Places to visit
Keeping it local
The historic Kilnsey Park Estate offers a wide range of activities including horse and pony trekking, fishing and a discovery trail with a host of things for children to see and do including alpacas, red squirrels, pigs, angora goats and lambs. There is a popular cafe and gift shop on site, including a small shop which caters for basic essentials. To find out how to book these activities please contact us.
Kilnsey Show (established 1893) is a popular agricultural show taking place on the late August bank holiday, with a wide range of countryside attractions including sheepdog trials, animal classes, show jumping, local food and drink, harness racing and the gravity-defying Crag Race. To find out more click here.
Local villages and market towns
In close proximity are many of the Dales’ famous tourist locations. Just a short drive away is Grassington (3 miles), with its many independent shops, traditional pubs and good eating establishments. Its old cobbled square is home to an annual arts and music festival (June), 1940s Weekend (September) and Dickensian Christmas weekends (December). Much of the recent All Creatures Great and Small (2020-21) is filmed there.
Other picture perfect villages worth visiting in the area include Kettlewell (where the Calendar Girls was filmed), Arncliffe (the original home of Emmerdale Farm) and Burnsall, home to one of the oldest fell races in the country.
Skipton – known as the Gateway to the Dales – is a bustling market town 11 miles away, with a wonderfully preserved medieval castle, canal boat excursions, cinema, bowling alley and museum & gallery, alongside a wide range of shops, cafes and restaurants. Markets take place on a Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Natural wonders close by include Kilnsey Crag, the limestone pavements above Conistone, Grass Woods, Malham Cove, Goredale Scar, Stump Cross Caverns near Hebden and the River Wharfe (popular stretches include Linton Falls, Burnsall and Bolton Abbey).
Slightly further afield, you can sample cheese at the famous Wensleydale Creamery (Hawes, 20 miles), wander around the historic ruins of Fountains Abbey UNESCO world heritage site (near Ripon, 24 miles) or quench your thirst with some delicious Dales ales on a brewery tour in Masham (28 miles).
There’s family fun to be had at Hesketh Farm Park (near Bolton Abbey, 15 miles) and Embsay Steam Railway (16 miles) and Matrix Superbowl in Skipton.
Activity fun
If you’re looking for a more active adventure, bikes can be hired from Grassington, guided walks can be arranged with Where2Walk and more adrenaline-busting activities (abseiling, gorge scrambling, canoeing) are available at How Stean Gorge (near Pateley Bridge, 21 miles). The Yorkshire Dales is also home to some of the best hill (fell) running in the country – to find out more click here. A swimming pool and gym are available at Long Ashes in Threshfield (3 miles away) whilst Sandylands sports centre in Skipton hosts badminton, squash and tennis.
Chill out
For tranquility and mindfulness, we recommend yoga and pilates at Ebru Evrim in Skipton, chilled spa days at The Coniston Hotel & Spa (12 miles) and mindfulness sessions with Lisa Milnor of Shaping Clarity.
Where to eat and drink
Tennants Arms, Kilnsey – a 17th century coaching inn, the closest pub to Kilnsey Park.
Kings Head, Kettlewell – always rated highly for its food by locals.
Grassington House Hotel – good for a more gourmet eating experience.
Fountaine Inn, Linton – ideal for a summer drink on the village green.
Craven Arms, Appletreewick – a traditional Dales pub that does everything right.
Want to know more?
Dales Discoveries – ‘The insider’s guide to the Yorkshire Dales’ – A great website to discover those hidden gems in the Dales. The families page is a must-visit if you’re looking for ideas to entertain the little ones.