8 great places to get outdoors with the family in Yorkshire.
(even on a wet Wednesday afternoon!)
Getting outdoors with three children in my opinion is an absolute MUST most weekends, even when the weather is bad! Here’s a few of our favourite places to visit in Yorkshire - rain or shine, and always with a camera in hand!
Castle Howard, Skelf Island.
We love: Skelf Island Adventure Playground with its huge rope bridge over the lake (and a cafe right where you need it), there’s also 1,000 acres of parkland to explore with woodland walks, temples, lakes, fountains and a fish pond. The landscape is really incredible but apparently a Minotaur lives in the Temple of the Four Winds and you have to leave the grounds before 6pm otherwise he’ll come and GET YOU.
If the weather turns: Nip into the house and explore the architecture and beautiful interiors, the Great Hall rises 70 feet into the air, visiting at Christmas is an absolute must, the Christmas tree last year brought me to tears!
Bring/wear: Barbour coat and a thermos.
The ‘Solar System’ cycle path, York
We love: Cycling along the path and seeing how far we can get, ticking off planets (and various other contraptions) along the way! It’s great because it’s pretty much traffic free, brilliant for children learning to ride a bide (another job ticked off the list!)
If the weather turns: Pedal fast and head back home!
Bring: Bikes, snacks and plasters - for when said child falls off the bike head first into a bush (yes this happened)!
Robin Hood’s bay
We love: The rock pools on the beach, we once actually saw a lobster here, there’s always plenty of marine life to check out. It’s quaint cobbled streets, ancient alleyways and historic buildings, the fossil shop is always a hit with the kids and fish and chips on the way back up the steep hill to the car.
If the weather turns: Find a fish and chip shop sharpish or head into the quaint little village shops and buy a fisherman jumper!
Bring: A picnic, crabbing equipment and tools for fossil hunting.
Fountains Abbey
We love: The stunning Yorkshire scenery, ancient monastic ruins - where the kids love to run around and imagine what life used to be like for the monks all those years ago, the beautiful gardens, the river walk and the deer park which is actually free to visit.
If the weather turns: There’s lots of places to shelter in the ruins, or head to the cafe and shops back at the entrance.
Bring: A camera, you can’t come here and not take photographs.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/fountains-abbey-and-studley-royal-water-garden
Yorkshire Sculpture Park
We love: Everything! We literally never get tired of this place, It’s an open-air gallery set within 500 acres of 18th-century landscape, where each sculpture interacts harmoniously with its surroundings. The children love to trek around the lake, spotting installations along the way (and usually lots of cows!) our favourite installation to visit is the deer shelter.
If the weather turns: There are several indoor gallery spaces to visit and the new Weston building is excellent for lunch / sheltering from the cold with a hot chocolate.
Bring: Wear wellies, it’s definitely not the box-fresh white trainers kind of vibe (been there, done that, stepped in sheep poo!).
The Edible Wood
York Museum Gardens.
We love: What’s not to love here, this is a well hidden little gem, accessed through a gate found behind the abbey ruins in The Museum Gardens, it features an abundance of edible plants and shrubs from around the world, the kids love to wander around, spot and eat foods they recognise.
If the weather turns: If it turns for the better and the sun comes out head to Roberto’s for an ice cream, if it’s terrible head to the shops in the centre of York.
Bring: Nothing!
Brimham Rocks
We love: This place is unbelievable, on paper I thought the kids might be bored, ‘oooh let’s go out and walk round a bunch of rocks’ but it was a huge hit! The rocks are a giant spectacle of wierd and wonderful shapes to climb and explore, they even have names; Dancing Bear, the Gorilla, the Eagle and the Turtle, you can actually crawl through the Smartie Tube if you’re nimble enough!
If the weather turns: Wear waterproofs, or hide in the rocks!
Bring: Wear shoes/boots with amazing grip, and gloves to save kids hands, plasters for the inevitable incident!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/brimham-rocks
Beningbrough Hall
We love: The gardens, we love exploring the winding paths (there’s often a treasure hunt to do which keeps the kids occupied) and the tree climbing opportunities are always a winner.
There’s over eight acres of formal garden to explore, the walled gardens are great for a picnic or playing frisbee, and in summer the trees are filled with fruits.
If the weather turns: there’s always the hall and art gallery where you can take in the beautiful architecture or nip to the cafe for a hot chocolate and a bun.
Bring: a picnic and a frisbee!
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/yorkshire/beningbrough
Nic Shuttleworth is available across Yorkshire (and beyond) for family photography sessions on location, out and about. To find out more get in touch!
