Outdoor Easter Events: North Yorkshire
One of the infamous Bolton Abbey Easter Bunnies!
Easter 2022!
And what a difference it will be from Easter 2021 and Easter 2020 for that matter!
There is SO much going on this year in and around North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales, this is a BUMPER round up of all the outdoors and adventurous days out for kids over the Easter holidays!
Hold onto your hats we are going in!
Making a wish at Mother Shipton’s Cave
Mother Shipton’s Cave
Dates: Every day from 2nd April - 24th April 10am-5.30pm (last admission is 4pm)
Location: Knaresborough, near Harrogate
Cost: £32/ Car (up to 5 people. All additional people are £11/ person, under 3 additional passenger goes free). Pedestrian Group £32/ Group (up to 5 people. Additional pedestrians are £11/ person, under 3 additional pedestrian goes free)
Booking Required? Via the Mother Shipton’s Cave website for a 2.5 hour time slot.
Mother Shiptons put on a EGG-CEPTIONAL event (pun-tastic!) and this Easter, they are hosting their Bunny Door and Egg Trail in the woodland surrounding the incredible petrifying well and of course the main event, Mother Shipton’s Cave! We are a big fan of a Mother Shipton’s event, and this one promises to deliver! With the trail, adventure playground, waterfall, cave and museum, there is plenty to fill the time! Oh, and you can grab an ice cream, or take-away tea, coffee and hot chocolate from the kiosk next to the playground.
Coniston Country Park and Hotel Easter Egg Trail
Dates: Monday 11 April 2022 to Monday 18 April 2022
Location: Coniston Hotel, Coniston Cold, near Skipton
Cost: £14.95/ person
Booking Required? Yes, through the Conistone Hotel Website
The Conistone Hotel are putting on a self guided scavenger hunt through the 1,400 acre private Estate. With help from the clues, you will help to solve an Easter mystery!
Tickets include a picnic lunch, which can either be enjoyed on the Estate or taken away. At the end of the trail all children will receive their own Easter Egg!
Collect your map from Reception and away you go!
The petrifying well at Mother Shipton’s Cave
Goldsborough Hall
Dates: Saturday 16th April 2022 10am - Sunday 17 April 2022 4pm
Location: Just outside Knaresborough, Harrogate
Cost: £5/ Child
Booking Required? Booking via the Goldsborough Hall website
Goldsborough Hall are hosting an Easter Egg hunt in the woods. The egg hunt is located in the grounds of the hall, and if the puzzle is solved, there will be prizes! This sounds like a lot of fun!
Thorp Perrow’s Easter Trail
Dates: 9th April at 10am - 23rd April
Location: Thorp Perrow Arboretum in Bedale
Cost: Standard Entry fees and the trail sheet can be purchased for an additional £2.50 which includes a prize. Adult £12.05, Child 4-16 £7.70, Concession £10.95. Family tickets are available, and under 4’s are free.
Booking Required? Yes, via the Thorp Perrow website.
Thorp Perrow arboretum is a stunning place to visit, and does regular seasonal trails. This Beatrix Potter themed trail will take you around the arboretum, but not only that, Thorp Perrow is home to a bird of prey and mammal centre too which hosts regular displays. There is a play area and cafe on site too.
Thorp Perrow arboretums’ bird of prey centre.
East Riddlesden Hall: Easter Adventures in Nature
Dates: 9th April to 24th April (10am - 4pm)
Location: East Riddlesden Hall, near Keighley West Yorkshire (ok, let me off, it’s not North Yorkshire!)
Cost: £3/ trail plus normal admission charges. Adult £5, Child £2.50. Free entry for national trust members.
Booking Required? No
This is a family friendly trail around the gardens of East Riddlesden Hall. Pick up an activity pack and then find and complete the 10 nature-inspired activities that are hiding along the way. If you finish the trail, you will bag yourself a chocolate egg!
Brimham Rocks Easter Egg Hunt
Dates: 15th to 18th April 2022
Location: Brimham Rocks, just outside Summerbridge in Harrogate
Cost: Trail sheet costs £3 with normal car parking charges.
Booking Required? No
Go pick up an activity pack from Brimham rocks and follow the trail map around the incredible rock formations completing nature inspired activities along the way. The price includes a map, pencil and chocolate egg!
Exploring some of the amazing rock formations at Brimham Rocks
The Great Ingleton Easter Egg Hunt
Dates: 9th, 15th and 21st April 2022 9am - 4pm.
Location: Season’s Bakery, Back Gate, Ingleton, The Yorkshire Dales
Cost: £2/ child
Booking Required? No.
Join in the Great Ingleton Easter Egg Hunt!
Starting at Season’s Bakery, Back Gate, Ingleton, there will be an Easter Egg Trail, quizzes, free fair games, music and plenty of Easter Treats!
Why not pair it up and make a day out of it by also doing the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail? Or by paying a visit to White Scar Cave?
Fountains Abbey Easter Trail
Dates: 2nd April to 17th April 10am - 5pm
Location: Fountains Abbey, near Ripon North Yorkshire
Cost: £3/ trail sheet plus normal admission charges. Adult: £18.70, Child £9.40, Family discounts available. Free for National Trust members.
