10 Places to Visit in Yorkshire and Socially Distance Yourself
Ok, I’ll be the first to admit that this lockdown has taken a toll on me…. it’s taken a toll on everyone, right?! I mean, I couldn’t even visit any places in Yorkshire (the county where I live)! I was moping around the house, consumed in video games, cooking, and garden projects… seriously, I have 5 different types of chili peppers!
Since lockdown has been lifted, you can visit wherever you want within the country (if it’s not under local lockdown). BUT you’ll still need to keep your distance, follow guidelines, and wash your hands frequently.
I have a whole post about what it’s like to travel after lockdown that you can check out!
*UPDATE* England has no more covid restrictions.
Make sure you check out my EPIC ONE WEEK ITINERARY FOR YORKSHIRE for the perfect socially distanced road trip!
10 Places to Visit in Yorkshire After Lockdown
I know I’ve got A LOT of American followers, but unfortunately (as of September 2020) this is only for my English followers. If you don’t live in the UK right now, you can always add these places to visit in Yorkshire to your list when you are allowed to travel to the UK.
Here’s my top ten places to visit in Yorkshire where you can still socially distance yourself from others.
*Another note for my American followers: you CAN travel to the UK, however, you will need to spend 14 days in quarantine after arrival!
*If you arrive at your destination and feel the parking lot is too overcrowded, then go home… we still have to control the spread of the virus and stay safe!
If you are traveling in south, I have a post on the best places to visit in Cornwall after lockdown!
Flamborough Head
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £1.40 for 2 hours, £2.90 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
SATNAV Postcode: YO15 1AR
This is literally one of my favorite places to visit in Yorkshire! It’s absolutely breath-taking and it never gets old. I know a lot of families will just go to the North Landing and lay on the beach or splash in the water, but this is a great area for hikes and plenty of viewpoints to appreciate the landscape.
I love the hike from Flamborough Head to Bridlington, but just remember, the bus isn’t running, so if you decide to take the 6.5 mile hike, you’ll have to walk 6.5 miles back!
These are my favorite hiking boots and perfect for those on a budget!
Always check the tide times, because you can’t get down to the coves and beach during high tide and the tide comes in quickly, so don’t get trapped exploring if you know the tide is coming in!
Bolton Abbey
Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm
Parking Fee: £10.00 per car
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets? Yes
Other Info: Three car parks to choose from, make sure you book the correct one you need.
SATNAV Postcode: BD23 6EX
I LOVE Bolton Abbey. It’s such a great estate. You can go hiking through the woods to The Strid (one of the most dangerous stretches of water in the world) or the Valley of Desolation. You can take a short circular walk around Bolton Abbey or just hang out by the river banks and have a picnic.
Don’t forget to walk across the infamous stepping stones (now a one-way system) across the River Wharfe!
You can check out my post on the Bolton Abbey Circular Walk and check out how easy it is to have a fun day out while still socially distancing! HINT: It’s SUPER EASY here!
Nostell Priory
Hours: 9:30am-4:30pm
Price: Members: Free, Non-Members: £5.00 per car
Toilets? Yes, limited opening hours
Other Info: House closed, parkland open.
SATNAV Postcode: WF4 1QE
Nostell Priory is a stately home owned by the National Trust and located near Wakefield.
You can’t visit the house, however, the grounds around the house are huge! Lots of open space, pretty lakes, lots of ducks, plenty of woodland, and tons of different routes to take!
It’s dog friendly, so you can take your pupster! (My fur-child loves it!). It’s also a great day out if you have kids and you want them to run around and release some steam…
You need to book your parking spot before you go (to avoid overcrowding) and it’s free for National Trust members. If you are a non-member, then you have to pre-pay online. New spots are released on Fridays.
Make sure you arrive within your 30 minute time slot on your ticket and you can stay up until closing!! Oh, and toilets are open!
Malham Cove
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £2.70 for 2 hours, £4.80 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets: Yes
SATNAV Postcode: BD23 4DG
I can’t rave enough about Malham Cove and the surrounding area. There’s so many great hikes in the area and what makes them so great is they are all in the super easy category! (With the exception of climbing to the top of Malham Cove via the stairs)
The parking lot is in the middle of Malham and can fill up FAST! Especially with the extra influx of people now the lockdown is lifting, so as always, if you feel the parking lot is too full, TURN AROUND! Get to Malham early and you can practically have the countryside to yourself.
If you want to fully explore the area, then start by heading to the right (instead of left to the cove) and follow the signs for Janet’s Foss. Head through the fields and into the woods. You’ll eventually hear the sound of Janet’s Foss. Continue on the path and you’ll come out onto the road.
Straight ahead, you’ll see a gorge. That’s Gordale Scar. Follow the path into the gorge and you will turn the corner to an amazing rocky tiered waterfall… pictures just don’t do it justice! Seriously, it’s a lot bigger in person!!
Walk back the way you came until you get to the road and then head up through the hills on your right. It’s a very slow incline and although the path isn’t marked, it’s distinct enough to know where you are walking. Eventually you’ll come to the top of Malham Cove… WITHOUT climbing up all the stairs! AND, you’re not out of breath!
To complete your circuit, head down the Malham Cove stairs and follow the path back to the main road and the parking lot.
