The ultimate long weekend in Yorkshire

Friday night

After a long week at work and a drive to what feels like another world…start slowly.

Let the forest work its magic on you and relax over a barbecue beneath the trees, breathing in that Yorkshire air. Later, as the stars come out, hit the hot tub and make your plans for the weekend ahead.

Bed early for a big day tomorrow!

Saturday morning

Up early, and after a hearty breakfast in your cabin (you can order our breakfast pack with local sausages and bacon), head to the pretty Yorkshire village of Pickering. First stop, Beck Isle Museum. This hidden gem is packed with curios that tell stories of country life in times past. Watch your timing though, because it’s bigger and better than you’d ever guess from the unassuming Victorian façade.

Grab a bite in the lovely Café Cocoa on Smiddy Hill, where the home-made pies, quiches and cakes, using lots of good Yorkshire produce, will set you up for the next adventure on your Yorkshire weekend.

Saturday afternoon

Catch the steam train out of Pickering on the mainly volunteer-run North York Moors Railway line. The one and three-quarter hours journey to the gothic seaside town of Whitby is a joy, both within your vintage carriage and outside the window.

The wild North York Moors National Park is your backdrop and if Goathland looks familiar as you pass through, it’s probably because you have seen the station on Harry Potter and the town itself as Aidensfield in Heartbeat.

At Whitby, scare yourself silly on the spine-chilling Count Dracula Experience, climb the 199 steps to St. Mary’s churchyard and Whitby Abbey and then drop back down for a well-earned fish and chip tea from the award-winning Quayside chippie.

Don’t miss the last train back to Pickering!

Saturday evening

Finish your day back in the forest, and, as darkness falls, accompany the Forest Ranger on a Night Vision Adventure, to see the nightlife of the forest with specialist night vision equipment.

Just time to lie back in the hot tub beneath the stars once again and reminisce about your day.

Sunday morning

Hire bicycles and head for the open moors, purple with heather in the summer and abundant with wildlife. 

Discover the "lost dale" on the Bransdale Loop and enjoy lunch at one of the villages towards the end of the ride.

Sunday afternoon

After your long hours of cycling it’s time to chill out on Sunday afternoon and feel that holiday vibe. Enjoy an In-cabin Spa treatment to soothe those aching muscles, then order pizzas and curry from the Forest Retreat and enjoy a movie night in.

Oh, and don’t forget that hot tub; it’s ready when you are!

Monday morning

The trick is to treat Monday as part of your holiday and not just the day you go home. There is no better way to do this than to head for the city of York. Modern life sits comfortably with centuries of history in York, giving you the opportunity to explore the past and enjoy the vibrant café culture of today.

To really understand York, you need to start with the Vikings. The famous Jorvik Viking Centre, is back, bigger and better than ever, following the devastating 2015 floods in York. 

Here you will see the remnants of the city of Jorvik as it stood nearly 1000 years ago and learn about the people who lived here.

Monday afternoon

After your Viking morning, enjoy lunch at Café No.8 Bistro, a delightful restaurant where, behind the distinctive stained-glass windows, the welcome is Yorkshire-friendly and the menu punches well above its weight.

After lunch, take a gentle wander through the Snickelways, a network of paths which criss-cross the city, introducing you to overhanging medieval buildings, hidden gems such as Lady Peckett’s Yard and stories of York, such as that of Mad Alice Lane, named after a woman hanged in 1823 for poisoning her husband.

Time for one more landmark before the journey home. It’s tough to choose in a city that boasts more attractions per square mile than any other in the UK, but after the closed-in Snickelways, head up the grassy hill to Clifford’s Tower. Originally built by William the Conqueror, it offers fabulous views of the city and the countryside beyond, giving you one last lingering look at God’s own county.

We’ve given you just one itinerary here; you could stay in Yorkshire 100 times and have different holidays. You've got to start somewhere though, so find out more about our Yorkshire holidays and book a cabin at Cropton or Keldy today.