Inexpensive Things to do in Yorkshire

Now that summer is here, looking for purse friendly days out in Yorkshire is as simple as packing a picnic and heading to one of the regions many beauty spots. The key is getting the right balance between having enough to do that you can make a whole day out of it, but not so much that you ever feel like you have to rush! Here’s a couple of our favourite spots:

Bolton Abbey

Situated just outside of Skipton, the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales, the Bolton Abbey estate covers nearly 30,000 acres of gorgeous countryside. Our usual approach is to explore the Abbey ruins before heading (either via the famous Stepping Stones, or over the less daring bridge) to the far side of the river to picnic on the sandy banks of the Wharf. The kids can paddle while adults ‘supervise’, a walk in the words, and there’s always ice cream before we leave. It’s a great spot for fishing and walking, there’s a couple of lovely tea rooms, and you can download activity trails before you go too.

Brimham Rocks

Something of a geological marvel, this series of weird and wonderful rock formations near Harrogate offers plenty to see and do! Climbing opportunities abound for even the most cowardly beginner and the potential rewards include some of the most spectacular views over Nidderdale you can imagine.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a sprawling open air art gallery considered to be an international centre for modern and contemporary sculpture. You don’t have to be an art expert to appreciate a visit though – the parks ethos of ‘great art for everyone’ and their focus on removing the barriers that often exist between the public and great works of art make this a really accessible and fun way for the uninitiated to take their first steps in art appreciation.

York Museum Gardens

In a city so full of enticing attractions, it might be easy to overlook the simple pleasure of spending an afternoon in this pretty and expansive botanical garden. The gardens are home to many different varieties of plants, trees and birds and if you fancy an alternative to exploring on your own, free garden tours are run every Sunday. The grounds are also home to the Yorkshire Museum, York Observatory and the ruins of St Mary’s Abbey.

The Forbidden Corner

The Forbidden Corner is billed as ‘The Strangest Place in the World’ and while I can’t confirm this is completely accurate, it certainly does make for a most unusual day out. A mind-boggling maze of tunnels, secret chambers and hidden doors, with bizarre discoveries round every turn, The Forbidden Corner was originally built as a private folly but is now thankfully open to the public (though tickets do need to be bought in advance!)