We have plans to be in Yorkshire next May for maybe 4-6 nights. We will use public transportation only. I figure 2 nights in York itself to catch up on what I missed the last time, and then want to see a little bit of the larger area. (We do need to be within an hour or so of Newcastle for a day as my husband wants to meet a friend who lives there. He can do this from York unless there is a suggestion for a closer base.)

Does any one have any suggestions on good towns to use as a base for daytrips? I have looked at Harrogate and Whitby but am not sure if these are good (or the best) options. I like pretty villages as well as countryside. We are not real energetic and don't plan on hiking etc. Strolls and walks are great as well as seeing some attractions (stately homes, castles, ruins etc.) I don't know whether we want dales or moors - it may not matter as we haven't been to either one!

Hi
I live in Harrogate and I can't see why this should be a better base than York for your day trips. Without a car it's not going to be easy, but York itself will probably make it as easy as it gets.
Is there any reason why you won't consider car hire?
Both the North Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales are areas of great beauty with lots to see, but public transport is sketchy and will greatly limit what you can see and do.
I can't really comment on day trips unless I know what your interests are?

York is a lot better than Harrogate as a base - it's on the main train line and the main bus routes for the east of Yorkshire run from there. Whitby is literally the end of the line and can't be accessed directly by train from York.

Do you have an i-phone? There are great public transport aps available. The national rail ap is brilliant.

If you like villages, have you thought about hiring a holiday cottage - there is a huge selection to choose from over here - far more than the US. The cottage owner will be able to tell you about buses to the nearest railway stations for onward trips. Just google Yorkshire holiday cottages and you will have a plethora of sites.

Ah, just seen the bit about stately homes and castles. Well, Castle Howard is a magnificent stately home not that far from York. With a car it would be easy, with public transport it IS possible.
Here are the details -
http://www.castlehoward.co.uk/House-...irections.html
Fountains Abbey is the most famous 'ruin' in the area - again you CAN reach by public transport - you'd have to get yourself to Ripon first by bus from York.
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk/html/how-to-find-us/
You may also wish to see this thread -
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...hout-a-car.cfm

I would prefer a second location after York for a different feel. I have read that Harrogate has a bus system that would get us around to some areas easier than from York. I want to know if there are other towns that have similar or better facilities. And Whitby looks to have a train route on the coast that may be pretty. Husband does not want to drive while on vacation; I concur. We like trains, and shorter bus (coach) trips are ok too.

I am not sure what you are asking re what our interests are. I don't really have anything specific in mind other than what I mentioned in the OP. I'm open to suggestions depending on the area we use as the base. Are there any suggestions that may work better than Harrowgate or Whitby?

Wow. Everyone is so fast in replying! My last was in response to Morgana's first reply. Thaks all for replying. Thanks alanRow for pointing me in the direction of looking further into the bus routes from York. Morgana thanks for the specifics on castles/stately homes. It helps.

I don't think I want a holiday cottage for such a short time - and besides I like B&Bs for the great English breakfast!

I may get shot down in flames for this, but if you want a different feel to York, have you considered somewhere like scarborough? Its been a few years since I was there but when at University in Hull we would take the train out to scarborough and it was lovely. Any more up to date info around anyone?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarbor...orth_Yorkshire

If not, Whitby is a good bet. Harrogate is too close to York and although a perfectly nice town will not give you much more than you can get to at York.

Agree about Harrogate - love living here but the bus/train system is no better than York and (as far as the train goes) a lot worse.

From York you could take the Coastliner bus to Whitby, then Scarborough. A second area for a couple of nights is Bardon Mill on the train line that goes from Newcastle to Carlisle. From Bardon mills you could take the local bus to visit the old Roman wall and other sites.

Thanks for letting me know that Harrogate will not get me anything much different from York. It does help a lot to at least take it off the list! I will look further into what I can get to from York. Maybe I'll add some time there.

As a second option, if Yorkshire would be limited for us due to public transport, is there any merit in breaking up the time and trying for, perhaps, Chester (from York) for a couple of nights? Is the train route scenic? Would it be too much travel and not enough time to enjoy? We would be returning to London the night before any choice in order to get our plane home.

I am about to look into the logistics of Bardon Mill. Trains, accommodation, etc. Thanks for the suggestion.

Please don't listen to people who claim public transport in Yorkshire is limited.
You can, for instance, take a train to Scarborough (hourly) then go by bus (at least every hour) to Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby. From Whitby, there are hourly buses to Staithes, as pretty a fishing village as you'll find anywhere.