Free and Cheap things to do this Easter

Sitting at Bolton Abbey with Bunny Ears on

Are you looking for low cost or free activities for the kids this Easter?

Well then check out our cheap and free Easter trails and activities below! All of them are located in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, or in the outlying areas and towns around it.

They range from completely free (even the parking if you can find it) up to events that cost £5. I will flag any additional parking charges that apply too. I have organised them from free at the start, to events that cost £5/ person or child at the end. That way, I hope it makes your lives easier! Let’s just say…. some-bunny loves you (me, that’s me - I’m the bunny… ).

I’ve also included a little list of completely free places to try, that aren’t necessarily Easter related, but are still beautiful and therefore ALL GOOD!

So go grab your Easter bunny ears and read all of our egg-cellent ideas below (nope. I refuse to stop punning my way through life!)

Free Easter Trails and Events

These trails are all free! Some are ENTIRELY free (including parking) Others, you may have to incur a parking charge. All are accessible by public transport.

Ilkley Easter VR Trail

Simply download the Loyal Free App to get the Easter Trail. Taking you around the centre of Ilkley, you need to find the Augmented Reality posters, scan the code and discover the eggs!

Want to park for free? Then you can head up to Darwin Gardens on Wells Road ( W3W mouths.craftsmen.securing ) where you’ll find a free car park, or alternatively there is LIMITED on street parking (most of Ilkley is split into residential and metered zones). There is a walk downhill (then back up hill) to get into Ilkley which is approximately 10 minutes - less if you’re speedy! If you park here make sure you check out our pushchair friendly walk to Ilkley Tarn too!

Want to get there by bus or train? Ilkley has a train station with services running from Leeds and Bradford. Buses run from Leeds, Bradford, Skipton, Harrogate, Wetherby, Keighley and more!

Skipton Easter VR Trail

This is the same trail as above, but if Skipton is closer to you, then why not check this one out instead! The trail will also take you around the town centre of Skipton.

There are several areas for parking in and around Skipton that charge a small fee. Why not take a wander around Skipton Castle Woods (free to enter) as well!

Want to get here by bus or train? Skipton is serviced by buses from Ilkley, Bradford, Keighley, Settle, Preston and more. Skipton also has a train station.

Hawes Easter Egg Hunt

This community organised event is taking place between 1-16 April and is completely free. You can grab a trail sheet from The Alchemists Cottage or Forever Growing Clothes and head around the shop window trail. Hand your completed trails in to enter a prize draw.

Want free parking? There is very limited free parking on Market Place, or you can head to one of the pay and display car parks around Hawes at either Gayle Lane or in the Yorkshire Dales Centre Car Park.

Check out our Visit Hawes with Kids Guide to find out what else you can do to make this a free day out!

Hawes is accessible by bus. Check out the Dales Bus Service for more information.

Knaresborough Spring Fayre

On Saturday the 8th April, the Knaresborough Spring Fayre is taking place! Taking place bewteen 10 and 4pm on Market Place, keep your eyes peeled for the Easter Bunny Grotto and Easter Parade.

There will be rides, live entertainment, a market, magician, balloon modelling, face painting and free craft workshops (some of these will incur an additional cost.)

Why not take part in the Easter Bunny Hunt (detailed below)

Parking charges will apply for this, or alternatively Knaresborough can be accessed by bus or train (Harrogate line).

Low Cost Easter Trails

All of these trails come in at under £5 (parking charges may apply)

Hellifield Easter Treasure Hunt

Arranged by the students of Hellifield CP school near Settle, this Easter Trail runs between the 31 March - 18 April. Sheets cost £1 from H’s shop or from Ahernes.

Parking is available for free in the centre of Hellifield and you can also access Hellifield by train, it’s on the Bentham Line (between Leeds and Morecambe). Buses also run from Skipton, Settle and more.

The Great Ingleton Easter Egg Hunt

Taking place between the 1-16 April 2023 between 9 and 4pm is the Ingleton Easter Egg Hunt! Complete your trail sheet to win a prize! Sheets cost £2 and are available from Seasons Bakery in Ingleton. All profits will be donated to Cave Rescue.

Why not check out the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail (trail charges apply) to make a day of it?

There is free on street parking available (be respectful) or there is pay and display parking too. Buses to Ingleton run from Skipton, Settle, Kirby Lonsdale and Lancaster and more.

The Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt

Taking place between 1-16 April, the Great Knaresborough Bunny Hunt is arranged by Painting Pots and will take you around the Knaresborough on a Easter hunt! Complete the sheet for a prize and a sticker and one lucky winner will get a £50 painting pots voucher too!

All profits go to New Beginnings, The Memory Cafe and Laren Doherty BEM BCAV Road Safety Talks.

Parking charges will apply or alternatively you can get to Knaresborough by train (Harrogate Line) or by bus.

Easter Adventures at Brimham Rocks

Running between 7 and 10 April, the Easter Adventures Trail will take you around the rocks, playing bingo, and helping to create a bug hotel! Grab your trail sheet from the car park for £3 and completed sheets will get you a prize.

There are parking charges applicable here, but it is free for National Trust members. Brimham Rocks is not easily accessible by bus, although you can get a bus to Summerbridge and walk the 1.5 miles from there.

Low Cost Easter Trails and Events up to £5/ person

These are the top end of the low cost days out and are priced in the £5/ person category.

Goldsborough Hall Easter Egg Hunt

Taking place between the 10-14 April, the Goldsborough Hall Easter Egg Hunt takes place in the gardens of the hall, and will have you finding Easter Eggs and solving puzzles. The cost is £5/ child and a prize is included in the price.

The closest bus stop is in Knaresborough but this is not easily accessible by bus. Parking is available at Goldsborough Hall.

Nell Bank Easter Egg Hunt

Nell Bank are holding their Easter Event on the 6th April between 10 and 3pm. You will find an egg hunt, and other activities to enjoy too including the adventure playground, water play, toddler trail and more. It is £5/ person and under 2’s are free.

Tickets need to be booked on the Nell Bank Website.

Parking is available at Nell Bank. The nearest public transport access is found in Ilkley Town Centre, but it does require a walk to get here!

FROGS Easter Trail, Druids Altar

Friends of Grewelthorpe School have arranged an Easter trail around the grounds of the Swinton Estate, taking in Druids Altar. The trail costs £5/ child and the proceeds go to support the school. A prize is included in the price.

Parking is honesty box parking at Swinton Bivouac and the trail is not easily accessible by bus or train.

Fill a day for free this Easter

Here are a few ideas of completely free days out this Easter!

Visit Hackfall Woods near Ripon

This Woodland Trust owned trail is completely free, even down to the parking! You’ll find a fabulous trail around the stunning woodland, packed with follies to explore and more. There are often seasonal nature trails to pick up from the car park, so check out our blog all about visiting Hackfall woods with the kids right here!

Head to Gallows Hill Nature Reserve in Otley

This little nature reserve is a gem filled with stick dens and with places to go nature spotting! But not only that the nature reserve is located a stone’s throw from Wharfemeadows Park and the Riverside in Otley where you’ll find ducks to feed too! You can find all the details on how to get to Gallows Hill Nature Reserve right here.

Why not download our nature based Easter Egg hunt to give it an Easter twist!

This walk is accessible by bus too from Otley bus station.

Head to the Ribblehead Viaduct and go waterfall hunting!

This is ace for a free day out, and is also accessible by public transport, by both rail and bus too. The Ribblehead Viaduct is absolutely breath-taking in its enormity and a trip here will offer you views across to Ingleborough and to Whernside too.

But not only is the viaduct crazily huge, it often has steam trains crossing it and if you aren’t lucky enough to see a steam train, you will almost certainly see a diesel train. Literally living the dream for a train lover!

I have done a bit of searching and believe the next steam train excursion over the Ribblehead Viaduct is on Saturday the 22 April (although admittedly it isn’t easy to fathom). Check out the Settle to Carlisle Facebook pages which are often updated with this information!

If you want to hunt down that waterfall too, check out our walk to Force Gill, which follows the railway line of the Settle to Carlisle railway too!

And a HOPPY EASTER to you all from the Reluctant Explorers!

If you’re looking for a FULL list of all of the Easter Events taking place in and aroud the Yorkshire Dales, then head to our Easter Events Page.

If you are looking for some short and easy Easter walks? Then check out our short and easy kids walks page.

Planning on having a day out in the Dales? Check out our Visit with Kids guides!