Where to park car for visiting York? And Yorkshire help...
Feb 19th, 2011, 05:02 PM
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Where to park car for visiting York? And Yorkshire help...
My mom and I will be driving up from the Peak District and would like to visit York for 1 day and would like suggestions as to whether we should look for a B&B/hotel in the city center that has car parking or stay in an outlying town (suggestions??) and take the train in to York.
After York we have 7 days to spend in the Yorkshire Moors and Dales and would love to have suggestions on where to base in each district. I had made up an itinerary that circled each area which had us moving every night but this seems too ambitious and doesn't give us any leave to slow down or spend more time sightseeing/walking. So we thought 3 nights based in each area might be a better solution.
We like to walk so scenic walks every other day or so would be nice (5miles?), viewing historic castles/abbeys, and scenic drives - so not much to cover!! Thanks for your help.
After York we have 7 days to spend in the Yorkshire Moors and Dales and would love to have suggestions on where to base in each district. I had made up an itinerary that circled each area which had us moving every night but this seems too ambitious and doesn't give us any leave to slow down or spend more time sightseeing/walking. So we thought 3 nights based in each area might be a better solution.
We like to walk so scenic walks every other day or so would be nice (5miles?), viewing historic castles/abbeys, and scenic drives - so not much to cover!! Thanks for your help.
Feb 19th, 2011, 05:40 PM
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We enjoyed Number 34 B&B http://www.number34york.co.uk/ for our all too brief one night there last summer; the hostess greeted us with a smile, info, and a parking permit for us to park on the street in front of the B&B. Then it was a pleasant about a half a mile walk to York Minster (less to Bootham Bar in the city wall). It's not in city "centre" but had parking on the street and was in a great area and quite convenient.
Feb 19th, 2011, 11:28 PM
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The Bentley Guest House is very good, and has an excellent breakfast. http://www.bentleyofyork.com/
Feb 20th, 2011, 05:50 AM
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Personally I'd stay in York itself (you are limited as to what towns are near York that have a train station, so why not stay in the city itself?).
Then for the 'Moors' side of your visit I would stay in Helmsley.
www.ryedale.co.uk/ryedale/helmsley/helmsley.html
It's a lovely litle place with a castle, and you can walk on quiet footpaths from Helmsely to Rievaulx Abbey, which I am sure you'd enjoy.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...elmsley-castle
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...rievaulx-abbey
From Helmsley you could also easily explore the Moors, perhaps driving out to Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay.
Other 'must sees' are Castle Howard, and a ride on the North York Moors Railway.
www.castlehoward.co.uk
www.nymr.co.uk
Or a little further afield you could drive to Fountains Abbey.
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk
For the Dales part of your holiday I'd stay somewhere like Pateley Bridge, an unspoilt small town in Nidderdale. There are lovely walks in every direction from Pateley, and the countryside is very scenic too.
www.yorkshire-dales.com/pateley-bridge.html
Roslyn B&B is right in the centre of Pateley and has a good reputation (I'm a local so have never stayed there). From what I recall it has car parking too.
www.roslynhouse.co.uk
Grassington (Wharfedale) would be another good base - it's more bustling and touristy than Pateley but still nice, and again has lovely walks all around.
www.grassington.uk.com
The Dales cover a large area as you've probably discovered. I have recommended this drive to many people and the feedback has been excellent - it's a full day out with lots of stops and walk opportunities.
http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist/...rive/index.htm
If you wanted to stay somewhere even more rural then a farm B&B is always a lovely idea. This website is useful as you can search by area and type of accommodation.
www.yorkshirenet.co.uk
And I always recommend that anyone coming to visit the Dales watches the DVD Calendar Girls, a lot of which was filmed in the lower Dales area.
Hope this helps kick start your research.
Then for the 'Moors' side of your visit I would stay in Helmsley.
www.ryedale.co.uk/ryedale/helmsley/helmsley.html
It's a lovely litle place with a castle, and you can walk on quiet footpaths from Helmsely to Rievaulx Abbey, which I am sure you'd enjoy.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...elmsley-castle
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...rievaulx-abbey
From Helmsley you could also easily explore the Moors, perhaps driving out to Whitby or Robin Hood's Bay.
