North Yorkshire Spring Activities

We don’t know about you, but we’re delighted to see the longer days and more sunshine after a long winter! Celebrate the fresh life breathed into the Yorkshire countryside with some of our suggested spring activities. Explore the moors like a Bronte heroine on horseback, escape to a beautiful secret garden on a grand estate, or stroll along the cobbles of a picturesque market town.

Festivals & Events

Spring marks the beginning of festival season in North Yorkshire. Clear your calendars for the food-focused fetes, blooming flower shows, or unmissable events like Scarborough’s Comic-Con and Whitby’s goth festival. For more information on this season’s top events, click here.

Walking & Hiking

North Yorkshire’s beautiful landscape is only enhanced with the fresh life brought by spring. A woodland walk is a wonderful way to admire the ultimate gardener: nature. One of the highlights of the season is Farndale’s Daffodil Walk. A town belonging to the North York Moors, stroll the 3.5 mile long daffodil walk through fields and valleys painted shades of yellow. For our other woodland walk recommendations, check out our blog post here.

If you prefer a more urban walking landscape, you can’t do better than York’s two-hour mediaeval city walls walk. Not only do you get a real sense of the city’s history, but this route is one of the best ways to see the city. Here, you will have a stunning vantage point from which to admire the fresh tree blossoms, ancient architecture, and the March and April daffodils that carpet the hills and slopes.

For the more intense walkers, why not stake out one of the many scenic hikes of the county? Hikes around Malham Cove vary in difficulty for different skill levels and each provide equally splendid views of the limestone rock face. If you’re keen to go chasing waterfalls, we have a blog post on the many stunning Dales waterfalls that are worth visiting too.

We would be remiss to talk about Yorkshire hiking without mentioning the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors national parks. Hikes like Ribble Walk in the Dales explores the region’s industrial past of mills, railway lines, and quarries, as they intersect with nature. A great resource for hiking in the Dales is their mobile walking app. New to hiking and prefer a guide? Organisations like the Dales Countryside Museum and Muddy Boots Social Walks are great choices.

Connect with Nature

As previously mentioned, a walk is a great way to disconnect from the digital and reconnect with the natural world. By learning more about the wildlife you may encounter on such walks, you are better able to ground yourself in the present and gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty. Curlews are particularly active in the region during the spring. Hone your wildlife watching skills with our blog post here.

If you’re of an artistic inclination, try some nature drawing, sketching, painting or journaling. Not only will you have a wonderful reminder of your visit, but it will also help to slow you down and appreciate the details of the great outdoors. There is no wrong way to go about this, but if you don’t know how to get started, there are plenty of great workshops like those at the Yore Mill Craft Shop & Gallery and by Wild Creatives.

Nothing says spring like beautiful flowers. Visit one of the many beautiful garden locations like RHS Harlow Carr, the Castle Howard gardens, or the Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park. For a more off-the-beaten-path floral experience, try your hand at a flower arranging course by one of the many local florists.

For Thrill Seekers

If you’re looking to kick your outdoor adventuring up a level, why not consider a horse riding trek? You don’t have to have your own horse, nor much equestrian experience. The Dales and North York Moors offer excellent routes for horseback trekking, as do many forestry sites. There are many local horse trek groups for the beginner to the advanced rider like the Kilnsey Trekking Centre or the Arkle Moor Riding Centre. If you are setting out alone or with a private group, be sure to check the local guidances to ensure you’re following regulations.

Cycling along the coast or through the moors is a wonderful pastime. Not sure where to start? One coastal cottage in Robin Hood’s Bay, Sea Fern Cottage, offers a stay with a guided cycling experience. For a more leisurely biking experience, why not rent an e-bike to take the hurt out of the hills?

Hit the Town(s)

Though there is plenty of fun to do and see in cities like York, North Yorkshire’s charm is only enhanced by the quaint market towns scattered about the rolling hills. If you time your visits right, you may find yourself wandering through the weekly or monthly local markets. One must-do market experience is Malton’s monthly food market. In the heart of the cobbled town square, local culinary artisans gather with fresh produce and lovingly prepared food.

For a market town that looks like something out of a storybook, Knaresoborough’s castle ruins, tiered houses in checkerboard paint, lazy river, and giant aqueduct tying the whole scene together are sure to fit the bill. You can even take a paddle boat upstream, perhaps spotting some ducklings along the way.

While it may still be too cold to take a dip in the ocean, wandering Yorkshire’s coastal towns and villages is easier done in the spring. Though the weather is more temperate, you won’t have to compete with the busier crowd conditions that the summer months bring.

Historic Experiences

North Yorkshire is blessed with a variety of historic homes, halls, estates and castles—both in-tact and in ruins. The stunning homes (and beautifully-tended gardens) open their doors to visitors in the spring after a long, dormant winter.

If you have a National Trust or English Heritage membership, it will be put to good use with sites like Whitby Abbey, Rievaulx Abbey, Nunnington Hall and Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden.

Let’s Go to the Races

North Yorkshire’s horse races are an event like none other. The iconic York Racecourse is the crowning jewel (literally), having hosted the Royal Ascot in 2005. Other stunning race courses include those in Beverley, Catterick, Redcar, Ripon, Thirsk and Wetherby. Check out the different festivals, meets, and races—and don’t forget your fascinator!

Spring to the Spring Activities!

North Yorkshire really shines in the spring with vibrant, luscious landscapes. Take advantage of the warming weather with some (or all, if you’re feeling ambitious) of our recommended spring activities!

Be sure to share your favourite North Yorkshire spring-time moments on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.