Family-Friendly Things To Do in the Yorkshire Dales
There’s so much for families to see and discover together amid the ice-sculpted valleys and heather-clad moorlands of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. With a landscape shaped over millennia by ice and the action of man, the park is liberally dotted with spectacular abbey ruins, stunning waterfalls and family-friendly attractions. Here at Pitchup, we’ve done all the hard work and come up with our favourite family activities in the park – read on to find out more.
Outdoor adventures for all the family
Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail
Leading to the dramatic limestone formations in Ingleborough Cave, this gentle 1.25-mile/2-km woodland walk on a compacted trail gives visitors the chance to spot wildlife including red squirrels, curlews in summer and the occasional black grouse along the way. If you’re with older kids, there are several other options for extending your hike, including routes to Gaping Gill Pothole and Trow Gill Gorge.
Good to know: Both the walk and the interior of the cave are suitable for prams and kids aged three years and over. Paid parking is in Clapham village.
Bolton Abbey
This spectacular estate has the evocative ruins of an Augustinian priory and a gorgeous little church, but much of what’s best for kids at Bolton Abbey takes place outdoors, so go prepared with extra layers of clothing and wellies. Let older kids tackle the famed stepping stones across the River Wharfe (there are 60, in case you’re counting), and you can all have a paddle from the sandy beach or follow the Welly Walk along the riverbanks to the maze and mini-slackline – and it’s all free as you just pay for parking.
Good to know: Pitchup lists a number of campsites within easy reach of Bolton Abbey.
Educational attractions
Dales Countryside Museum
If your kids think history is boring, make a beeline for the eminently family-centric Dales Countryside Museum – they’ll soon change their minds as they get caught up in hands-on interactive displays in a Victorian kitchen, railway carriages and a school. Little hands can get busy at the Creation Station, paint pebbles and handle animal bones, and seasonal events include Halloween mask making or festive crafting with Mother Christmas. The Firebox Café serves child-friendly dishes, and the whole museum is fully accessible.
Good to know: Kids under the age of 16 have free admission to the museum.
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden
The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden features the ruins of a Cistercian abbey sacked in 1539 by Henry VIII, and a stunning 18th-century water garden designed by John Aislabie. There are regular family events for kids, including craft workshops and ‘horrible history’-type tours where kids get to dress as monks. If the water gardens are a bit boring for younger kids, get them running around at the massive playground close to the visitor centre. Everywhere is fully accessible, with a concrete path leading downhill from the visitor centre to the abbey ruins.
Good to know: The Visitor Centre Restaurant is a bit expensive, but you also have the option of snacks in the Studley Tearoom and Mill Café. Otherwise, pack a picnic and eat outside; benches are scattered across the 674-acre site.
Stump Cross Caverns
A number-one option for rainy days, Stump Cross is a hub of family-friendly activities starting with self-guided pirate- and fairy-themed trails leading deep underground to witness billions of years of geology in limestone caves. Stump Cross Caverns has its very own Cavewoman to show kids how to dig for fossils, and there are glittering gems on sale in the shop. Family favourites are on the menu in Time Café, but you’ll need to book ahead for a Mammoth Cream Tea, which is eaten as a subterranean feast. Wear warm clothes as temperatures are chilly in the caves, and be aware that it’s no place for prams as access is via steep and narrow steps.
Good to know: There are regular dark skies astronomy events held at Stump Cross throughout the winter.
Bolton Castle
Plan to spend a full day at Bolton Castle, as there’s a packed roster of events at this impressive medieval fortress. Family activities include archery demonstrations, raptor displays and traditional craft workshops where kids can dress up as knights or practise calligraphy. There are wild boar to feed and jousting re-enactments to watch, and if you buy the activity pack containing history-themed puzzles, treasure hunt clues and colouring sheets, the chances are that your tribe will be kept happily occupied for hours.
Good to know: There are spiral staircases within the castle and some uneven ground outside, making it difficult for prams in places.
