Hi,
My husband and I are going to be visiting friends in London in October 2013 (in a few weeks) and then taking a short trip to the Yorkshire Dales, where we will be spending 3 nights in a cottage near Grassington. So, we will have around 4 full days to travel around the Dales. We hope to one day take our kids on some great hikes in the area. However, the kids are now age 6 1/2 and 4 1/2, so we are trying to keep it real....or at least I am :). I have convinced my husband this is just a "scouting trip" for when the kids are older and can go on some really long hikes. My main question is....DOES ANYONE KNOW OF ANY CHILD FRIENDLY SHORTER HIKES OR JUST A PART OF A HIKE WE COULD DO WITH YOUNG CHILDREN? ALSO, ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE DALES. My husband and I are huge All Creatures/James Herriot fans, so we are excited to go! We will probably do the James Herriot museum, especially if we get into some rainy weather, which is highly likely. We live in Germany, though we are from the US, so we will probably visit the Dales again in the future. We also hope to one day hike along Hadrian's Wall with the kids. However, for now we want to be realistic and have a good time with the kids. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Hi Shannon, I was trying to remember the book I had a few years ago as it has some great shorter walks, but I can't find it. But this book looks like it might be even better. If you have train children, the National Railway Museum is in the area. There are also some good train rides. Also, I loved Rievaulx Abbey and wondered if there were some nice walks. And here it is. Pam
Posted by
OP
Dusseldorf, Germany, Germany, but from Louisiana, USA
3 posts
Thanks so much, Pamela and Keith. These are great suggestions! Thanks so much for the links!
Posted by
Los Angeles, California
1986 posts
Although its a little out of your planned way- you could combine Chatsworth (an absolute must) with a short walk up Dovedale. You are walking besides (over, around) a little stream up a green wooded valley. My wife is decidedly not a walker- but even she enjoyed it. Atsworth is fun for kids, they have a farm on the premises with smelly pigs.. all kids love that York is a must and any walk in the moors is fun. Try Hutton-Le-Hole, a village spread out around a large sloping green with rivulets and sheep droppings. Good enough walk and running room for kids
Posted by
London, Uk
8 posts
Wonder if I can post this time
Posted by
London, Uk
8 posts
2nd try. Hi, great place to vist, anytime! on the watt ot grassington maybe a walk to cold stone cut with give you a blast of fresh autumn air. Theres easy riverside walks in Wharfedale from Kettlewell, maybe make the White Lion at Cray your aim! For kids BIG and small, the Forbidden Corner in Coverdale.. is excellent. The river walk in malham is good, theres an awkward boulder to get over if you want to head up Gordale Scar and return by the Cove. Its right by the base of the gorge, once above that its easy going. Clapham has , a short walk up to the lake, but of more interest is the gingerbread cute, Old Manor House, teashop/artshop/pub/ bunkhouse...log burner and stone floor..hard to leave. The Old Hill Inn, near Ribblehead has excellent food, and a museumn of sorts too.
The waterfalls walk at Ingleton should be in reach of the older child.. and while in the area , take torches and maybe have an explore of Jordas Cave, up in Kingsdale.Its an open system, flat floored, unsigned, but only 30 yds from the road
Posted by
London, Uk
8 posts
The Eureka mus. at Halifax might be worth a call if you have a washout day. The Dales have really quiet roads, and theres plenty of swoopy drives to be had over the moors. Malham to Arncliffe, is good.. might allow a vist to the olde style Falcon at Arncliffe. Was listening to the All Creatures theme yesterday.... the watersplash on the titles is on the minor road heading north from the Punchbowl pub at Low Row in Swaledale towards Langthwaite. For a "mountain" to climb, you could do Pen Y Ghent, from the minor road to the east of Horton, it cuts off a fair bit of the climb and excellent path. happy travelling
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Posted by
OP
Dusseldorf, Germany, Germany, but from Louisiana, USA
3 posts
Richard, Thanks so much for making the effort to get your info posted. I really appreciate the tips!
Posted by
New York City, NY, USA
5678 posts
Well my link didn't work. Here is the book. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yorkshire-Dales-Walks-Children-Rickerby/dp/1850585695 PAm