Bronte Tour
Haworth Parsonage was the home of the Brontes between 1820 until Patrick’s death in 1860. The moors that they loved can be reached by a path through the churchyard.
The Parsonage as it stands today is well worth a visit to Bronte enthusiasts. The Parsonage is run by the Bronte Society who have, restored the rooms to the way they appeared in the early 1850s.
The Brontes are buried in a family vault inside the church and there is a Bronte Memorial Chapel in the church along with a commemorative plaque to the family.
Yorkshire Dales Tour 1
Visit Yorkshire with it ancient towns and cities, moorland and dales. This two day tour (or more depending on stops) takes in the very best of this stunning region of northern England.
Keighley to Skipton.
Before leaving Keighley take a look at the Worth Valley railway as used in the Railway Children, East Riddlesdon Hall – Tythe Barn (National Trust), Cliffe Castle Museum (free entry).
Skipton has free parking on the high-street cobbles on non-market days, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. Otherwise it’s back streets or Craven District’s car parks. At the top of the high street is the church which is alongside Skipton Castle, which has one of the best preserved castle interiors in the country. Opposite the church is one of the butchers shops offering the finest pork pies to be had for miles around. A visit to the canal basin has short trips on a barge around the castle or further afield on the Leeds to Liverpool canal.
From Skipton take the A65 towards Harrogate, turning off to Bolton Abbey. There is some free parking around Bolton Bridge as this is a good setting off place for a circular walk. This includes the 2 mile circuit to the Abbey and back on both sides of the River Wharfe, via the famous stepping stones in front of the Abbey. Carry on past Bolton Abbey towards Burnsall, but turn right at Barden Tower on the smaller road to Appletreewick. At the top of the first climb is a small junction to the right to detour to Buffers tea room, a nice farm shop with a railway theme. Calves and lambs to be petted when in season.
Back towards Aptwick again (if you detoured) and a few miles further on is a junction with a signpost to Skyreholme and Parceval Hall – known as a retreat and with spectacular gardens (entry charge) and cafe. Finally on reaching Appletreewick are two pubs and a campsite. Both pubs (The New Inn and the Craven Arms) are recommended for good food and beer. The campsite is situated by the river along which runs the Dales Way, so good walks are to be had in both directions.
Up river is Burnsall, picture postcard setting with the bridge, cricket/parking field and Red Lion inn for an up-market lunch. See also nearby Howgill Lodge Campsite.
Between the campsite and Burnsall is a junction to the right to Hartlington Raikes. Soon after a left turn signposted Hebden, which is a quiet lane to this pretty village (with a pub, the Clarendon Arms). Left at Hebden will bring you into Grassington. Drive straight through on the back road signed Conistone and Kettlewell. Along here there will be some free parking, and lanes connecting with the back of Grassington by foot.
Continuing along the quiet Grass Woods Lane to Conistone, turn left, then right to Kilnsey (another pub stop – the Tennant Arms, under Kilnsey Crag look out for rock climbers). A couple of miles further on on the B6160 is a left turn to Arncliffe and the Falcon pub, lovely and old fashioned. Along this road is the Hawkswick Cote Caravan Site. This is Littondale and worth a trip to Litton. There is another good pub at Litton, The Queens Arms, with its own brewery. Further up the dale is Foxup and Halton Gill where there is another small campsite. Returning down the dale take the left fork at Arncliffe to follow the single track road through Hawkswick, then left again for Kettlewell. There is a garage, cafes, shop and three pubs in Kettlewell, which is also on the Dales Way, and well worth a walk around.
Yorkshire Dales Tour 2
From Kettlewell there is a choice of routes – the more rural, quieter road turning off behind the Kings Head pub is up Coverdale, which is approached by a spectacular hair-pin bend. Seven miles or so on choice of roads running either side of the River Cover will bring you to Middleham, well known for it’s castle and horse racing community (you will have passed some gallops on route to Middleham). There are campsites nearby at Harmby, Burton Constable and Leyburn.
