We are lucky enough at Buckstone to be well placed to explore the Yorkshire Dales and its many areas of interest. Whether it’s walking, cyling, exploring castles, discovering ancient woodland or simply getting away from the rigours of life, Buckstone has something for everyone, come rain or shine.

Here are some of our favourite things to do in the area.

Riding lessons at Buckstone

Whether it’s your first time, or if you want to brush up on your riding skills, the Buckstone riding school is happy to welcome all abilities and all ages. Susan Houlker and her team have a wealth of experience in teaching riding. Please refer to the Extras page to find out how to book.

Wainman’s Pinnacle & Lunds Tower (20 min walk)

Grade II stone obelisk folly often referred to as ‘Cowling Pinnacle’ or the Salt Pot and a stone-built folly also known as the Sutton Pinnacle or the Pepper Pot. From the entrance to Buckstone turn right and walk for 3 minutes until you see a car park on your right. Enter the car park and continue to walk until you reach the pinnacle. For the Pepper Pot, take a right and continue along the path.

The Hitching Stone (20 min walk)

A gritstone erratic block on Keighley Moor. From the entrance to Buckstone turn right and walk for 2 minutes until you see a footpath sign on your left. Follow this track all the way to the stone.

Skipton

Skipton is an ancient bustling market town and has recently been voted the best place to live in Britain. It has an excellent selection of shops, a busy outdoor market and many interesting pubs and restaurants. Market days are on a Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

Skipton Castle

Over 900 years old, Skipton Castle is one of the most complete and best preserved medieval castles in England and is well worth a visit at any season of the year.

Visitors can explore every corner of this impressive history-rich castle, which withstood a three-year siege during the Civil War. View the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber and Privy. Climb from the depths of the Dungeon to the top storey of the Watch Tower.

Ilkley

The picturesque town of Ilkley is situated in the Wharfe Valley, at the southern end of the Yorkshire Dales. The former spa town rose to fame in the nineteenth century when thousands visited for the fresh invigorating air. The town has a great selection of independant shops, artisan bakeries and cafes.

The town is famous for its moor and you’ll find fantastic countryside and walks for all abilities on your doorstep.

There are also a number of events through the year such as Ilkley Literature Festival, Ilkley Summer Festival and Real Food Ilkley Markets.

Bolton Abbey

Nestled in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales on the banks of the River Wharfe, Bolton Abbey is Yorkshire’s best day out.

Its landscape is the “jewel in the crown” of Yorkshire’s many landscapes, and the 30,000 acres of beautiful countryside boast over 80 miles of footpaths to walk and explore, providing something for all ages. Apart from the numerous walks, there are also the remains of the Abbey to explore. There is an ever changing events programme providing activities for children to fishing on the River Wharfe, you’ll find a host of activities awaiting you.

Haworth

The pretty village of Haworth is situated at the edge of the Pennine moors in West Yorkshire, England, the area made famous by the Bronte sisters, known as Bronte country.

Bronte parsonage museum, Haworth

A definite must for any literary fan. Visit the house where the 3 sisters lived and where they wrote some of their master pieces, including Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights.

Salts Mill, Saltaire

Saltaire is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is described as an outstanding and well preserved example of a mid 19th century industrial town.

Salts Mill dates from 1853 and was the centrepiece of Sir Titus Salt’s utopian vision of Saltaire. He built the adjoining model village to house his workers. Cloth production at Salts finally ceased in 1986.

Salts Mill today is a place for art, dining and shopping in one stunning historic building. Inside you can admire a very big collection of works by ‘local boy’ David Hockney, shop the best in independent retail and enjoy restaurants and cafes. You can also learn about the history of the Mill in our People and Process and Saltaire History exhibitions.

Malham

Malham is a small village in the Pennines, at the southern base of the Yorkshire Dales and great for walkers. It’s a pretty place, surrounded by limestone dry-stone walls, & with a stream running right through the middle of the village. There are a couple of good pubs to stop at for lunch.

Malham Cove:   is a huge curving amphitheatre shaped cliff formation of limestone rock. The vertical face of the cliff is about 260 feet high.

Gordale Scar:  is a spectacular gorge, complete with waterfalls, cut right into the limestone hillside.

Malham Tarn:  is a nature reserve area, owned by the National Trust.

The Pennine way

Perfect for any avid walkers and ramblers. A 15 minute walk from the pods and you can join the Pennine way National trail. The trail itself runs from the Scottish border to the Peak District. Often described at the backbone of England it is, according to The Ramblers, “one of Britain’s best known and toughest”.

High Adventure, Cowling

For those who fancy a real adventure, a 5 minute drive from the pods is High Adventure. They offer a vast array of outdoor pursuits, tuition, coaching or guiding for family groups. Rock climbing, hiking, road cycling and mountain biking can all be found and catered for in the local surroundings. Larger groups, ( 2+ pods) could experience caving, they offer cave guiding and transport to the Dales (minimum of 6 people). They also have a range of activities at the centre such as Archery, high Ropes courses and indoor climbing facilities. All the activities would need to be pre booked and are subject to availability. Check out their website https://highadventure.co.uk/

Keighley and Worth Railway

For a bit of nostalgia for young and old, we recommend a trip on the steam train on the Keighley and Worth railway. Trains run from Keighley to Oxenhope and back and a round trip is around 40 mins. The train stops at 6 stops and you can get on and off as you choose. One of the stops is Haworth so you can combine a trip on the steam train with a trip to this pretty, literary village (see above).

Billy Bob’s Parlour

Great fun for the kids, a classic American diner and icecream parlour with outdoor and under cover play areas. If you can, see if you can get a table on the American yellow school bus.

East Riddlesden Hall, National Trust Property

Historic house and gardens with lots of natural play areas for families to enjoy. Plus the obligatory tea room.