Yorkshire, UK

More than tea!

Destination: East Tanfield 
Dates: August 2020 
Nights: 6 
Accommodation: The Coach house (Airbnb) 
Highlights: The house, BBQ's in the gardens and the walks  
Low lights: The rain and you need to drive everywhere.

Day 1. En route…

Yorkshire was our chosen destination for a staycation this year. We were celebrating my dad’s 60th and what a perfect way to celebrate then to hire a house on a remote farm. (Perfect for social distancing)

The Coach House

It was a 5-hour drive to North Yorkshire from London. The drive wasn’t exhausting as it was motorway all the way. We couldn’t check-in until 4pm and with no plane to catch, we were in no rush. We arrived on time and were pleased with our home for the next 6 nights.

  • River Ure
  • Outside view
  • Neighbours

Exploring our surroundings we found the River Ure at the bottom of the farm. You need a rod license to fish in the Ripon. If you wait long enough, you will see the fish jumping out of the water.

Day 2. Hack falls

Today we were up early for our first walk. Hack Falls was our chosen destination for today. It was a 16 minute drive from where we were staying and a great walk for the whole family including kids. There are many routes you can do that range from 30 minutes to 3 hours. Check out all the Hackfall walks here. Parking is free but get there early as it’s small car park. We started our walk from the car park into the woods.

Start of our walk from the car park

After our walk, we drove down to Grewelthrope Town for a well deserve drink in ‘The Crown Inn’. If you’re a fan of Channel 4’s ‘Four in the bed’ then you will probably recognise the B&B.

Day 3. Masham Up!

The weather was not on our side this morning. We decided to go for a drive to Masham, the small market town. We popped into Bah Humbugs Retro Sweets Shop to get some treats for later and grabbed a takeaway cream tea to warm us up before exploring the small town.

Masham Market takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays 9-4pm. They set up on the cobbled streets in the centre and sell local products. If you missed Masham Market, like us, then stretch your legs around the 3 mile town.

After our short walk around town, we drove to Thornton Steward Reservoir for our daily walk. This walk was the shortest walk we did all week, and good for small children who you have to end up carrying. Just make sure you have a change of shoes as this walk can get messy from all the sheep droppings. Parking is free with only a few spaces available.

Day 4. Aysgarth Falls

Opened the blinds to find grey skies and no rain. Good sign! We had planned a daytrip to Aysgarth Falls. It was a 40 minute drive and 21 miles of clear country roads.

Aysgarth Falls is a three step waterfall on the River Ure surrounded by woodland and farm. A circular walk starting from National Park Centre at Aysgarth in Wensleydale takes around 2 hours 40minutes. Parking is free at the falls but there is a honesty box. Next to the car park there are toilets, a café, and a shop to get you started on your hike. For. more information on what Aysgarth Falls has to offer click here.

The sun made an appearance which made the walk more enjoyable. You can walk alongside the river to see the upper, mid and lower falls.

After you’ve taken your pictures of the falls, follow the public path into the farmland towards Bolton Castle. You will get to meet the locals for some close interactions, you will also get to witness the true beauty of Yorkshire.

Day 5 National Trust Brimham Rocks 

Address: Brimham Moor Road, Summerbridge, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG3 4DW
Parking: Pay & display (coins only). Car park £6 for 4 hours, £9 per day.
Facilities: Visitor centre, Kiosk, Shop and Toilets
Website: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brimham-rocks

Brimham Rocks was a 30 minute drive from West Tanfield. This was a great day for both kids and adults. Don’t forget to bring a picnic, blanket and comfortable footwear to walk and climb (weather permitting). Brimham Rocks are natural giant rock formations that have been created millions of years ago by ice, wind and rain. They have now formed into wonderfully weird shapes and with some imagination can turn into creatures and a great game to entertain the little ones.

After lunch, we did the moorland and meadow walk at Brimham Rocks. The route is a mix of grassy paths, uneven gravel tracks and a short section of tarmac driveway. Some paths can get muddy during prolonged wet weather and a small stream has to be crossed. The walk is just under 5 miles and takes around 3-hours.

Day 6. Birthday Vibes!

Quickly putting up the balloons before the big man comes down!

We made it to my dad’s 60th birthday and our last night in Yorkshire. We had spent all week visiting various locations and going for long walks, so today we were going to take it easy and spend the day at Monk Park Farm. It cost us £37.50 for a group of 6. Picnics are allowed and parking is free. Obviously activities were limited due to Covid-19, nevertheless, it was still a good day.

We spent the day meeting the animals, feeding and petting them. We headed home and stopped at The Bull Inn for a birthday drink. Due to Covid restrictions we were only allowed to sit outside and only order drinks. Fine by us on this glorious day!

After admiring the River Ure with a refreshing pint of Black Sheep beer, it was time head home and light the BBQ for our last supper at The Coach House.

Our last night was spent tasting local produce on the BBQ, playing games on the open fields, and star gazing with chocolate S’mores. What an end to a lovely week in Yorkshire. A great choice for a staycation with it’s unspoilt fields, fresh country air, stunning scenery, and rich cultural heritage.

These types of holiday can suit any budget. If you like walking and don’t mind getting wet then there are plenty of free walks you can do around the Dales. Most car parks are free or have an honesty box. There are also a lot of local attractions and activities around the Dales to entertain at least someone in your group. After being isolated at home for what felt like years, it was nice to be with the family in a big open space, cooking, playing games and having a break from technology.

It’s good to be prepared!

I’ve done all the work so you don’t have to! I have marked down all local amenities you might need if you were to stay in East Tanfield.

Supermarkets
  • Co-op- 5 miles away – 7 Leyburn Rd, Masham, Ripon HG4 4ER
  • Aldi- 6 miles away- 34 Stonebridgegate, Ripon HG4 1LH
  • Sainsburys- 6.8 miles away – 5 Market Pl E, Ripon HG4 1BP
  • Morrison’s- 8.2 miles away- Harrogate Rd, Ripon HG4 2SB
Butchers
Pubs
Local attractions and acitvities

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