Happy New Year Yorkshire!

Or if you’re actually reading this when the blog was in fact published rather than partying your ass off somewhere? Then HAPPY ALMOST NEW YEAR!

Ah who am I kidding, if you have kids, it’ll be falling asleep in front of the Jools Holland’s Hootenanny rather than partying like it’s 1999…. and if you get that reference you are definitely as old as me!

Anyway… enough of the waffle. What are we here for?

A YORKSHIRE DALES BUCKET LIST!

There is so much cool stuff to do in the Dales, but want a list of all the coolest stuff to do? Then read on!

Take a dunk in White Wells Spa, Ilkley

Traditionally, a dunk at the Well in White Wells on Ilkley Moor is the best way to start the day on the 1st of January, so why not kick off the New Year in style?! Dipping starts at 10am and ends at 5pm! From experience the later you go during the day, the murkier the water gets, so head there early!

If it’s too much of a stretch to do it on New Years Day, then just head up whenever you fancy.

Head up to the White Wells building when the flag is flying. The spa building is next to the cafe, and the custodians of the building ask you to support the cafe in order to take a dip! Simple as! A brew with a view and a refreshing dip to boot!

You can even buy a certificate to prove your bravery.

Complete the Via Ferrata at How Stean Gorge

How Stean Gorge in Upper Nidderdale is the home to Yorkshire’s only Via Ferrata, a climbing challenge that will take you along the edges of the gorge, crossing narrow bridges, climbing ladders, high wires, and abseiling off the bridge!

Sound up your street? Then head to the How Stean Gorge website to book!

Minimum requirements are age 7, 140cm height, all equipment is provided. The experience is a half day experience, but took as 2 hours on a one to one basis and we recommend wearing footwear with a good grip!

Take a dip in Janet’s Foss, Malham

This is such a magical place (if you can get it all to yourself!) and legend has it, that this is the home of the Queen of the fairies!

Janet’s Foss is pretty unique in the Dales, with the water being a lovely turquoise colour (rather than the standard Yorkshire Tea peaty water you get elsewhere!) In the Summer, the canopy of green reflects on the water, and gives the whole place a truly ethereal vibe!

The perfect place for a dip…. as long as you either go early to beat the crowds, OR late after most of them have gone home! Yes. Janet’s Foss is no hidden gem, but it is well worth a trip outside of peak times!

Check out the walk details by heading to our Janet’s Foss page.

AND most importantly, familiarise yourself with the safety information about wild swimming on the Outdoor Swimming society website.

Do the Gaping Gill Winch

Ever felt the need to be winched down the highest unbroken drop waterfall into a massive cave, large enough to house a cathedral?

OF COURSE YOU HAVE!

Located on the side of Ingleborough, the Gaping Gill Winch takes place across two separate weeks, hosted by two separate caving and potholing clubs. One week is around the second May bank holiday, one in August.

Both offer you the ability to descend the 105m drop into one of the largest chambers in the UK.

The winch is serious bucket list stuff, and whilst underground you will be able to marvel at the waterfalls, explore some of the cave system and learn about this incredible place!

The winch operates on a first come first served basis, the lower age limit is 6 and as of 2022, costs £15/ person. Check out the Bradford Pothole Club to learn about the 2023 May dates and the Craven Potholing Club to check out the August dates.

We have also written a full blog about FAQs and info about doing Gaping Gill with the kids!

Hunt down the Dent Vampire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Style)

Ok, perhaps my 90’s reference may be lost on some…. (COME ONNNNN! Buffy was ace!) but did you know that Dent is the home of the Dent Vampire, George Hodgson?

It is true and this should be on the bucket list for anybody who has a fascination with folklore or delights at a bit of Dracula! You can read the full story in the Dent Heritage Museum or you can check out our Folklore of the Yorkshire Dales blog, but long story short?

Old George was dealt a healthy hand of longevity, which was looked upon with a heavy dose of suspicion by the residents of 18th Century Dent. After all, if you live a long life, you MUST be a vampire right?

Anyway, after his demise, George was spotted roaming Dent, despite being 6 feet under in the churchyard and after a series of mysterious deaths, George was posthumously blamed. He was exhumed, treated as a vampire and buried with a stake through his heart….

You can go see that stake today…. or in 2024, because it’s on your bucket list now right?

Climb the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks

This was on our list for last year and we managed it by May 2023! Not all at once I might add….

We tackled each one individually, beginning with Whernside (the highest), Pen y Ghent (the smallest) and Ingleborough (the one in the middle!) It was a great achievement for the kids!

Fancy more of a challenge, try the Dales 30!

The Dales 30 are the 30 highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales, the highest being Whernside (Ribblehead), followed by Ingleborough (Just opposite), Great Shunner Fell (Wensleydale/Swaledale), High Seat and Wild Boar Fell (Mallerstang), Great Whernside and Buckden PIke (Upper Wharfedale) Gregory Peak (next to Great Shunner Fell), Pen-y-Ghent (Ribblesdale), Hugh Seat (also Mallerstang).

Go on, get trig point bagging!

Go to the cinema, but in a CAVE!

Did you know that Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge has its very own private cinema in the cave?

This is such a cool place to watch a film! You can hire the cinema for £7/ person, with a minimum booking of 6 people and a maximum of 40. You can choose your film and there is an in seat food/ drink service.

Follow it up with a tour of the caves and BOOM.

Epic day out!

Check out the Stump Cross Caverns website for more info.

Go walking with Llamas and Alpacas!

This was on our list for 2023 and we could not recommend it more! We LOVED walking with Nidderdale Llamas and Alpacas!

You can check out all of the details as to how you can do this by reading our full blog about our walking with LLamas experience, but get it on your list!!

Check out the Black Bull at Sedbergh

We discovered this super gem earlier this year and we have told anybody with ears about it ever since!

Why?

Because places like this are few and far between. Calling itself a ‘Contemporary Inn and Restaurant’ this is one for the foodies out there. Foodies with kids.

Because this is the first place I have come across in the Dales (or further afield for that matter), that offers a fancy style tasting menu alongside a fab kids menu. The kids menu is also excellent and has some really tasty options that take a huge leap away from your chicken nugget and chips, or fish goujons….. (not that there’s anything wrong with the old school favs, just that it’s refreshing to find somewhere with other choices).

Even better? It’s also dog friendly.

So get it on your list! And if you fancy a cheeky overnight stay, it has rooms too (including one that sleeps up to 4!) You can check out the Black Bull website here for up to date info and also find out what else Sedbergh has to offer by checking out our visit Sedbergh with Kids guide or if you’re looking for a walk featuring this pub, then head to our Walks with Pubs and Cafes!

Be Mind-Boggled at Forbidden Corner

This place has to be seen to be believed and is firmly one of the Kids’ favourite places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

It’s honestly amazing. You can find out all you need to know about the Forbidden Corner by heading to our blog about it, but trust me. This has to be on your bucket list.

It’s just all kinds of bizarre. In the best way!

Bag all three Yorkshire Dales Show Caves

The Yorkshire Dales is the home of thousands of caves! It being limestone country and all, it is riddled with holes!

And there are three of them that are so spectacular they are open to the public!

The three Yorkshire Dales Show Caves are Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge, Ingleborough Cave in Clapham and the longest show cave in the country, White Scar Cave!

So put them on your 2024 list and tick them all off! You can read more about the Yorkshire Dales show caves by heading to the blog!