Ten Days in (mostly) Yorkshire, 13 - 22 September 2024

Our first extended excursion in the motorhome for a while saw us head up to Yorkshire for a total of 9 nights. The aim was to notch off a few places we wanted to see that were originally going to the first part of our grand tour next spring. In the end we decided we'd prefer to head further north straight away in April rather than dilly-dally in Yorkshire so we dilly-dalllied this time instead!

September is often a good time to get away. The weather can be lovely (it certainly was for us this time!) and it's much quieter after the children have gone back to school after the summer holidays.

On our way up to Yorkshire we visited NT Tattershall Castle in Lincolnshire and made an overnight stop in central Lincoln, one of our favourite cities. The Lawns carpark near the castle allows overnight motorhome stays, is quiet and with a great little tapas restaurant called Ole Ole just a hundred yards away it made for a lovely start to the trip. 

From there we meandered north to the coast at Scarborough, Ravenscar, Robin Hoods Bay and then inland into the Yorkshire Moors to Falling Foss and the 'Heartbeat' village of Goathland. Driving down through the moors we then visited NT Nunninghton Hall in the Vale of York near Helmsley before driving west towards the Yorkshire Dales. There we had our first night on a campsite in the village of Kirkby Malzeard near Ripon, went walking in nearby Hack Fall Forest with it's curious follies and then visited the amazing NT Fountains Abbey and Coldstones Cut Quarry which has an art 'installation' overlooking the huge quarry. 

On the western edge of the dales is Nidderdale, often called the hidden dale because it's a dead end and very peaceful. We spent a full day walking and exploring the dale including a morning messing about in the impressive How Stean Gorge and culminating in a nice wild stopover overlooking Gouthwaite Reservoir. Following that we headed south for a day walking on Ilkley Moor then a canalside walk from the Emmerdale village of Esholt to the victorian model village of Saltaire, a historical site I've long wanted to visit. Completely by accident our visit coincided with the Saltaire Festival so the place was buzzing. Salts Mill there was extremely impressive with it's art spaces and bonus David Hockney exhibition. Saltaire Brewery Taproom was also very conveniently located on the walk back!

We finished the trip in 'Bronte country' staying near the village of Haworth and hiking up to Bronte Bridge and  Top Withens, the ruined moorland farmhouse thought to be the inspiration for Wuthering Heights. 

The trip was a great success with us doing everything we wanted to do in truly glorious weather. We spent 2 nights on campsites and 7 on wild park ups. Most of the wild spots were excellent (Lincoln, Harwood Dale Forest near Ravenscar, Old May Beck near Falling Foss, Coldstones Cut and Gouthwaite Reservoir) but spoilt somewhat by the last 2 nights on carparks at Ilkley Moor and then Penistone CP near Haworth. Both saw comings and goings of youths all night, loud music being played, car doors banging repeatedly and at Ilkley some scumbags actually banging twice on the side of our motorhome at 3am the squealing off in their car like scared children. It seems that large carparks at beauty spots near built up areas are not the way forward! 

Other than that we did have one issue with the van. Despite having a habitation check only a week before we left a newly fitted kitchen tap started leaking on the last day of the trip resulting wet floors and carpets and much mopping up. Luckily we were just about to head home anyway and it has turned out that the new tap the guy had installed wasn't compatible with our van! He was very good in coming round to replace it again though so all's well that ends well!