Hello there,

My hubby and I are doing a trip to the Lake District and Yorkshire May 2 - 11. We are staying in Knarlesborough at the Gallon House B&B for 4 nights (Thurs - Mon) http://www.gallon-house.co.uk/index.html. We'd like to visit the Dales, Moors etc. Do you have any particular country pubs or things you'd recommend??

Thanks so much!
Jamikins

Hi, I know Knaresborough well - don't bother visiting Mother Shipton's Cave!
I am assuming you have a car? This weblink has an excellent car tour of the Dales. The actual Yorkshire Dales park covers a huge area, but this drive would give you a really good flavour of the area. There's even walks built into it which you could do. Malham Cove is a particular highlight, as is Bolton Abbey. This drive would easily occupy a day as there's so much to see - you'd be hopping in and out of the car all day admiring the views and taking pictures!
http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist/...rive/index.htm
If this appeals then the Red Lion at Burnsall is recommended for food, as is the Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey.
www.redlion.co.uk
www.thedevonshirearms.co.uk
You are also within easy reach of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens - World Heritage site.
www.fountainsabbey.org.uk
The Yorkshire Moors would be another full day out. Lovely scenery, very different from the Dales. Lots to see but two particular highlights would be Castle Howard and a trip on the North Yorks Moors Railway.
www.castlehoward.co.uk
www.nymr.co.uk
There are so many good pubs and restaurants in the area. The Star at Harome and the Yorke Arms are my 2 absolutely special favourites. You would need to book in advance.
www.thestaratharome.co.uk
www.yorke-arms.co.uk
These are both Michelin star restaurants.
The Yorkshire coast is also great - Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay, Staithes etc. Robin Hoods Bay is an old fishing village with a main twisting street so steep you have to leave your car at the top and walk down to the sea. The pavement has handrails!. There are beautiful cliff top walks in both directions.
www.robin-hoods-bay.co.uk
www.whitby.co.uk
I guess if I had just 4 days I would do the following (no particular order)
Day 1 - Trip to Yorkshire Moors, visit Castle Howard and ride on North Yorks Moors Railway. Dinner at the Star Inn??
Day 2 - Dales drive (link above), dinner at Yorke Arms??
Day 3 - a day in York itself
Day 4 - Fountains Abbey (it opens at 10am) and then onto the coast, to visit Whitby etc (probably too much to visit the coast as well on Day 1).
Hope this gives you a starter for 10. If it isn't what you are after let me know and I'll have another try!

Morgana give you absolutely terrific advice/suggestions. Just one slight variation -- I'd <i>maybe</i> do the Moors, Steam Railway, Whitby and Robin Hood's bay day 1, and Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal and Castle Howard on day 4. As she says, the coast would be too much on day 1 if you also did Castle Howard. It just feels a better "fit" to me to do the coast w/ the Moors. Just my 2 ¢ . . . .

Wow, you guys are amazing! This is exactly what I had in mind!

Thank you!
J

Whoops, was signed in as my hubby!

Thanks!
J

More than happy with Janis's tweak - it's as broad as it's long really.
A few more things to consider -
1)You probably already know this but May 4th is a Bank Holiday.
2)If you haven't watched the film Calendar Girls then this would be a great way of seeing the Yorkshire Dales scenery that you might be driving through. Lots of the stunning outside shots were filmed in Wharfedale.
3) Three pubs/restaurants much closer to Knaresborough that I can recommend are the General Tarleton, a few miles up the road from K'boro, the Malt Shovel at Brearton and the Boars' Head Brasserie at Ripley (which is a mock French Norman village complete with castle!).
www.generaltarleton.co.uk
www.ripleycastle.co.uk/hotel.html
www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk

Thank you both so much! I think I have a basic plan for our 4 days. My dad is coming with us so any rail stuff interests him. But unfortunately it means we are trying to keep food costs down as he is retired and on CDN$ AND he isnt a foodie!!!! Sigh....with that in mind how does this plan sound:

Thursday – Yorkshire Dales

Drive Hawkshead Cumbira (We will have been in the Lake District 5 days prior) to Skipton and do drive here: http://www.skiptonweb.co.uk/tourist/...rive/index.htm
Stopping at Bolton Abbey

Lunch: Burnsall at the Red Lion http://www.redlion.co.uk/menus_view.cfm?mID=11

Drive Skipton to Knarlesborough and dinner at hotel. The chef is suppose to be really good!

Friday – York
Dinner at www.generaltarleton.co.uk

Saturday - Fountains Abbey/Studley Royal and Castle Howard
Dinner at www.themaltshovelbrearton.co.uk

Sunday - Trip to Yorkshire Moors/Coast
Drive via Thirsk to the Steam Railway and ride the steam rail. Head to Whitby for lunch. Robin Hood’s Bay and drive around Moors.
Dinner at www.ripleycastle.co.uk/hotel.html

Monday – drive back to London via the Peak District

Do these days make sense? Also, any good places for inexpensive but good sandwiches etc? Or great fish and chips (again for my dad)

Thanks so much for all your help! Getting VERY excited!
Jamikins

That sounds great - pretty busy but perfectly doable and a really good use of your time. Have some comfortable flat walking shoes to hand! And be ruthless about leaving Fountains at a certain time to make sure you see Castle Howard too. The Fountains estate is large so might be best to just stick to the abbey itself rather than try and see all the estate has.
There are two very famous fish and chip shops in Whitby, the Magpie Cafe and Trenchers.
www.magpiecafe.co.uk
www.trenchersrestaurant.co.uk
You could also save money by packing up some picnic food and taking it with you - maybe on your Dales drive day, or to take on the steam train on your Moors day. I'm trying to think if there is a good deli or sandwich shop in Knaresborough but I am sure your B&B owners could assist with this.
On your Dales drive do stop and have a look at Malham Cove, a short walk from the main car park. If you feel energetic you can walk up to the top, but it's pretty spectacular even at the bottom, and also a good place to picnic.
If you definitely decide to go to the Boars Head at Ripley eat in the Brasserie and not the main restaurant - its cheaper but just as good.
I'm excited for you!

That all sounds great, thanks again Morgana!!
J

There's a lot of good info on here about York itself, but just to say that if your dad likes trains then don't miss the National Railway Museum. In fact this is a place that people who 'don't like trains' really enjoy. Also it is free to get in unless there are special exhibitions or events on. I think your dad would love it.
www.nrm.org.uk
Plus - I think it would be best to travel to York by train from Knaresborough, takes around half an hour, and you don't need a car in York itself. Plus the traffic can be dreadful and the parking expensive. The railway museum is a pedestrianised 5 minute max walk from the station, and the other attractions are within easy reach too.

Great advice! Will definitely look into the train to York