Booking Required? No
Pick up a trail sheet and follow the map! Complete 10 nature based activities and earn your chocolate reward! Fountains Abbey is a great place to visit, and as well as the trail you will be able to explore the Abbey ruins and gardens too. There is a cafe on site.
The ruins of Fountains Abbey near Ripon
Stump Cross Caverns Magic Parties, Birds of Prey and Stargazing
Dates:
Magic Party: 3rd April - 24th April 2022
Birds of Prey: 16th and 23rd April 2022
Stargazing: 14th April 2022
Dance Matt: 11th April 2022
Location: Stump Cross Caverns Greenhow Hill, Yorkshire Dales
Cost:
Magic Party: £30 per child includes: cave tour, cinema to watch Ice Age, food and a party bag. £20 per adult: cave tour, film and cuppa.
Birds of Prey: £10 per family for 20 minutes exclusive session with the birds.
Stargazing: Adults: £20 Children £15 includes: UV tour of the caves and 1 hour family friendly presentation (at around 7.30pm).
Booking Required? Yes on the Stump Cross Website.
WOAH! There is so much going on at Stump Cross Caverns these Easter holidays!
Magic Parties: join Cavewoman and magician Rob for a grand magic tour of Stump Cross Caverns. Play party games cave woman style and enjoy food whilst watching Ice Age in the cinema!
Birds of Prey: an exclusive 20 minute animal handling experience for the family with Harrogate Birds of Prey.
Stargazing: A family friendly evening with Chris Higgins and Martin Whipp to discover all about the secrets of the formation of the Solar System. After the event, there will be the opportunity to go star gazing (weather permitting!)
The world beneath your feet at Stump Cross Caverns
Harlow Carr: Giant Easter Egg Hunt
Dates: 2nd to 24th April 2022 (9.30am - 6pm)
Location: Harrogate, North Yorkshire
Cost: Adult £14.25, Child, £7.25, (Car Free travel: Adult £9.85, Child £5) Admission is free for RHS members.
Booking Required? Yes via the Harlow Carr website
Grab your explorer pack and head off around the gardens of Harlow Carr to find the giant painted Easter Eggs. There are fun puzzles to solve and plants and wildlife to spot along the way too!
Once you have completed the trail, you will receive your chocolatey prize!
Forest schools are also running on 11th, 15th, 18th and 22nd April. This is a drop in session between 10.30am - 12.30pm & 1pm - 3pm.
Adventure walks are taking place on the 12th, 14th, 19th and 21st April at 1pm and 3pm.
Planting workshops are on the 13th and 20th April between 11am and 3pm.
And whilst you’re there make sure you explore the adventure playgrounds too!
Embsay Easter Egg Trail
Dates: Sunday 3rd April 2022 10am - 1pm
Location: Embsay with Eastby Village Institute
Cost: £2/ Child
Booking Required: Nope!
This little Easter Egg trail takes part in Embsay, just outside of Skipton. You can spot the eggs, crack the code and claim your prize! This is a fab community Easter Trail, why not tie it up with a wander around Embsay Reservoir, or head up to Embsay Crag? We also love a trip to Billy Bobs for food and a play in their outdoor barns!
The gardens of Harlow Carr
Thornton Hall Farm Easter Eggstravaganza
Dates: 15th April to 18th April
Location: Thornton in Craven, near Skipton
Cost: £9.95/ adult £14.95/ child Under 2’s/ £9.95 Under 1/ Free (including a free Easter Egg for every paying child)
Booking Required? Yes via the Thornton Hall Farm website
There has been SO MUCH going on at Thornton Hall farm over the winter months.
In April, the farm reopens after extensive renovations to it’s indoor play area. The Eggstravaganza involves a full day’s access to the park, an Easter trail, timed entry to the new indoor play area, a magic show, bouncing bunny appearances throughout the day, outdoor play, animal petting, jumping pillows, pony rides*, caterpillar rides*, safari rides* (*charged extra) and loads more fun! (Peter Rabbit is making an appearance on Friday 15th April and bookable separately.)
Nell Bank Easter Egg Hunt
Dates: 14th April 2022 10am - 3pm
Location: Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre
Cost: £4/ person, free for under 2’s
Booking Required: Yes, via the Nell Bank website.
The Egg Hunt takes place on the 25 acre site of Nell Bank Outdoor Education Centre, which is located next to Middleton Woods in Ilkley! There are LOADS of activities to enjoy, the Adventure Playground, the Water Play Area and there’s a mini trail for toddlers as well as open space and wooded areas to play in and explore. The volunteer run cafe will be selling handmade snacks and hot drinks and there are picnic areas too. At an additional cost, you can also take part in Pond Dipping or a Den building session! (booking is essential).
Why not tie it in with a walk in Middleton Woods, where the bluebells are just beginning to emerge and make sure you take a trip to Ilkley too as Nell Bank is within walking distance!
