The largest county in England, Yorkshire has a wealth of contrasting attractions for holiday visitors. From picturesque villages and busy market towns to wild and glorious countryside and a beautiful coastline, there is something for everyone. This is an ideal spot for a holiday, especially if you are staying in a rented cottage. You can base yourself in a delightful and secluded location and then venture out to visit all that Yorkshire has to offer.
Towns to visit in Yorkshire
The spa town of Harrogate is renowned for its Victorian architecture including the Pump Rooms and the famous Betty’s Tea Rooms. In addition to a broad variety of shops, there are also many gardens and parks to enjoy. Just outside the town you can visit Knaresborough Castle, built in the 14th century and of course Mother Shipton’s Cave.
If you are interested in important historical sites, then Ripon and York are well worth seeing. Both of these ancient towns boast spectacular cathedrals and other structures, with York in particular having a fascinating mixture of Roman, Viking, Medieval and Georgian buildings.
You can also visit Yorkshire’s smaller towns for a change of pace. Skipton, Thirsk and Settle are three of the best. They are all charming, bustling market towns with some engaging shops, as well as providing sights and buildings of historical interest.
Yorkshire’s coastline, with its long beaches and dramatic cliffs, is noted for its opportunities for bracing walks. There are also a range of seaside towns along the coastline that are well worth a visit. Scarborough, a fishing port and a major seaside resort has beaches, amusement arcades, lovely parks and even a medieval castle. Or you could visit Whitby, another fishing port, with its cobbled streets, quaint shops and other attractions.
The Yorkshire Dales
Places of outstanding natural beauty don’t often come more spectacular than the Yorkshire Dales. With its wild, windswept scenery and wide-open vistas, this is the place to visit if you love the countryside. You could rent a cottage in the Dales and spend an entire holiday enjoying the delights of this part of Yorkshire. The landscape is a mixture of unspoilt hills and valleys, with some lovely villages and towns nestling within it.
Haworth and the Brontes
Fans of Wuthering Heights and other works by the Bronte sisters should be sure to visit Haworth and its surrounding countryside, often known as Bronte Country. The village and the moors beyond it were the setting for many of the novels. Today you can see the former home of the sisters at the Bronte Parsonage Museum. Haworth and the moors are un-missable if you want to walk in the fictional footsteps of Heathcliff and Cathy.
North York Moors
The North York Moors are home to some the most striking and varied scenery in Britain. Take some time to walk across its hills and moorland, through its forests and along the lovely coastline. If you don’t want to walk, you can hire a bicycle or even go horse-riding to enjoy its delights, stopping off for refreshments in the picturesque villages along the way. The Moors are also home to a rich assortment of wildlife.
Yorkshire boasts these and many other superb places to visit. Whether you choose to concentrate on one part of this beautiful county or to travel around it, soaking up all that it has to offer, you can find a wide selection of Yorkshire holiday cottages in which to stay. Most people who discover Yorkshire as a holiday location keep coming back time and time again.
