Outdoorsy Dates in Yorkshire

Let’s hear it for Yorkshire! Home of Yorkshire Puddings, Wensleydale Cheese, Stainless Steel, Yorkie Bars and Sean Bean. Our focus is going north today as we head to Yorkshire, also known as God’s Own Country, to bring you some fantastic ideas for outdoorsy, countrysidy, rural dates.

1. If your date loves cheese

Then you must head to the Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience in the heart of the Dales. As well as learning all about the art of cheese-making, you and your date can watch cheese and butter demonstrations and tuck in to a dairy feast. The beautiful countryside around about makes it the perfect starting point for a long walk too.

2. If your date loves literature

You are spoilt for choice. Retrace the steps of the Bronte sisters in Haworth, West Yorkshire. As well as visiting their Parsonage home, dress in your outdoor gear and have fun screaming ‘Heathcliff’ and ‘Cathy’ over the bleak, remote moors which inspired so many novels. For those in the East, a visit to the pretty harbour town of Whitby will delight and intrigue. It’s here, on one of his many coastal walks, where Bram Stoker gathered ideas for his novel ‘Dracula’. For those into period pieces, make a trip to Castle Howard for a taste of life in ‘Brideshead Revisited’, or animal enthusiasts will delight in a visit to the North York Moors and the World of James Herriot, where this famous vet lived and worked.

3. If your date love heights (and depths)

Yorkshire is renowned for its rocks and caves. You could choose to spend the day climbing at Gordale Scar and Malham Cove for some free climbing, or for a more guided route there’s Castleberg Crag near Settle which boasts 24 fully-bolted routes. On the other hand, you could go below ground. White Scar Cave was discovered in 1923 and is one of the largest caverns in the UK – over 100 metres long and up to 30 metres high.

4. If your date loves flowers

For a more sedate date, what could be better than a day in a garden? So romantic, high summer gives you roses, dahlias and many more beautiful blooms. We love RHS Harlow Carr (which also has a Betty’s tea room on site) – over 60 acres of grounds with plants from the UK and around the world.

5. If your date loves life on two wheels

There’s a reason why Yorkshire now has the Tour de Yorkshire. Its beautiful, varied landscape, miles of quiet roads and plentiful landmarks make it an interesting and pleasurable place to cycle. Head there with your date to watch the professional cyclists do their thing, or pack up your own kit and spend a day together on two wheels.

6. If your date loves life on the water

Yorkshire is home to miles of canals, ranging from the urban, industrial waterways of Leeds to the romantic and peaceful waters of the Rochdale Canal which runs between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden. Charter a boat of your own and enjoy a leisurely cruise along the waterways, or just head to the towpath for a walk together, soaking in the beautiful views, watching boats navigate the locks and looking for wildlife.

7. If your date loves coastal life

What could be more charming than a visit to Filey? You and your date can stroll along five miles of unspoilt beach before exploring the quaint fishing village. It’s off the beaten track too, meaning that even in high summer you can enjoy its traditional vibe in peace.

8. If your date loves birds

Give your date an experience they’ll never forget with a visit to Bempton Cliffs, on the East coast near Filey. Famous for its birdlife, it’s here you can see puffins, gannets, nightjars, guillemots and kittiwakes.

9. If your date loves history

Well, take your pick! Yorkshire is home to so many stately homes and historic landscapes, but we love Fountains Abbey where you can enjoy both at their very best. The Fountains Abbey estate has acre after acre of gorgeous green scenery, formal gardens, whimsical waterworks and walking trails. You can step back in time to discover the life of Benedictine Monks back in the 12th century as well as find out about its more recent history in Studley Royal water gardens.

10. If your date loves modern art

Fresh air and sculpture meet at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the UK’s open air gallery. A romantic stroll together through 500 acres leads you to happen upon intriguing and thought-provoking works from artists including Barbara Hepworth and Damien Hirst, then you can cosy up after and explore contemporary pieces in the YS Centre.