Yorkshire’s Best Outdoor Activities This Summer

With summer now in full swing and large numbers of people moving to the countryside in pursuit of a quieter life with more access to green spaces, now is the perfect time for Yorkshire residents to get out and about and enjoy the natural surroundings we have on our doorsteps too.

With all our developments located within easy reach of a huge variety of outdoor attractions and areas of outstanding natural beauty, we’ve been wondering: what exactly are the best outdoor activities Yorkshire has to offer this summer?

Read on to find out!

Best Beach

While the likes of Whitby and Scarborough are frequently cited as the jewels in Yorkshire’s beachy crown, those looking for somewhere away from the crowds and a little less populated should head for the middle ground. Literally!

Located between the two, just a few miles south of Whitby, the scenic fishing village of Robin Hood’s Bay is home to a gorgeous beach, with water that’s great for playing, paddling or swimming in (its quality was rated ‘good’ at its most recent inspection), sand that’s perfect for relaxing on, plenty of rock pools teeming with sea life and fossils galore. And it’s dog-friendly all year round!

Throw in some excellent play parks for kids and a great range of pubs, cafes and fish and chip shops and you’ve got the ideal location for beach loving individuals or groups of any size or age.

Best Theme Park

Thrill-seekers rejoice – one of the UK’s best and most popular theme parks is located fewer than 30 miles away from our two newest developments in Bagby and Brafferton!

A family favourite for decades, Flamingo Land is full of jaw-dropping rollercoasters for adults and older children, farmyard tractor rides and scenic riverboat safaris for younger kids and its famous zoo, where visitors of all ages will be spellbound by a roster of animals that includes lions, tigers, rhinos and, of course, flamingos.

Set in some of Yorkshire’s famous countryside near the town of Malton – aka the food capital of the north – and within easy reach of several fantastic beaches, Flamingo Land is great as a day trip or as part of a long weekend spent enjoying everything the county’s east coast has to offer.

Best Museum

We know, we know – museums aren’t exactly an outdoor activity. But bear with us because our pick for Yorkshire’s best museum does actually feature a decent amount of things to do outdoors…

If you’re looking for a spot of culture this summer, you’re spoilt for choice with the sheer number of museums in the region. For our money, though, the pick of the bunch has to be The National Railway Museum in York.

Built in the 1870s and with more than 6,000 objects on display, The National Railway Museum’s biggest draws include Mallard, the world’s fastest steam locomotive, and Shinkansen, a 1960s Japanese bullet train that reaches speeds of up to 130 miles per hour, as well as an immersive virtual reality experience, shops, exhibitions, play areas and a whole host of demonstrations.

Whether you’re a locomotive lover or just fancy a day out somewhere truly unique, this is the museum for you. All aboard!

Best Park

Another commodity we’re blessed to have a surplus of in our neck of the woods, Yorkshire is home to a huge number of parks, many of which are absolutely fantastic.

One of the less famous but still fabulous parks is Harrogate’s Valley Gardens, English Heritage Grade II Listed gardens and woodland spread over 17 acres that are home to a record number of mineral springs.

Open all year round and with a number of different areas and garden styles to explore, outdoor games such as tennis and crazy golf, boating and paddling pools, a children’s play area AND concerts that take place every Sunday afternoon throughout summer, Valley Gardens is the place to go whether you want to sit back and relax or burn off some energy in a beautiful setting.