Roseberry Topping
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £2.70 for 2 hours, £4.80 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets? Yes
SATNAV Postcode: TS9 6QS
If you want more of a challenge because you’re missing the gym, Roseberry Topping should be your first choice (this is also one of my favorite places to visit in Yorkshire). What starts off as a slow ascent, suddenly changes when the steep stairs come into view. From here you’ll continue to climb up until you get to the top.
Note: There are no railings and rough terrain all the way to the summit. This is the most direct route and will take you anywhere from 20 minutes to 40 minutes! Also, don’t go on a windy day, I’ve done it and it felt VERY unsafe…. learn from my mistakes!
If you’re not in for the steep climb, you can walk around the base and take the longer, more gentle way to the summit, because at 1,490 feet (450 m) up, you get some breath-taking views.
I highly recommend getting here super early, as I’m sure it will be prone to overcrowding in the afternoon. If you’re a morning person, then you can get to the top for sunrise!
Roseberry Topping is a National Trust property, however, the parking lot is owned by the North York Moors National Park, so unfortunately members do not park for free. The parking lot is in Newton under Roseberry. There is no entrance fee to climb Roseberry Topping.
Aysgarth Falls
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £2.70 for 2 hours, £4.80 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets: Yes
SAT NAV Postcode: DL8 3TH
This is another easy and pretty walk. Aysgarth Falls is located in the Yorkshire Dales and it’s just a short walk from the car park!
There’s three different areas of Aysgarth Falls, the lower falls, middle falls, and upper falls. The upper falls are the most popular (and a filming location for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves – anyone remember that movie?!)!
If you take a detour past the lower falls then you can also catch a glimpse of Bolton Castle in the north west (just follow the signs for Castle Bolton once you get to the lower falls area) and if you’re heading to the upper falls, then you can get a great photo from the bridge before you enter the gate. Be careful, because that’s the main road to the parking lot, so cars will be driving over it!
Note: If it hasn’t been raining lately, then there will not be a lot of water over the falls. These waterfalls look more spectacular the more water that is pouring over them! However, with less water, it will be safer for kids to splash around in the water and play on the rocks.
Beningbrough Hall
Hours: Wednesday-Sunday: 11:00am-4:30pm, Monday-Tuesday: Closed
Price: Members: Free, Non-Members: £10.00 per person
Toilets? Yes, limited opening hours
Other Info: House closed, gardens only.
SAT NAV Postcode: YO30 1DD (once you are in the area, follow the brown signs instead of the Sat Nav)
Another National Trust property, Beningbrough Hall’s gardens opened on June 3rd. Just like Nostell, you will need to pre-book your parking spot and pre-pay if you are not a National Trust member.
Also like Nostell, new tickets will be released every Friday. You get unlimited time in the gardens once you arrive, just make sure you arrive within the 30 minute time slot on your ticket!
Hole of Horcum
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £2.00 for 2 hours, £3.80 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets? No
SAT NAV Postcode: YO18 7NR (the parking lot is directly off the A169)
This is a choose your own adventure kind of place. There’s so much to explore in this area of the York Moors National Park, you can could be out here all day.
My favorite (and easiest route around here) is the Saltergate car park route.
From the parking lot, carefully cross the road and turn right on the dirt path. Follow it around and go through the gate. Continue on this path until you reach a sign for Levisham Station and Dundale Griff, turn left towards Dundale Griff and continue around until you make a full circle.
This route is 5 miles and it’s a fairly mild walk. A great day out for you and the kids or take a walking buddy!
Humber Bridge Country Park
Hours: Every day, all day
Parking Fee: Free
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets? No
SAT NAV Postcode: HU13 0HG
This country park is perfect to walk around, have a picnic and enjoy closeup views of the Humber Bridge.
This park is open every day, all day and it’s free… and parking is FREE! The park is dog friendly and a great day out for the kids. There’s lots of info boards around to keep them interested and open space for them to run around!
Even if you don’t visit the park, it’s always a nice walk up and down the river banks and under the bridge. There’s even a few nice spots to sit and enjoy the view and the sunshine.
Anglers Country Park
Hours: All Day
Parking Fee: £1.00 for 2 hours, £3.00 all day
Entrance Fee: Free
Toilets? Yes, HOWEVER, they are currently closed
SAT NAV Postcode: WF4 2EB
Anglers Country Park is located just outside Wakefield. It’s the perfect place to socially distance yourself from others, while exploring the woodland, lakes and open spaces in the area.
Once you park, head down the path on the left, past the visitor center (currently closed) and you’ll come to the lake. You can follow the path to the right or left to do a full circuit around the lake. There’s even a trail adventure for the kids to enjoy.
If you walk to the entrance of the parking lot and turn right down the lane, you can head into Haw Park Wood. It’s a very pretty woodland walk and before lockdown it was never crowded! So hopefully that stands true as of today!
Do you have anymore places to visit in Yorkshire to add to this list where you can safely socially distance yourself from others while enjoying a beauty spot? LET ME KNOW! Just leave your comment below!!
Want to read more about Yorkshire?
- OVER 50 Things to Do in Yorkshire, England
- The Ultimate Guide to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal
- Exploring Brimham Rocks
Save Places to Visit in Yorkshire During Lockdown for later on Pinterest
