We are lucky enough to based on the border between County Durham meaning there are some brilliant local attractions in North Yorkshire, which are just a short drive away.
Whether you’re looking for things to do in Barnard Castle, gawp at Durham Cathedral, sigh at High Force, or wow at Bowes Museum, you will be truly amazed.
Stay with us at Thorpe Farm Centre and find out for yourself why we’re ideally placed for some of the best of what North England has to offer.
There are many beautiful places to visit in North Yorkshire, and it is less than an hour from Thorpe Farm Centre. It hosts an incredible range of beautiful landscapes, historical features, countless beauty spots, and idyllic villages and towns.
This includes all 2,178 km2 of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, vast swathes of moorland, animal attractions, incredible waterfalls, majestic castles and abbeys, beaches, and leisure attractions.
Barnard Castle is a charming historical visit, great for the whole family and for those more academic types wanting to learn some of the rich history on offer.
Set on a crag above the gorge of the River Tees, Barnard Castle was named after its 12th century founder, Bernard de Balliol. Ultimately it was passed into the hands of Richard III. These days, the ruins and grounds of the castle are managed by English Heritage.
You’re welcome to picnic in the grounds, with good spots on the benches in the formal garden, or at the top of the hill with great view. Kites and ball games are allowed here too. Admission for an adult is £7.00, though of course English Heritage members gain free access.
All ages can explore The Bowes Museum, including the interactive games and activities throughout. Grab a family guidebook from reception and off you go.
The Bowes Museum was designed and built specifically as a public art gallery, opening in the late 19th century, and inspired by the architecture of the French 2nd Empire. The ever-popular family fun art and craft workshops take place throughout the year at weekends and during the school holidays. The new Story Garden is also open regularly too. The beautiful park and gardens, featuring the newly opened play area and woodland walks, are an endless source of pleasure and the recent addition of a nature trail can be enjoyed in the grounds.
From the famous Silver Swan to the infamous two-headed calf, The Bowes Museum has lots to offer for a family day out.
High Force is England’s largest waterfall, which drops 70 feet into the plunge pool below!
The pretty woodland walk is approximately 1/3 of a mile, with several resting points along the way. It is a gently sloping gravel path with approximately 26 steps down to the viewing area at the base of the falls; wheelchair users can view the falls from the top of the steps. There are also 70-odd steps leading to the top of the waterfall but no access onto the rocks at the top of the waterfall itself.
A small entrance fee is payable at the entrance to the only footpath down to the falls.
Aysgarth Falls is a triple flight of waterfalls that have been attracting tourists from far and wide for over 200 years! Its falls have three stages the Upper, Middle and Lower Falls.
It’s a stunning display of the area’s natural beauty and a location that you can’t afford to miss. Aysgarth Falls offers trails for family, friends, and dog walkers to enjoy the fabulous scenery. They’re especially spectacular after heavy rainfall, which happens fairly often in The Yorkshire Dales!
The falls are only a 45-minute drive away from Thorpe Farm Centre and one of the amazing local attractions in North Yorkshire.
The charming ruins of Eggleston Abbey are only a 5-minute drive away from Thorpe Farm Centre. Even better, it’s easy to make a day of it by taking an hour’s walk to the Abbey.
The Abbey was a small monastery of the Premonstratensian order of monks, known as ‘white canons’. The ruins are picturesquely set above a bend in the River Tees near Barnard Castle. What’s left of the ruins include much of the 13th-century church and a range of living quarters, with traces of their ingenious toilet drainage system.
The ruins are managed by the English Heritage, and while access is free there is a small parking charge.
Why not start at Brimham Rocks? This National Trust attraction, only an hour’s drive away, is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Geological Conservation Review (GCR) site. It is set in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and features water- and weather-eroded rocks carved into fantastical shapes.
Alternatively, head to Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, one of the most popular places to visit in North Yorkshire, with spectacular scenery and a 5-mile walk that takes an array of incredible waterfalls.
While enjoying all of the breath taking places to visit in North Yorkshire, why not head to the home of the Nidderdale Llamas? You can join a llama trek or alpaca walk with one of their 90 strong herd.
Kids will love Hesketh Farm Park, set just 5 miles from Skipton. You can meet and feed the animals, collect eggs and play in the playground! Why not finish up at the York Bird of Prey Centre, where you can experience bird handling, flying displays, and kookaburra feeding!
Famed for its history, with several beautiful historical buildings and attractions, there are many amazing places to visit in North Yorkshire
One of the most magnificent is York Minster, built in the 13th century, resplendent in stone and stained glass. Whitby Abbey is even older, a 7th century Christian monastery overlooking the North Sea. It’s famed for being a key setting in Bram Stoker’s Dracula.
Next, check out Skipton Castle, a well preserved Grade I medieval castle featuring a dungeon, watch tower, chapel and court. And no visit to North Yorkshire would be complete without a trip to the Shambles in York, with cobbled streets, charming boutiques, quaint cafes and gift shops.
North Yorkshire features wonderful coastal attractions, including Whitby beach. This sandy, Blue Flag beach is a fantastic place to take the family.
Filey beach is another gem; a less commercial, but still wonderful 5-mile stretch of golden sands. Saltburn is a Victorian seaside resort, ideal for surfing. Robin Hood’s Bay is a stunning fishing village on the heritage coast, near the North York Moors. This dog friendly sandy beach features rockpools, rare birds, and a picturesque town replete with visitor attractions.
North Yorkshire Water Park is another fabulous family attraction, featuring wakeboarding, kayaking, pedaloes, paddle boarding and open air swimming.
