Blog Layout
Fun Family Days Out in the Yorkshire Dales
Rose Atkinson • Mar 31, 2021
Want to whisk the kids away on holiday this year? With holidays abroad being off the cards for the time being, why not consider a fun family staycation here in the Yorkshire Dales?! Our lovely self-catering cottages are set in the idyllic village of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, providing a real “Home from Home” experience. Set in the spectacular Swaledale countryside, surrounded by stunning views and breathtaking scenery, our luxury cottages offer the perfect opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
There are plenty of activities nearby for children of all ages to enjoy; whether they are keen moochers, adventurers or explorers. Take a day trip to the famous Thorp Perrow arboretum or play and explore at the fantastic Forbidden Corner – the possibilities are truly endless!
The Thrilling Thorp Perrow
Thorp Perrow is the most important arboretum in the North of England, with its 100 acres currently housing 5 National Plant Collections and 51 Champion Trees – some of the largest and rarest trees in the UK. Take a trip around the world and discover plants from the likes of China, Japan, Chile, North America, and Europe.
Visit the brilliant Bird of Prey & Mammal Centre and befriend exotic animals and birds. The Bird of Prey Centre features incredible hawks, eagles, owls, and falcons, as well as an aviary area with finches, budgies, parakeets, and canaries. Or you can meet the marvellous meerkats, wonderful wallabies, Pygmy Goats, and rare breed sheep in the dedicated Mammal Centre.
The amazing Adventure Play Area provides the ideal opportunity for children to play and let off some steam. Let the kids roam free, swinging and sliding in this woodland-inspired adventure play centre. Boasting swings, slides, a sand pit, a zip line, the ‘Beetle Bug’ and an assault course; this is a totally safe environment for children to explore.
Thorp Perrow is just half an hour’s drive from our cottages and is well worth a visit. The site is due to open on 12th April 2021 and tickets must be booked in advance – click here
to book yours!
The Notorious Newby Hall
Newby Hall’s collection of award-winning gardens offering the most stunning setting for a family day out. The gardens were created in the early 1920s and they really are a sight to behold. The Double Herbaceous Border boasts an exotic kaleidoscope of stunning summer colours, with Sylvia’s Garden providing the perfect corner for a peaceful family picnic. Marvel at the New World Salvias in the amazing Autumn Garden, or trek through the wonderful Woodland & Rock Gardens. If it’s a particularly hot day, the kids can splash play in the cool water fountain on site – but make sure you bring a change of clothes!
The glorious grounds also house an impressive Adventure Playground, designed for kids of all ages to enjoy. From swings and pedalo boats to an aerial slide and the biggest sandpit we’ve ever seen, kids can swing and slide against the most beautiful backdrop. Embark on a magical ride on The Miniature Railway, providing the most fantastic view of the glorious gardens. Or enjoy a relaxing 25-minute cruise on the meandering River Ure aboard the Yoredale River Boat. Both of these amazing attractions open on 14th April 2021 – book your tickets here.
The Newby Hall House is one of Britain’s finest Adam Houses, and is an excellent example of beautiful 18th Century England décor. Visit the Bear House to discover Gyles Brandreth’s Teddy Bear Collection or step into the Doll’s House Exhibition; one of the most impressive collections of doll’s houses and miniatures in the world. All indoor attractions open on 19th May 2021 – book here.
The Fantastic Forbidden Corner
This marvellous maze of hidden tunnels, chambers, and follies is guaranteed to keep the kids’ entertained. This four-acre garden is set in the heart of Tupgill Park, providing the ideal environment for keen explorers and adventures of all ages. Featuring the temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge glass pyramid, fascinating statues and a plethora of pathways and passages, the Forbidden Corner offers a fun family day out with a difference.
The site is due to reopen on 12th April 2021 and is just half an hour’s drive from our cosy cottages – click here
to book your visit.
The Brilliant Brimham Rocks
This Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) is a hive of activity for geologists, climbers, walkers, and families alike. These dramatic moorland rock formations were naturally crafted by 320 million years of earth movement and extreme weather conditions. The weird and wonderful rock shapes resemble well-loved animals; discover the Dancing Bear, the Gorilla, the Eagle, and the Turtle during your visit. Children can even crawl through the Smartie Tube and climb up on the Rocking Stones.
The Brimham Rocks site is currently open and is totally FREE to visit, so is well worth the hour car journey. There is no booking required – find out more about their opening guidelines here.
Our Cosy Country Cottages in the Yorkshire Dales
Our beautiful self-catering holiday cottages are nestled within the picturesque village of Reeth in Swaledale. Burton House and Turbine House both sleep 4 across 2 super king bedrooms (can be split into twin for the children), and Greystones sleeps 6 across 3 super king bedrooms (again, can be split into twin for the children). All cottages have private parking and enclosed gardens, with ample space for the kids to play and explore.