Other 'must sees' are Castle Howard, and a ride on the North York Moors Railway.
www.castlehoward.co.uk
www.nymr.co.uk
Or a little further afield you could drive to Fountains Abbey.
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk
For the Dales part of your holiday I'd stay somewhere like Pateley Bridge, an unspoilt small town in Nidderdale. There are lovely walks in every direction from Pateley, and the countryside is very scenic too.
www.yorkshire-dales.com/pateley-bridge.html
Roslyn B&B is right in the centre of Pateley and has a good reputation (I'm a local so have never stayed there). From what I recall it has car parking too.
www.roslynhouse.co.uk
Grassington (Wharfedale) would be another good base - it's more bustling and touristy than Pateley but still nice, and again has lovely walks all around.
www.grassington.uk.com
The Dales cover a large area as you've probably discovered. I have recommended this drive to many people and the feedback has been excellent - it's a full day out with lots of stops and walk opportunities.
http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist/...rive/index.htm
If you wanted to stay somewhere even more rural then a farm B&B is always a lovely idea. This website is useful as you can search by area and type of accommodation.
www.yorkshirenet.co.uk
And I always recommend that anyone coming to visit the Dales watches the DVD Calendar Girls, a lot of which was filmed in the lower Dales area.
Hope this helps kick start your research.
Feb 21st, 2011, 07:24 AM
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You won't be disappointed if you spend a full day and two nights in York. Forgot to mention that the Bentley issues parking vouchers allowing parking out front on Grosvenor Terrace. There are a number of other B&Bs on that street.
Feb 21st, 2011, 08:00 AM
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We stayed at www.23stmarys.co.uk
They are a B&B with breakfast and parking, and it's only 5 minute walk to city center.
They are a B&B with breakfast and parking, and it's only 5 minute walk to city center.
Feb 22nd, 2011, 04:02 PM
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Thank you everyone for your replies and I do like the idea of staying in York itself so I will investigate the B&B's you've kindly suggested and not worry about training it in to York.
I'm going to hope that one full day is enough for York. My mom hates shopping and isn't interested in museums so we'll see Yorkminster, walk the walls & town, and she'll read her book while I pop into the Castle museum and other places!
Helmsley does look very central and so I think we will make our Moor-ish base there. Castle Howard, Nunnington Hall, Rievaulx Abbey, taking the train from Pickering to Grosmont (and walking to Goathland), Whitby, RHB, walking in the Esk Valley, etc are all on the To-Do list, so I think a stay of several days will be in order. Oh, I read somewhere that Coxwold is the most beautiful village in the Moors - comments?
We have watched Calendar Girls (a couple of times! Laughing & crying!!) and love love love the scenery so Nidderdale sounds perfect. We definitely prefer smaller villages or rural locations so I think we'll look into Pateley Bridge over Grassington which I've read can seem a bit 'touristy'.
For the Dales, I'm thinking of:
- 1 day: Malham Walk and lower Wharfdale (Bolton Abbey ?)
- 1 day: driving up north to Hawes, seeing Aysgarth Falls, then over to Leyburn, Middleham, Jervaulx Abbey (could I fit the Buttertubs drive in here?)
- 1 day: Ripon, Ripley, Fountains/Studley
Any suggestions on the above? It's so hard to plan itineraries when unfamiliar with the locale - a map can really only tell you so much...
Again, all your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
I'm going to hope that one full day is enough for York. My mom hates shopping and isn't interested in museums so we'll see Yorkminster, walk the walls & town, and she'll read her book while I pop into the Castle museum and other places!
Helmsley does look very central and so I think we will make our Moor-ish base there. Castle Howard, Nunnington Hall, Rievaulx Abbey, taking the train from Pickering to Grosmont (and walking to Goathland), Whitby, RHB, walking in the Esk Valley, etc are all on the To-Do list, so I think a stay of several days will be in order. Oh, I read somewhere that Coxwold is the most beautiful village in the Moors - comments?
