Ivy Bank Campsite

Popular picks for gentle ambles around here include the pretty Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park (10 minutes’ drive), the ancient ruins of Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Gardens (15 minutes) and the elegant gardens of Newby Hall (25 minutes), which also has a miniature railway in case of tired legs. Sustenance for such outings and for evenings in can be acquired over at Masham’s Black Sheep Brewery (15 minutes), at Pateley Bridge’s Oldest Sweet Shop In The World (20 minutes) or with a stop for a top-notch tea at Betty’s in Harrogate (25 minutes). Continue the laidback theme of your break with a bimble around Brimham Rocks or a round at the local golf course (both 15 minutes). Alternatively, take the opposite approach to holiday antics and get the adrenaline properly pumping on the rides at Lightwater Valley Theme Park (15 minutes) – there are more low-key rides for kids here too, so it's likely to be a winner all round.