Goathland is probably my favourite place in the world. I have been coming here since before my children were born (they are now 21 and 23). It never bores me – the countryside is just stunning and to see children and families with dogs actually walking is fantastic.

It doesn’t have to cost a fortune either, you can walk for miles, stand on the bridge at the station as the steam train goes underneath you. Take a picnic lunch and sit by the river while you eat it. The children (and adults) will love playing in the river as well.

Things to do in Goathland

Goathland is a beautiful small village in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. It can be reached by steam train from Pickering or Whitby, Yorkshire Coastliner buses or by car. The steam train is very popular, especially among the kids as there aren’t many that actually run nowadays.

Many of the walks that Goathland has to offer, involve running through streams (or using the stepping stones), climbing up hills and exploring the countryside.

The Rail Trail from Goathland to Grosmont is a 3.5-mile walk down the old railway track (sturdy boots needed). There are two lovely pubs called a Beck Hole, and Birch Hall Inn. North Yorkshire’s smallest and quaintest pub, if you’re thirsty there are plenty of pubs when you arrive in Grosmont.

Mallyan Spout waterfall can be reached by a footpath close to the Mallyan Spout Hotel. This walk is an adventurous one, walking through rivers, over rocks, past waterfalls and up on to the moors. You should consider doing this walk if you are in the area.

The North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway runs from Pickering to Whitby all year round and goes right through the middle of Goathland. The station is where Harry Potter arrived for his 1st year at Hogwarts!!

The train runs from Pickering daily through April to October, from 09.25 am with the last train leaving at 4 pm. Peak season is during the school holidays and summer where prices increase. You can find timetables and up to date information at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway here: www.nymr.co.uk

There are 3 campsites in Goathland: Abbot’s house farm, Brow house Farm, and Thornhill farm. They are great places to get away from it all. We stayed here numerous times with the family and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves every time. There are showers and toilets on site.

Goathland is also home to Heartbeat, the popular tv series set in the 60’s. The garage used in the series still remains today.

If you are looking for a fun day out, whether you are solo, traveling as a couple or friends, or are a family, Goathland is a lovely place in the UK and I would recommend you visit!

Another place to check out in Yorkshire is a beautiful little town called kettlewell

The post Why Goathland Is My Favourite Place in the World appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Kettlewell is a small village in Upper Wharfedale, North Yorkshire.

It is a walkers paradise with lots of walks starting in the village. The river Wharfe runs to the side of the village with walks on either side. Most of them end up or pass by dog-friendly pubs to quench your thirst after a long day.  For a guide to walks click on the following link:- http://kettlewellvillage.co.uk/featured-walks/

Getting to Kettlewell

The best way to get to Kettlewell is by car although there is a limited bus service from Skipton, Grassington and Buckden. https://www.dalesbus.org/skipgras.html

Staying in Kettlewell

In the village, there are 3 pubs that offer accommodation. The vary in prices and are cheaper mid-week and during winter months.

The Racehorses Hotel

The Bluebell Inn

The Kings head

Prices vary from £70 per room per night to £100 per room per night, all include breakfast. You can sometimes find midweek offers on 3 for 2, especially during winter. There is a small shop and a petrol station close by. If the hotel prices are out of your budget range, there is also a campsite available which can be great fun. http://www.kettlewellcamping.co.uk/

Things to do in Kettlewell

If you like horse riding there is a trekking center in nearby Kilnsey, they cater for all abilities, treks, holidays, riding lessons and more.

In Kettlewell every year they hold a Scarecrow Festival where all the households, pubs, shop and petrol station create and display the scarecrows for all the public to see. It is a fab week but can get very busy on the weekend. The Scarecrow festival  is usually held in August.

It is a great day out for all the family. Follow the theme of the trail to take you round this idyllic Yorkshire village. Solve the riddles of the trail to find the mystery word – with prizes to be won every day!

Trail sheets are £1 Along the route you can taste real country baking in the village hall or one of the village cafes – or have a beer…

This is a beautiful, peaceful village with a very slow pace of life, ideal for walking, eating, drinking or just to soak up some beautiful countryside.

If you are planning to discover more of the great places that Yorkshire has to offer, check out our post on Goathland and Bowness on Windermere.

The post Kettlewell – A Town in The Heart of the Yorkshire Dales appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.

Bowness [on] Windermere is a small town on the edge of Windermere, in the Lake District National Park. The Lake District is a mountainous region in the North West of England.  Windermere is the largest of the 16 bodies of water that make up the Lakes. Only Bassenthwaite Lake has Lake in its title.

Famous residents of the Lake District include – Beatrix Potter, who moved to the lake district after falling in love with the area. The natural beauty of the lake inspired her paintings and illustrations which can be seen in her books, especially The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

William Wordsworth, he wrote, ” I wandered lonely as a cloud ” after being inspired by a host of golden daffodils while on a walk in the lake district. Dove Cottage, Grasmere, was Wordsworth’s home and is still open to the public today.

How to Get Here and Where to Stay

There are lots of hotels, B & B´s, camping and caravan sites. There are also log cabins and holiday cottages to choose from. The wide range of accommodation means there is something to suit all needs, including those who wish to bring their dog.

Bowness on Windermere in the Lake District can be reached by car, train or bus. For the more energetic, you can now use one of the cycle tracks to ride into Bowness also. Follow the link below for more information.

http://www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/visiting/planyourvisit/gettinghere

It is a haven for walkers all year round with great pubs, that offer both a beer garden for the summer months, and log fires to warm you up in the winter.

Things to do in Bowness on Windermere

The area is awesome for walkers who have dogs as most places allow dogs in for drinks at the end of the day. Below is a useful link to walks in and around Bowness:

https://www.walklakes.co.uk/lakes_about.html

Aside from the numerous amount of walking trails to follow, there is an abundance of shops, restaurants, pubs, tourist attractions and a cinema to keep you entertained.

The World of Beatrix Potter

The characters of Beatrix Potter’s stories are brought to life in this recreation of the Lakeland countryside. Open every day from 10 am to 4.30pm – £7.95 for adults and £3.95 for children.

The Fun Factory

This is an indoor play area for children with a cafe open every day from 10 pm to 6 pm, perfect for a rainy day.

Windermere Steamboat Museum

If you like boating you can hire your own rowboat for the day. You will have to share the lake with lots of other boats.

You can also take one of the tour boats the go up and down the river. Take one of the many routes the Windermere Lake Cruises offer. The cruises are from 45 minutes to 90 minutes depending on the cruise you choose.

The cruises vary in price from £8.25 for adults and £4.15 for children to £11.30 for adults and £6.80 for children.

If you plan to stay for a couple of days, you can buy a 24-hour pass to use on any of the cruises. This will work out cheaper if you take advantage of a number of tours. The price is £15 for adults and £7.50 for children. If you book online you get 10% discount and the cruises run all year.

If you are exploring the beauty of Yorkshire, check out our posts on Goathland and Kettlewell.

The post A Guide to Bowness on Windermere appeared first on Green Eyed Traveller.