled streets and large market square which hosts its monthly Farmer's Market. Explore the historic town with great access to the stunning Wensleydale countryside.
Look out for the signpost marked ‘Way to The Shawl’ - it’s well worth discovering! Tucked away down a narrow side street, follow the path to find yourself atop a dramatic limestone escarpment offering panoramic views across to Pen Hill.
Did you know? According to local legend, Mary Queen of Scots dropped her silk shawl here while fleeing from nearby Bolton Castle in 1568, giving the local hill its name!
The Forbidden Corner
Take a short, scenic drive over to The Forbidden Corner just outside Middleham, famous for its horse racing history, one of North Yorkshire’s most wacky attractions. The site opens at 12pm, so head to The Corner Café to fuel up before stepping through the iconic, and slightly cheeky, gateway! You’ll soon see why.
Here you should expect nothing but the unexpected! Inside lies a four-acre labyrinth of underground tunnels, hidden chambers, follies, and surprises at every corner you turn.
Disclaimer: Prepare to get a little lost and have lots of fun!
After a day exploring, unwind by spending the evening in Middleham or Leyburn. Both offer a wonderful selection of pubs and cosy accommodation where you can settle in for the night.
How Stean Gorge
Enjoy the spectacular scenery as you drive through Nidderdale National Landscape. For a different kind of adrenaline, we recommend a visit to How Stean Gorge for the ultimate outdoor adventure!
Grab your hard hats and tackle Yorkshire’s only Via Ferrata route, go abseiling, try gorge walking, explore caving, or test out one of their many water-based activities. It’s a unique way to explore the local landscape and guaranteed to get your heart racing.
Treat yourself to some delicious local Yorkshire produce in the café after your active morning. But it’s not your average café - featuring a glass floor right above the 80-foot deep limestone ravine, you’ll get an excellent view of the gorge from above!
Brimham Rocks
After an action-packed morning, continue your journey into the intriguing world of Brimham Rocks. Managed by the National Trust, this surreal landscape of giant sandstone rock formations was carved out by ice, wind, and rain over 320 million years ago - long before the first dinosaurs walked the earth.
Let your imagination run wild as you clamber among these natural sculptures. Many of the formations have been creatively named - see if you can work out why!
Make yourself at home in the Nidderdale countryside and spend the evening exploring Pateley Bridge with its award-winning high street and scenic riverside walks.
RHS Harlow Carr
After two rather exhilarating days, spend the morning immersing yourself in the botanical beauty of RHS Garden Harlow Carr - the most northern (and only Yorkshire) RHS garden in the UK. Explore beautiful planting schemes from streamside gardens and sandstone rock gardens to sub tropicana gardens - there’s plenty of colour and variety to take inspiration from.
Before it became a garden, this land formed part of the ancient Forest of Knaresborough, a Royal hunting ground. In the 18th century, natural sulphur springs were discovered on site and by the mid-19th century, estate owner Henry Wright had built a hotel and bath house to cater to visitors seeking the health benefits of its spa waters.
Harrogate
To continue your day of relaxation, explore Harrogate, with its fantastic shopping scene, The Royal Hall Grade II Listed Edwardian Theatre, galleries, antiques shops and the beautifully kept parklands of The Stray. For some proper therapy, step back in time and walk through the mosaic tiled chambers of the Turkish Baths Harrogate, moving from the hot steam rooms to the 'Frigidarium' plunge pool.
Wander your way through the gardens Valley Gardens which contains a greater number of mineral springs than any other known place in the world! There is a variety of outdoor games such as tennis courts and a pitch and putt golf course.
As you leave Valley Gardens make sure to call into the The Royal Pump Room Museum - a historic landmark home to the strongest sulphur wells in Europe.
Top tip: See if you can spot the original, still-working, mineral water pump outside the baths!
For your final night, stay in the heart of Harrogate, with its unrivalled food and drink scene and plenty of stylish accommodation to choose from.
Grassington and the southern dales
Not ready to head home? Extend your trip and head into the southern Yorkshire Dales National Park.
The Dales is renowned for its scenic drives and many waterfalls. Wander through idyllic villages like Grassington and Buckden, stopping into traditional pubs and tearooms. Enjoy a scenic riverside walk from Grassington National Park Visitor Centre, along the iconic Snake Path, to Linton Falls.
A little further south you can find Gargrave, situated along The Pennine Way, where you can gain easy access to the famous Liverpool-Leeds canal towpath. Stretch your legs or hire a bike to take in the beautiful countryside along this route.