Thornton Hall Farm Easter event 2021
Hesketh Farm Park Easter Trail
Dates: 2nd to 24th April 2022
Location: Hesketh Farm Park on the Bolton Abbey Estate
Cost: Adults £7, Children £7, Under 2’s £3.50, Under 1’s £1
Booking Required? No.
Join in the fun searching out the hidden eggs and untangling the letters to reveal the winning word to collect your prize! As well as the Easter trail, you can expect the usual fun on the farm at Hesketh with animal feeding, large outdoor and indoor play areas, ride ons, go-karts and the tractor ride!
Studfold Adventure Farm: Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt
Dates: 9th to 24th April 2022
Location: Studfold Adventure Trail in Lofthouse, Upper Nidderdale
Cost: Adults £7.50, Children £7.50, Under 3’s are free. Family tickets are available.
Booking Required? Yes via the Studfold website.
It’s back! We LOVE a trip to Studfold Fairy Trail, and the Easter event promises to be sp-egg-tacular! The theme this year is Springtime Fairies and their Friends. Pick up a clue sheet and explore and discover nests, Easter eggs, golden rabbits and of course the Studfold fairies! During the spring, the bluebells are amazing, so if there’s a time to go, it’s at Easter! With a newly refurbished play area (as of 2021), go karts and more, it’s really a great way to spend a couple of hours!
There is the Nidderdale Way cafe on site at Studfold selling picnic food, drinks and ice cream. When we were last there, they prepared individual picnic baskets, which were such a lovely touch! Make sure you check them out as there are plenty of picnic spots too.
One of the incredible fairy houses that you can spot on the Studfold Fairy Trail.
Stockeld Park Easter Adventure
Dates: 2nd to 24th April 2022
Location: Stockeld Park near Wetherby
Cost: £16.50/ person
Booking Required? Yes via the Stockeld Park website. Some time slots have already sold out, so early booking is advised!
Stockeld park is great. The kids absolutely love coming here, and they know how to put on a top event too! An Easter Day pass will give you access to the rainbow bunny hunt, you will be able to meet the Easter bunny and there are giant Easter eggs dotted around the park. The Stockeld adventure playgrounds are all included in the ticket, as is the maze, go karts and outdoor infatables. Buccaneer boats are an additional charge. There is also an on site cafe selling a wide range of food and tasty treats!
And the incredible people of Stockeld Park are donating £10,000 from the ticket sales of the Easter Event to support the children affected by the war in Ukraine.
One of the Stockeld Park adventure play areas.
Bolton Castle Easter Trail
Dates: 9th to 22nd April 2022
Location: Bolton Castle near Leyburn Wensleydale, The Yorkshire Dales
Cost: The trail is included in the castle admission. For a family ticket to the castle and gardens it is £48.
Booking Required? No, although pre-booking is preferred and advised via the Bolton Castle website.
Bolton Castle is located in the stunning Yorkshire Dales, in Wensleydale. Throughout the Easter holidays, they are running an Easter Trail. You have to find all the eggs, and then take a photo of the last one to earn yourself a chocolate egg! Whilst you’re there why not check out the falconry displays, explore the castle and have lunch in the cafe!
Bolton Abbey Easter Bunny Trail
Dates: 9th to 24th April
Location: Bolton Abbey, Wharfedale, The Yorkshire Dales
Cost: £10/ car £12.50 if booked on the day.
Booking Required? Yes via the Bolton Abbey website
The Bolton Abbey Bunnies are back in Strid Wood! After their brief socially distanced foray last year into the vast expanse of the Estate, the bunnies are back on their usual patch, along the pushchair friendly trail in Strid Wood. Beginning at the Cavendish Pavilion (toilets, cafe and ice cream!) you will need to solve the clues and complete the trail sheet! (The trail sheet is handed over at the car park kiosk).
Bat Bunny on the Bolton Abbey Easter Trail
All bunnied out?
These attractions are open, but aren’t necessarily hosting an Easter themed event!
How Stean Gorge
Located next to Studfold Adventure Farm, (who are hosting an Easter trail) in Lofthouse Nidderdale, How Stean Gorge is a brilliant place to explore. There is a trail through the gorge, caves and Narnia and nature themed sculptures. Cost is £5/ child, £7/ adult and this includes a hard hat and torch!
Forbidden Corner
This place doesn’t need an event to be awesome! Bookings are now being taken ahead of reopening after the winter season, so why not head to the quirkiest attraction in Yorkshire?! Adult £14.50 and Child £12.50.
Harewood House
Whilst Harewood aren’t hosting an Easter themed trail, they are open over the Easter holidays and have Spring and nature themed family friendly workshops. Adult tickets range from £13.50 - £17.50 and children from £7.50 - £9.50. At Harewood, you’ll also find farm animals and exotic birds, penguins, trails around the lake and Himalayan Gardens and an adventure playground, as well as being able to explore the house itself. There is a cafe and kiosks for light bites and ice cream too.
Birchfield Ice Cream Farm
Birchfield are likely to be holding an Easter Event, but are yet to release details. Even so, this fab farm is definitely worth a visit in its own right! Top play areas, animal fun, rids ons, trails through the woods, go karts and a sandpit, we love Birchfield! I will update the blog once the final details are released!