We have the following short stays available over the summer. Book quickly to avoid disappointment!
- 8th – 15th May at Greystones = £880
- 14th – 16th June at Burton House = £421
- 22nd – 25th June at Burton House = £421
- 28th June – 2nd July at Greystones = £616
- 5th – 10th July at Greystones = £704
- 24th – 27th July at Greystones = £528
Click here
to book your family staycation today.
With the bank holidays coming up in May and the Summer Holidays on the horizon, we have put together a list of family friendly walks and activities to really make the most of your stay in beautiful Swaledale.
Happy New Year!
The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! Christmas 2020 was full of lockdowns and cancellations, so we’re definitely intending to make the most of the 2021 festive season. There are so many fun things happening in God’s Own Country this season – from artisan Christmas markets to spectacular light trails, Santa’s grotto visits and festive train rides, and so much more. Check out our guide below to discover some wonderful Christmas events taking place in the Yorkshire Dales this month…
Autumn is a truly wonderful time of year to visit the celebrated Yorkshire Dales. The Dales becomes an artist’s delight in the colder months, adding amazing autumn hues to its vibrant colour palette. Enjoy a stroll through the Dales as the leaves begin to fall or discover the county’s rich history in a quintessentially British castle, before curling up in front of a log fire in a hearty country pub. As the summer rush finally comes to an end, it’s the perfect excuse to get cosy in a luxury cottage this autumn. So, why not soak up the wonders of mother nature this season at Reeth Holiday Cottages?!
Have you been to visit the Yorkshire Dales yet? Our four luxury self-catering cottages are situated in the glorious village of Reeth, tucked away in the corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Reeth is a bustling hub of activity, perfect for exploring the celebrated Yorkshire Dales. Our cottages are extremely popular amongst walkers and visitors to the area. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the most picturesque areas in the whole of the UK and is arguably the waterfall capital of England. The county is awash with waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, with its dramatic landscapes boasting cascading falls. The Yorkshire Dales features the highest waterfalls in England both below and above ground, as well as the highest single drop waterfall in the country. We have compiled a handy list of our favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales; so you can spend less time researching, and more time exploring. All the below walks can be found on the OS Maps app, which guests can access whilst staying at our cottages.
The annual grouse shooting season is one of the most celebrated events in the Yorkshire Dales calendar; beginning on the Glorious Twelfth (12th August) and lasting until 10th December. Moorland owners and gamekeepers of the Yorkshire Dales carry out vital conservation work on more than 226,000 acres of precious heather moorland across the area, many of which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). During the late summer season, our beautiful Dales moorland really is a sight to behold. The heather is in full bloom on our uplands, turning the hills a vivid purple. The heather provides the perfect habitat for the remarkable red grouse. Keep reading to discover more about our important work in moorland management…
Nature truly comes alive in the Yorkshire Dales during the summer months. Birds and animals are hard at work feeding their young, whilst the spectacular hay meadows reach their peak. There is no finer sight or smell than a hay meadow in full flower on a hot summer’s day! Swaledale boasts some of the Dales’ finest hay meadows, which are best experienced in late June to early July. Keep reading to discover more about the Yorkshire Dales’ very own delightful hay meadows…
After being cancelled last year, we are delighted that the renowned Swaledale Festival has returned in 2021! This celebration of music and arts has been running since 1972, situated in the three most northern areas of the Yorkshire Dales: Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale. Beginning on the Saturday of the late May Bank Holiday each year, the festival boasts marvellous musical acts, artistic workshops, children’s events, guided walks and much more. This year, festival organisers have decided to spread events over a six-month period, instead of the usual 2 weeks. Many events have been so popular that they are already sold out, but there are still tickets remaining for the following…
Tucked away in a cosy corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, the picturesque village of Reeth is perfectly placed to explore the surrounding Yorkshire Dales. Visitors from near and afar flock to Reeth to explore the spectacular Yorkshire Dales landscape each year. The village is only a short two-minute stroll from our four luxury self-catering cottages and the community of Reeth is always bustling with activity. There are various pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, a museum, a hairdresser’s, an ice cream parlour, a beauty salon, and a weekly Friday market to enjoy.
Our four luxury holiday cottages are nestled in the idyllic, quiet village of Reeth. We are tucked away in the corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, situated in the north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Spring is in the air, and we can finally shake off the chill of winter (is it just me or did winter last forever?!). The end of lockdown is in sight, and we can look forward to catching up with friends and family after so long apart – and there’s no better place to celebrate the end of lockdown than the glorious Yorkshire Dales…