Things to Do in the Yorkshire Dales

The Yorkshire Dales region stretches well beyond open moorland and drystone walls, taking in historic cities and market towns where days out range from cathedral visits to escape rooms. York is the obvious hub, with York Minster and the Jorvik Viking Centre anchoring a city packed with museums, walking trails and family attractions like the Wizard Walk, but Ripon, Richmond, Skipton and Harrogate all hold their own with castles, markets and independent quirks worth a detour.

Families tend to gravitate towards activity-based days out such as KidsPaintball Leeds or the Raven Tree Top Adventure, while those after something more offbeat might try a trapeze session at All Bars Flying Trapeze Club or hunt clues on the Richmond Mystery Treasure Trail. Smaller towns like Bentham and Tadcaster make good bases for exploring further afield, and local heritage groups such as the Ripon Museum Trust offer a quieter, more considered look at the region's past.