Ah, the wonderful world of Yorkshire. God’s Own Country; a mixture of countryside, market towns, art, fine food, and even vampires. Whether you are looking for a Yorkshire Dales pub with accommodation or a beautiful beach and bustling harbour, you can find it here! The Dales offer some of the U.K’s most stunning landscapes. The towns are architecturally unique and instantly recognisable.
The food scene is flourishing far beyond puddings and tea (although you’ll still find plenty of both) and the art and entertainment extends well past David Hockney and Jarvis Cocker. It’s a veritable feast of fun, frolics, regional pride and colloquial acrobatics. The best way to go native, we say, is to dive right in. So, we’ve teamed up with local blogger Izzy Dabbles to give you our 5 IDEAL towns to visit in Yorkshire.
Ilkley
Ilkley is a charming little spa town in close proximity to Bolton Abbey and the Yorkshire Dales. If you’re into nature, this is the place to come. It’s the perfect spot from which to explore the woods and moors of Yorkshire.
A short walk from the town centre will take you onto Ilkley Moor and offer an opportunity to visit the Cow and Calf Rocks, a popular rock formation with an amazing view; the inspiration for Yorkshire’s country anthem ‘On Ilkla Moor Baht ‘at’. Ikley is especially popular with walkers as it’s the official starting point of the 84 mile Dales Way trail, which will take you all the way to Bowness-on-Windemere.
The town has a large number of lovely little independent shops, restaurants and coffee shops which give it real character, including the famous Betty’s Tearooms, a local institution situated on the Grove, which is the most scenic of Ilkley’s shopping streets.
If you’re after some good grub, you won’t find better than The Box Tree, a Michelin star restaurant where Marco Pierre cut his culinary teeth. If you fancy something a little less fancy, The Burlington Restaurant at the Devonshire Arms serves up some excellent dishes complete with wonderful views of the Yorkshire Dales.
We also love The Owl in Hawnby, nominally a pub with accommodation but actually nestled somewhere just a a few miles north east of the Dales in another glorious stretch of scenery, the North York Moors National Park. Here, the vibe is quaint, peaceful and welcoming, with freshly cooked, homely dishes on your plate, cask ales in your pint glass, and plenty of great walks on your doorstep. Bliss.
Just five-minute walk from the town centre is Leeds Road, upon which rests the lovely Independent Coffee Shop, Toast House. You’ll find the locals here drinking their cups of Joe and enjoying their fine homemade soup, cakes and bread.
Whitby
This seaside port town, complete with a lovely beach, amusement arcades and a popular promenade is one of our favourite places in North Yorkshire. With a bustling harbour and busy fishing port bringing in catches of cod, pollock, mackerel and so much more, Whitby is ideal for visitors with a penchant for deliciously fresh fish.
Infact, if you’re looking for a restaurant which serves up some of the best in the country, look no further than Quayside, a lovely restaurant overlooking Whitby harbour which was winner of the prestigious Fish and Chip Shop of the Year, 2014. If you fancy having a go at catching your own fish dinner, Whitby west pier is an all time favourite for anglers all over Yorkshire.
Fishing aside, Whitby Abbey high is also high on the list of attractions. After climbing the famous 199 steps, you’ll be able to explore the Abbey, open to the public and boasting a visitor’s centre equipped to educate visitors on the history of the Abbey. Next to the Abbey is the Church of St Mary, founded in 1110, although its interior dates from the eighteenth century and is now a grade one listed building.
The church graveyard and the Abbey were used as a setting in Bram Stoker’s gothic novel, Dracula. The town’s connection with the story has led to Whitby being the venue for a twice-yearly festival of gothic music and culture; so if it’s your thing, get your fangs in and black on.
No traditional trip to the seaside would be complete without sampling an old-fashioned afternoon tea room. For this we highly recommend award winning Botham’s of Whitby Tea Rooms on Skinner Street. Their apricot and orange tea bread is particularly popular with the locals.
Skipton
Skipton is a friendly market town often referred to as the ‘Gateway to The Dales’. So friendly in fact, that it was voted the UK’s happiest place to live in 2017. For visitors heading to the countryside, Skipton is an ideal place to stop off for lunch, peruse the independent high-street shops, and soak up the positive vibes. At the top of the High Street stands Skipton Castle, built in 1090 and strengthened in the twelfth century; one of the best preserved medieval castles in England and open to the public. Also worth a look is the Leeds and Liverpool Canal, which passes through Skipton, replete with canal boats and offering trips down the water, if you so wish.
Close to the canal and town centre you’lll find the Skipton Pie and Mash Shop. With crisp, golden pastry and succulent savoury fillings like steak and ale and chicken, ham and leak, these are simply the best pies in Skipton, if not Yorkshire, North England, England, Europe and the World (steady, there).
The gorgeous pies are freshly made using local produce, and a superb vegetarian option is always available. Served with creamy mash or chips, peas and washed down with a cup of tea, they are the ultimate comfort food. Oh, and and unctuous onion gravy or traditional green liquor made from parsley is included in the price. In the spring and summer months, there’s outdoor seating and as is the Yorkshire way, once March arrives, it’s T-shirt and shorts weather right through to November.
Settle
Settle is a small market town situated in the picturesque North Yorkshire countryside and an excellent base for walkers, cyclists and bird watchers. It’s only a 20-minute drive from the amazing Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, which is definitely worth a visit if a free afternoon presents itself.
The town itself has a market every Tuesday and a number of well-established family run shops and cafes around the market square. These include Ye Olde Naked Man Café, thought by many to be the oldest cafe in England. Unfortunately, it’s not frequented by nudists. Also of note, the Folly, a grade one listed building on the Main Street which now houses the Museum of North Craven Life, is an interesting place to stop.
A short drive from Settle will take you to the award-winning Courtyard Dairy, a family run business dealing in fine cheeses. The owners have a fine relationship with local producers and select the best cheeses they can find. Cheeses are kept in excellent condition and you can enjoy free samples and discuss your requirements with the knowledgeable staff on arrival. There’s also a cafe above the shop doing a good line in homemade refreshments, many including the cheeses on sale in the shop.
Saltaire
There is much to see in the Victorian model village of Saltaire, easily accessible by train from Leeds and Bradford. The area is a UNESCO site and features conscientiously preserved worker’s houses which surround Salts Mill, a former textile mill built by Sir Titus Salt but now an art gallery, bookshop and cafe. The gallery displays work by local artist David Hockney, Yorkshire’s most famous son (possibly). The perfect place to spend a rainy day, with admission and car parking free.