Follow the road signposted Hawes (A684) as far as Aysgarth (pub with campsite here). Turn off right to see Aysgarth Falls, and then continue along this road which will bring you to Castle Bolton. From here either carry on in the same direction in a large anti-clockwise circuit through old lead mining country and back to Askrigg, or return to Carperby, then continue straight on the quieter route to Hawes to the north of the River Ure.
Hawes is a good market town with plenty to see and do. It has shops, pubs, antiques, the rope makers, the Wensleydale Creamery (sample Wensleydale Cheeses as featured in Wallace and Grommet). There also are several campsites nearby, and just outside Hawes is Gayle Mill which featured on the BBC Restoration program. The shorter return route from here is up Gayle Hill and down into Langstrothdale and on to Hubberholme and Buckden. The church at Hubberholme features some very early woodwork, and from there is a walk up to a remote Quaker house. Back down the valley will take you through some lovely villages and back to Skipton, along the valley famous for it’s ‘field barns’ by the hundreds.
The longer route from Hawes is taking the A684 turning off left towards Ingleton (B6255). This road leads to the 3 Peaks and the Ribblehead viaduct on the Settle-Carlisle railway. Turning left here will lead down the dale towards Settle, or carrying straight on will bring you to Ingleton, past Ingleborough and White Scar Cave visitor centre.
Ryedale Tour/North Yorks Moors
Via quiet roads, visiting several beauty spots and including campsite suggestions.
From Keighley follow signs towards Skipton, Harrogate and then York. On reaching York outer ring road turn left and keep going until one of the radial roads is signposted to Helmsley (B1363). Follow that route for approximately 20 miles, arriving in Helmsley. The market place is a paying car park, but side roads are free parking. There are currently three pubs and some very nice shops in easy walking distance of the centre. Helmsley has a playhouse, castle, walled garden and open air swimming pool. The Cleveland Way to the North will take you to Rievaulx Abbey (2.5 miles walk approx), or 5 minutes by car.
From Helmsley follow the A170 in the direction of Pickering. After the first village, Nawton/Beadlam, bear left towards Kirkdale, and St Gregory’s Minster (dating from 750AD). Continue on that road and as it dips and passes through a shallow ford. Look for caves in the banksides.
Take the next left to Fadmoor. On reaching Fadmoor, turn right through the centre of the village towards Gillamoor. Gillamoor is an ancient village settlement with some lovely old houses and pub around a village green. Straight through the village will bring you to Surprise View, with a bench to take in the surroundings. Continue down the bank and take the left turn signposted Farndale. Drive up the valleyside until you reach the village in Upper Farndale, and The Feversham Arms. Through Farndale take the Blakey road and up Blakey Bank continuing until you meet the main road. Turning left you will soon come to the famous Lion Inn,
The Lion Inn on remote Blakey Ridge is a 16th Century freehouse owned and run by the Crossland family since 1980. Located at the highest point of the North York Moors National Park, it stands at an elevation of 1,325 feet offering breathtaking views over the valleys of Rosedale and Farndale. The Lion Inn offers camping mainly for people using the nearby Lyke Wake Walk and Coast to Coast Walk. Further up the ridge turn right towards Rosedale, and follow the road back down the valley towards Rosedale Abbey and the very steep Rosedale Chimney. There is a campsite at nearby Cropton, as well as The New Inn and Brewery.
Gallery of some North York Moors images.
Instead of returning down the valley to Rosedale, continuing on from Blakey towards Castleton. From Castleton there are several routes to Whitby, and a campsite on the coast road between Sandsend and Whitby.
Yorkshire Wolds and East Coast Tour
Villages to visit on the East Coast are Runswick Bay, Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay. Inland from Whitby is Goathland, “Aidensfield” in Heartbeat and “Hogsmeade” in Harry Potter and famous as part of the North Yorks Moors Railway.