Animal encounters
Hesketh Farm Park
With a daily schedule of egg collecting, pony grooming and donkey cuddling, a visit to Hesketh Farm Park is a great introduction to farm life for younger children – they can take tractor rides around the fields, try out go-karting and have a run around in the fresh air. Watch out for seasonal events including lamb feeding in spring and pumpkin carving in October’s Halloween grotto.
Good to know: After visiting the farm, take your kids to Billy Bob’s Parlour (five minutes’ drive), and treat them to burgers and milkshakes in the American-style diner.
Kilnsey Park Estate
Watched over by mighty limestone Kilnsey Crag and a smashing spot for families with ‘tweenaged’ kids, Kilnsey Park Estate is all about trying something new. There are rare-breed animals in the fields, seasonal walks through wildflower meadows (look out for rare orchids) and busy honey bees at work in the nature reserve. Youngsters can learn about solar power, try fly fishing for trout on the spring-fed lake and give pony trekking a go at Kilnsey Trekking and Riding Centre, about a mile away.
Good to know: End your visit to Kilnsey with fish and chips accompanied by a cup of strong Yorkshire tea in the Café by the Lake.
Family-friendly festivals
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival
One of the busiest walking hubs in the national park, gorgeous Kettlewell sits on the River Wharfe and sees an annual scarecrow festival take over the village for a week in mid August. This is a fun-filled family day out that won’t break the bank – there’s a small charge for a trail sheet and then you’re off to spot as many scarecrows as you can. Look out for cartoon-themed characters hiding in doorways, peeking out from behind walls and climbing up drain pipes.
Good to know: You can get to Kettlewell by bus from Skipton, Grassington and Ilkley; otherwise there’s a charge for parking in the village.
Grassington Dickensian Festival
Grassington is magical in the run-up to Christmas, with twinkling fairy lights in the streets and roaring fires in cosy pubs. Held on the last Saturday in November and first in December, the Grassington Dickensian Festival is inspired by a traditional Victorian festive market with carols, brass bands, Morris Men dancing and stalls selling anything from roast chestnuts to tree decorations. The highlight of a visit for the kids is the arrival of Santa Claus ho-ho-hoing away and doling out presents.
Good to know: There's plenty of (paid) parking at Grassington National Park Centre, which is five minutes’ walk outside the village.
Practical tips for visiting with the family
The park authorities are fully signed up to making the Yorkshire Dales attractive for all ages, and a number of family-friendly incentives are in place across the region.
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There are national park visitor centres at Hawes, Grassington, Malham and Aysgarth Falls, where local maps and guides are sold alongside Dales-themed souvenirs and outdoor clothing. They all have ample car parking and charging points for electric cars.
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You can get around the park on public transport, with the Leeds-Morecambe and Leeds-Settle-Carlisle lines crossing the region. Copious and regular bus services run around the park – check out Dales Bus for schedules – and peripheral towns like Ripon, Harrogate and Skipton are on National Express and Megabus routes.
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Trains in the park all carry bikes, and you can hire bikes, plus trampers and tagalongs, in all the main hubs, including Reeth, Settle, Hawes and Sedbergh among many other options.
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All the main family attractions in the Dales have accessible bathrooms, baby-changing facilities and cafés or picnic areas.
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Many locations also have discounted admission tickets for families, or, like the Dales Countryside Museum, allow kids aged under 16 in for free.
We’ve cherry-picked some of the highlights of a visit to the Yorkshire Dales National Park to show you what a wonderfully versatile family destination it is, with outdoor adventures, rainy-day activities, wildlife encounters and historic attractions suitable for all ages. With around 6.6 million visitors per year, it’s also a very popular destination for families, so plan your itinerary and accommodation in advance using the links below.
Need more inspo for family days out? Have a look at the official Yorkshire Dales website.
Family-friendly campsites in the Yorkshire Dales