Fine Country Stays

A day trip to Stillingfleet Lodge Gardens is the perfect way to relax with several gardens to explore in the grounds of a historic farmhouse. The gardens were established 30 years ago and each has something different to offer. Expect to find dramatic displays of foliage and flowers as well as beautifully landscaped areas. Families will enjoy the woodland which leads to a wildlife pond and a beautiful wildflower meadow. The site runs morning courses in gardening throughout the summer which are priced at just £12 and include coffee. There is also a nursery onsite where plants can be purchased. Entry to the gardens cost just £4 for adults and 50p for children.

If you are enjoying a lodge holiday in Yorkshire then a visit to York Maze is a must! This summertime attraction is now one of the most popular in the region offering fun for the whole family. The maze has been improved this year and is now bigger and better than ever before. Carved from an amazing 1.5 million growing maize plants it is thought to be the largest maze in the world! As well as the maze itself the site boasts an adventure playground, 9 hole crazy golf courses and an animal petting area where children can meet the cute and friendly animals that eat the maize and watch pig racing! Tractor and trailer rides around the maize are also available and are recommended for those with young children.

Madhyamaka Meditation Centre  a unique and very special centre in the Yorkshire moors offering amazing meditation experiences for experts and novices. The beautiful setting really ads to the experience and the gorgeous grounds are abundant with wildlife including Squirrels, Deer and Birds including Red Kites. The centre is now offering a special weekend retreat for families which includes family friendly guided meditations as well as fun activities such as face painting, games and a barbeque.

Jorvik Viking Centre is a fun and educational attraction offering visitors the chance to learn all about the Viking-Age city of Jorvik. Thanks to the Archaeologists from York Archaeological Trust the amazing houses, workshops and backyards of the Viking-Age city of Jorvik are on display and give a clear insight to the way of life all those years ago.  The site aims to offer an interactive experience with the state of the art time capsule and the blacksmith's furnace being the top attractions.

Dig is a unique and somewhat educational attraction in York offering children the opportunity to enjoy excavation, discovery, and digging. Within the site is a discovery centre, several pits filled with Roman and Medieval ruins and a science lab where children can take part in exciting experiments. Staff are on hand at all times to help the children and to ensure they get the most from the experience. The attraction can get busy during school holidays and pre booking is recommended.

Normanby Hall Country Park has a fantastically tranquil location Set in the 300 acres of Normanby Hall estate offering a relaxing choice for a family day out. The stunning grounds are abundant with wildlife as well as beautiful flora and fauna and there is no better place for a summer picnic. There is also plenty of open space for children to run around. The Deer park is sure to be a big hit with the children with herds of fallow deer to spot.

Come rain or shine children need to be entertained and Creepy Crawlies just north of York is the perfect place! This all weather attraction caters for toddlers and children up to 12 years old with a huge array of climbing equipment, ball pools, slides, chutes and adventure areas. Adults can relax and enjoy a coffee and a snack while the kids are having fun.  The site also has a large and rather impressive outdoor area with pet zone and pedal track with Go karts. There is also a pond with fish and a sensory zone where children can touch and feel new and interesting things.

Located in the Castleford area of West Yorkshire this is a fun family day out with loads of activities under one roof.   For the energetic there is a real snow slop for skiing and rock climbing walls.  For the more laid back then there is a cinema and bowling alley.  This place caters for all ages and there are seasonal events on throughout the year too. This attraction is described on their website as the "Ultimate Entertainment Destination " so why not check out their site for the latest admission costs and opening times?

Castle Howard is one of the regions most beautiful and historic landmarks and is located in 1,000 acres of parkland with breathtaking gardens to explore. As well as exploring the castle visitors can enjoy attractios including the unique Land Train - the best way to see the entire park. There is also a large lake offering boat trips during the summer months. In high season the site is very popular with families and offers organised activities for children including tours, talks, crafting and animal encounters. The site also has a Nature Trail which is fun for the whole family and an Adventure Playground where children can run off some energy.

Yorkshire Lavender is an amazing award winning attraction offering breathtaking panoramic views of York, a Café, Plant Nursery and Lavender Gardens. The 60 acre site is set in an area of outstanding natural beauty and is an excellent choice for a day trip. The onsite shops sells Lavender products such as bath and body treats, skincare, medicine and herbal remedies.

Easily accessible from our Yorkshire Dales lodge parks is The Deep! An award-winning 'submarium', attraction, which is home to over 3500 fish from around the globe. Visitors can a stroll through Europe's deepest viewing tunnel and take a thrilling a glass lift ride through the 10m deep tank. The Deep is also home to the world's largest exhibition, featuring weird animals from the depths combined with slime! Educational talks and events take place daily so visitors can learn about the conservation projects which the centre is involved in. There is also a fantastic restaurant over looking some of the displays and a souvenir shop. Family tickets are priced at just £32.00.

Situated in Malton in North Yorkshire this has to be one of our favourite family days out.  It's a theme park and zoo all in one stretching over a massive 400 acres. With thrilling rides for the very daring like Cliff Hanger, Corkscrew and Kumali, there are also more gentle rides for the little ones such as Frog Hopper and Helitoys.  Family fun attractions include the 4D cinema, the lost river ride and the Little Monsters Den of Mischief. Check out their website for seasonal events which take place throughout the year and you can also gain more information about the zoo.  Flamingo Land is a resort as well as a theme park so you can also book accommodation there.

This is an outstanding world heritage site located close to Ripon in the North Yorkshire area. Nature lovers will be in their element with an abundance of wide open spaces to explore and there are special guided tours for families.  Some of the highlights may include seeing wild deer and bats during your visit.  The grounds are fantastic to wander round but there is also an Elizabethan Mansion, Victorian Church, Georgian Water Garden and the finest example of Cistercian Abbey ruins in the country - Well worth a visit!

Betton Farm Visitor Centre is the ideal attraction close to the North Yorkshire coastal town of Scarborough. This animal farm has all the cute farm animals you would expect to see and will appeal to younger children especially.  A great place to both play and learn we think the Betton Farm Visitor centre is great value for money.  Check out their website for the latest opening times and admission costs.  Some of the highlights of the day might include meeting Sofie the Shetland Pony and Henry the goat, as well as the pot bellied pigs called Porky and Hammy. 

Situated in the Ripon area of North Yorkshire this popular theme park makes a fantastic day out for the whole family.  The more daring will love the big and thrilling rides such as Raptor Attack, The Ultimate and Trauma Tower.  For the little ones there are some excellent attractions such as Flying Camels, Dodgems and a Magic Wheel.  Toddlers will like the Dragon Boats and the Lightwater Express amongst other things. There are over 40 rides and attractions in total and we think this is excellent value for money too.  If you book your tickets in advance online you can save even more money and beat the queues.