DH and I will have 2.5 days and 3 nights in York in Sept. We'd like to take one daytrip (this is our 2nd time to York and will be visiting Fountains Abbey on our way from Wales, taking up the first half day of what would have been 3 days). I read your reply to the post "whats so great about York" and like the idea of the daytrip to Middleham castle and Masham as I am a fan of Simon de Montfort and my husband is a fan of beer. Could you be a bit more precise as to what route you might take as we now have a baby (she'll be 1.5) and I need to plan these things out. Should we even take this day away from being in York?

addendum:
Yes, a fan of Simon de Monfort but also a big Richard III fan-the reason to see Middleham! You'll have to excuse my confusion as I'm researching our visit to Kent (Lewes) as well...

Hi Ani
Yes, I'll be happy to suggest a trip for you - it;s a beautiful area with loads of history. However I am writing this from work - need to be at home and look at my maps/books!
Hope it's ok if I reply fully in a day or so.
M

Great-TIA!

Hi,home now!
I am conscious you have a baby with you, so this might be a bit ambitious - but here we go. I am assuming you are starting from York? Firstly head to Ripon. Don't linger long here but try and go into the Cathedral. You may have seen its distant outline when visiting Fountains Abbey. Also Ripon is a good place to stock up on some picnic food, because of course the weather is going to be perfect, and you won't want to eat in pubs when you gave have a picnic in perfect countryside!! Ripon has many shops to explore and a small supermarket. Then head along the A6108 until you come to Masham and the Black Sheep Brewery. www.blacksheepbrewery.com has full details - I believe the tour is about an hour and includes sampling! Plus there is a shop and a small bistro. Then head further along the A6108 and you will see Brymor Icecream - gorgeous if you like icecream, locally made and wonderful varieties! Just after this is Jervaulx Abbey. This is a little gem, in private hands and so atmospheric. Stop for a while and explore the ruins. Last time I came here my husband and I were the only visitors - and it really is lovely. Could be picnic time? Then back in the car and continue along the same road to Middleham. You are in horse-racing country here, and you can't miss the castle if you drive through the town. It is ruinous but well worth a visit. Then if you aren't flagging continue along the same road to Leyburn and then the A684 to Aysgarth. There are beautiful waterfalls here, and the opening sequence of Robin,Prince of Thieves was filmed in this spot. By this time you are probably exhausted so head back by returning to Leyburn and then continuing on the A684 to Bedale. From here you can pick up the A1 and have a faster journey back to York.
There's loads of other Castles, scenic vilages etc to visit on this route, so you may want to linger in other locations.
I hope you have a really lovely day.
M

Wonderful -thank you so much! We are thrilled to be returning to N. Yorkshire!

Morgana-an update and question. It looks like we will have only 1 day out from York and we know for sure we are going to Fountains Abbey. That said, we'd like to go somewhere else close. Would you suggest Ripon or Riveaulx or...? Thanks!

Other possible day trips from York include Durham (cathedral, castle, scenic river walks) and Whitby (stunning abbey ruins and views). Durham is easy via train; Whitby less easy to get to via public transport (but the bus ride through the moors is quite nice).

Post if you want more details.

Ani: Ripon makes sense since it is so close to Fountains/Studley Royal. But I would go to Fountains in the morning and then after lunch I'd head east through Thirsk (James Herriott's vet office), up Sutton Bank (amazing views) and then to Rievaulx Abbey/Terrace. You could do lunch at Fountains and dinner in a pub in Helmsley after visiting Rievaulx. That would make a very nice day out of York.

You'd probably even have time to fit in a short detour to Byland Abbey before hitting Rievaulx

Ani, If you follow Janis's advice which seems pretty good, I would suggest going to the New Inn in Cropton, north of Pickering. The Cropton Brewery operates here and their beers are very good. The pub is kid friendly and they have a small garden for your daughter to play in.

Helmsley is a nice village but their pubs are nothing spectacular for a beer fan.

Thank you! I will take a look at that route tonight!

Hello again
Although I would have loved you to drive through the Dales I think that Janis's suggestion is the sensible one. Fountains opens at 10am and you could easily spend a long while here.
I know you will have your daughter with you, but if you do this suggested route you will be temptingly near The Star at Harome, one of the jewels in Yorkshire's culinary crown, if not THE jewel. www.thestaratharome.co.uk What a way to round off a day in Yorkshire!
M

I've eaten there with kids and the Star was wonderfully nice to us, it is a gem!