We have watched Calendar Girls (a couple of times! Laughing & crying!!) and love love love the scenery so Nidderdale sounds perfect. We definitely prefer smaller villages or rural locations so I think we'll look into Pateley Bridge over Grassington which I've read can seem a bit 'touristy'.
For the Dales, I'm thinking of:
- 1 day: Malham Walk and lower Wharfdale (Bolton Abbey ?)
- 1 day: driving up north to Hawes, seeing Aysgarth Falls, then over to Leyburn, Middleham, Jervaulx Abbey (could I fit the Buttertubs drive in here?)
- 1 day: Ripon, Ripley, Fountains/Studley
Any suggestions on the above? It's so hard to plan itineraries when unfamiliar with the locale - a map can really only tell you so much...
Again, all your comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
Feb 22nd, 2011, 11:54 PM
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If you decide you don't want to stay in York, then it is best to use the Park & Ride service. Details are at www.york.gov.uk/parking/ride/.
The same is true for Bath, and many other British cities and towns have similar services. The whole idea is to discourage people from bringing cars into town centres, and to avoid having to build lots of long-term parking spaces.
And for anyone worrying about using public transportation, these are about the safest and most pleasant form of bus travel.
The same is true for Bath, and many other British cities and towns have similar services. The whole idea is to discourage people from bringing cars into town centres, and to avoid having to build lots of long-term parking spaces.
And for anyone worrying about using public transportation, these are about the safest and most pleasant form of bus travel.
Feb 23rd, 2011, 04:42 AM
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Your Dales days are busy, but I also think they are manageable. My comments are -
First day - the walk from the car park at Malham to the top of the Cove is quite an energetic one. Of course you don't have to climb the Cove (there's a great view of it from the base), or you could settle your mum at the base (with her book!) and go up yourself. The limestone pavement at the top is well worth the amount of steps you'll need to climb.
Bolton Abbey is lovely although the car parks you'll need to park in are pricey. But you could park for free to visit Barden Tower close by.
Second day - Yes, this would all work. Jervaulx is an absolute must see - you park across the road and then cross and enter the Abbey precincts. No charge to visit, and a nice teashop next to the car park if you fancy a break. Middleham Castle is very atmospheric, and you may see some of the strings of racehorses that the area is famous for. The Wensleydale Heifer at West Witton is a wonderful place for a meal.
www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk
Personally I'd stop in Masham rather than Leyburn.
Third day - (and just to be picky) Ripon, Ripley and Fountains are't situated in the Dales! If you plan to visit Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey (very large estate) and Ripley Castle that's a long day and a lot of walking. I think Ripley Castle is guided tour only. Great ice cream shop in the village - you'll spot the queue!
First day - the walk from the car park at Malham to the top of the Cove is quite an energetic one. Of course you don't have to climb the Cove (there's a great view of it from the base), or you could settle your mum at the base (with her book!) and go up yourself. The limestone pavement at the top is well worth the amount of steps you'll need to climb.
Bolton Abbey is lovely although the car parks you'll need to park in are pricey. But you could park for free to visit Barden Tower close by.
Second day - Yes, this would all work. Jervaulx is an absolute must see - you park across the road and then cross and enter the Abbey precincts. No charge to visit, and a nice teashop next to the car park if you fancy a break. Middleham Castle is very atmospheric, and you may see some of the strings of racehorses that the area is famous for. The Wensleydale Heifer at West Witton is a wonderful place for a meal.
www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk
Personally I'd stop in Masham rather than Leyburn.
Third day - (and just to be picky) Ripon, Ripley and Fountains are't situated in the Dales! If you plan to visit Ripon Cathedral, Fountains Abbey (very large estate) and Ripley Castle that's a long day and a lot of walking. I think Ripley Castle is guided tour only. Great ice cream shop in the village - you'll spot the queue!
Feb 24th, 2011, 03:00 PM
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Welcome to Fodor's sheandme, you are now a Fodorite!
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