By Parkdean Resorts on 09/09/2019
Nestled in the North is one of England’s largest and most diverse counties; Yorkshire. As a holiday destination, Yorkshire has it all with a mixture of vibrant cities, stunning countryside and vast coastline. Stretching over into three National Parks, the green landscape is a haven for lovers of the outdoors with numerous cycling, walking and hiking trails.
If walking isn’t your thing, Yorkshire is also famously home to many quaint picturesque villages and market towns, and in many you’ll find traditional and inviting pubs serving real local ale. With so much to discover, we’ve created a guide to help you see the best of this wonderful county. Don’t forget if you’re looking for the perfect place to stay, we have 4 holiday parks along the Yorkshire coastline.
Outdoor activities in Yorkshire
What sets Yorkshire apart is the county’s vast and dramatic landscape, including the famous moorland of Brontë Country, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Here are just a few ways to enjoy the best of the beautiful outdoors in Yorkshire.
The Yorkshire Arboretum
If you’re looking to spend a day out with the family reconnecting with the outdoors, you’ll have plenty of opportunity at the Yorkshire Arboretum. Situated in the historic Castle Howard estate, and just 45 minutes from Cayton Bay Holiday Park, you can immerse yourself here amongst the 120 acres of beautiful lakes and gardens.
Amazingly the arboretum is home to over 6,000 trees from around the world, with more new trees being planted on-site every year. You can spend hours discovering the hidden glades and identifying the diverse range of trees growing. After all of that exploring the kids can ignite their sense of adventure at the wonderful woodland playground.
Sutton Bank
As one of Yorkshire’s most famous and picturesque areas, the North York Moors stretches across an incredible 554 square miles of landscape that includes heather moorland, wild woodland and coastline. The moors are filled with miles of open spaces that you can discover on foot, whether you choose to follow a defined trail or you like to explore without the use of a map.
For breath-taking panoramic views head up to the top of Sutton Bank and you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views of the Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray. At the Sutton Bank National Park Centre you’ll find information on a variety of different length walks and family cycling paths so everybody is catered for. You can get to Sutton Bank National Park Centre in just over an hour from our Cayton Bay Holiday Park.
View from Sutton Bank
Malham Cove
If you’re not already spoilt for choice in the North York Moors, Yorkshire is also home to the outstanding Yorkshire Dales. An area well known for its wild and fantastic scenery, you’ll find so much to see inside the National Park.
If you’re staying at Todber Valley Holiday Park in Lancashire near the Yorkshire border don’t pass up an opportunity to visit Malham Cove which is just a 40 minute drive away.
The cove has been attracting visitors for centuries and the huge white limestone cliff makes for a truly spectacular sight. If you’re a keen Harry Potter fan you might also recognise the filming location from camping scenes in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. There are a number of route options for getting to the cliff face or up to the top, so you can choose one that best suits your needs.
Malham Cove
Family days out in Yorkshire
We know that finding things to do to please everyone isn’t always easy, so we’ve handpicked some days-out that are suited for families with younger and older children alike.
William's Den
If you’re looking for a rare and thrilling family day out, look no further than William’s Den where you’ll find a highly unique natural indoor and outdoor adventure playground. You can get here easily by car within an hour from all of our holiday parks in Yorkshire.
The little ones will absolutely love the chance to explore all that the Den has to offer! All of the equipment used in the play areas is made from natural materials, so it is also a great way to connect with the earth and learn more about sustainability. Children of all ages can spark their imaginations here and you can spend some quality family time together doing traditional activities like den building, climbing and exploring. Afterwards don’t forget to try some of their famous ice cream which is home-made using local Yorkshire ingredients.
Eden Camp Modern History Theme Museum
Just a 35 minute drive from Cayton Bay Holiday Park and just under an hour from Barmston Beach Holiday Park, is the multi-award winning Eden Camp Museum.
You’ll be fully immersed in the sights, sounds and smells of the Second World War in this interactive historical experience. This unique museum is a great way to teach kids more about modern history, including rationing, the Black Out and the Blitz. A trip to Eden Camp promises to be a day out you’ll never forget.
Eden Camp
Animal adventures in Yorkshire
We’ve selected a couple of our favourite animal-themed days out in Yorkshire, so that you family can experience meeting and learning about some of the most fascinating creatures.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park
For an amazing animal adventure, plan a visit to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park and you’ll be amazed by the diverse range of animals who live there. From lions and tigers to polar bears, a trip to the Yorkshire Wildlife Park promises to be a special experience.
There’s so much to see, so you’ll definitely need to dedicate a whole day to exploring the park. The kids will love getting close enough to touch the wallabies inside the Wallaby Walkabout and watching the playful squirrel monkeys swing their feet around in the South America Viva walkabout. If you’re travelling up North and passing through South Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park is well worth a detour.
Video courtesy of Yorkshire Wildlife Park
The Deep
Have a deep sea adventure on land at The Deep, an award-winning aquarium which is home to over 5,000 sea creatures. Inside you’ll journey throughout the history of the ocean, and see some of its inhabitants including sharks, a rare green sawfish and penguins.
Take a walk through the tunnel of the lagoon of light and experience tropical fish in vivid colours above your head, and venture into the dark depths of the deep ocean in the underwater viewing tunnel. The kids will love the daily feeding shows where they can watch the Deep’s divers enter the tank and hand-feed some of the animals. Just over 35 minutes by car from Withernsea Sands Holiday Park, the Deep is a fantastic escape into the world of marine life and is a great destination for a family day out.
The Deep
Relax on Yorkshire’s Best Beaches
You’ll need a day of relaxation after tackling some of the day trips we’ve detailed - luckily Yorkshire has plenty of fabulous beaches to provide the ultimate traditional seaside retreat.
Scarborough Beach
If you want to experience a quintessential British seaside resort, the vibrant town of Scarborough is the perfect fit. It’s easy to see why Scarborough has been attracting visitors for hundreds of years, as you’ll find plenty to entertain the family here from rock-pooling to sandcastle building.
Scarborough has two magnificent sandy bays to explore, the North and South bays are divided by a large rocky head but connected by the traditional Victorian promenade. South Bay Beach provides a lively and entertaining experience, and is a popular choice for families because of its soft sand and calm waters. North Bay is a Blue Flag beach meaning it’s been named one of the cleanest in Europe and at low tide see if you can spot some of the interesting sea creatures in the rock pools.
If you’re staying at Cayton Bay Holiday Park you can reach Scarborough in just 10 minutes, or you can stay closer to home on the quieter sands of Cayton Bay which is just on your doorstep.
Scarborough South Bay beach
Filey Beach
The promenade and beach at Filey evoke feelings of childhood nostalgia with traditional seaside sights like beach huts, a paddling pool and fishermen casting their nets from their fishing boats. You can take a walk along a stretch of the 5 miles of clean golden sands and at low tide you’ll be amazed at how much sand is exposed!
After you’ve enjoyed the beach, take a walk along the historical promenade that lines the beach front, or head up to Filey Brigg to see if you can spot some seals.
Filey beach
Have we missed anything from this list? Let us know over on our Facebook page!