Based on the excellent feedback I received yesterday to my “Yorkshire Moors and Dales without a car?” query, we decided we’ll rent a car. Of course, now I have new questions.

We plan to spend seven days in Yorkshire next June. Our hope is that we will encounter fewer crowds than we would in July or August. Are we deluding ourselves? Are there particular Yorkshire places or June dates we should avoid?

Our current plan is to stay in Ripon and make day trips to both the Dales and the Moors. Does this make sense, or would it be better to have two home bases, one in the Dales and one in the Moors? or a different central location?

I would be very pleased to learn about your favorite walks. We are not serious hikers, but we look forward to moderate walks of 5 or so miles.

Thank you.

You may want to consider Richmond as your other base city. Richmond is a lovely town with several good B&B's.

We always stay in Richmond as well. Beautiful town , stunning scenery around that area. Great walks.

Same question as before - why Ripon? It's not in the Dales or the Moors.

Sorry, posted too soon.
I'm not sure why you have picked Ripon as a base? It's a nice enough place but I think you could do better. With 7 days and a car I think I'd choose two different bases (B&B or Hotel) , one in the Moors and one in the Dales OR I'd pick one location and rent a cottage for a week.
Suggestions for Dales bases so you can start doing some research-
Masham
Middleham (both in Wensleydale)
Pateley Bridge (Nidderdale)
Hawes
Askrigg
(the last 2 are more touristy)
Suggestions for the Moors -
Hovingham
Helmsley
Pickering (bustling town, might be too big)
North Yorkshire covers a huge swathe of the country - you can easily avoid crowds all year round although of course there are busier areas. June is quieter because the children are at school (they don't break up for the summer holidays until mid July).
Once you have settled on your accommodation I can advise on walks, places to go, good pubs and restaurants etc.

Thank you, hotelie1970 and huddoshols. Richmond is now on the radar!

Morgana, we chose Ripon because it seems to be conveniently located between the Dales and Moors, so we thought it would give us good access to both. From what you've written, I get the impression that it's equally inconvenient rather than equally convenient?

I had been looking at Helmsley and it seems very appealing. Avoiding crowds is a priority for two traveling introverts, so I appreciate your comments on which towns are more touristy. Thank you for sharing your knowledge--it's enormously helpful.

Ripon is nice enough (with a stunning Cathedral) and it's near Fountains Abbey. However, personally I'd go for two locations in the Dales and in the Moors.
Helmsley is lovely, although it IS popular and on a summer weekend you will get plenty of visitors. But like most walks in the Moors and Dales you'll soon be on your own once you get away from the town or village centre.
From Helmsley you can walk to Rievaulx Abbey - a must see in the area. Byland Abbey is near as well and will be quieter.
As you have a car you could always stay on a farm B&B - I suspect you aren't interested in the bright lights, and many farms offer a very good and reasonably priced stay.
I'd definitely look at Pateley for your Dales stay. Again it will get visitors on a summer weekend but again a walk in any direction out of town will give you peace and quiet. The town has a nice, old fashioned charm to it. It's actually outwith the National Park itself (for reasons which remain obscure) and I think that makes it more peaceful whereas Grassington (Wharfedale) a few miles away is far busier.
If you like reading can I suggest The Plot by Madeleine Bunting which would enhance a stay in the Moors, especially around Helmsley. You can even visit 'The Plot' itself - I have!
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2009...eleine-bunting

Morgana, I've just placed my order for The Plot. Thank you.

Both Helmsley and Pateley look perfect for us. You're right--we're definitely not interested in bright lights!

Thank you--I foresee many happy hours of research ahead.

Yes- definitely listen to morgana. Staying in Ripon will only ensure that you spend a LOT more time traveling to where you want to be.

The driving can be quite slow and you want to base yourselves fir the in the Dales

Here is one of my trip reports that includes a few days in the Dales.
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...-trip-ever.cfm

It is quite long and the Dales bits start with posts from June 24 'Beamish and into the Dales'.

We stayed in this little cottage in Wombleton, just outside Helmsley. Loved it and If I remember we did not have to take it for a week. Great location for the Moors, the railway, Howard Castle, York....

Beautiful area. We drove up from Wales so stopped in Haworth on the way, lunch t the Old Silent Inn just outside Haworth.

http://www.holidayhomerental.co.uk/L...ddf962641a.htm

Hope you have as wonderful a time as we did.

Thanks, Cathinjoetown. The cottage looks lovely and I'm glad to have your review.

Thank you, janisj. I have quickly become convinced of the wisdom of listening to morgana! i look forward to reading your trip report.

you may wish to visit an agricultural show, here are the 2013 dates, if this interests then the 2014 will be available
http://www.stackyard.com/orgs/agricu...ows/dates.html

Thanks, bilboburgler. The North Yorkshire County Show might work out very well. Do you know if they show heritage breeds?

Well in sheep and rabbits they do so I assume cattle, horses, goats as well. The cake and decoration elements will be good and beer will flow like beer.

Thanks, bilboburgler. I'm not sure people who are already driving on the "wrong" side of the road should drink beer!

Also, I think I neglected to thank you for the link to the route planning site. It's terrific!