A Complete Guide to the Yorkshire Wolds

The Yorkshire Wolds may be less known than the North York Moors or Yorkshire Dales, but we think this beautiful ‘hidden gem’ deserves a big shout out.

Lovely villages, gorgeous rolling hills, traditional country pubs and a smattering of stately homes make the Yorkshire Wolds well worth a visit.

Here are some of our favourite things to do on a short break or holiday to this beautiful part of Yorkshire. 

Visit a stately home and garden

You can take your pick from a quartet of stately homes to visit in the Yorkshire Wolds with Burton Agnes Hall, Burton Constable Hall, Sledmere House as well as Sewerby Hall and Gardens, all making great choices for a day out.

Burton Agnes Hall and Burton Constable Hall are both Elizabethan stately homes that have gorgeous gardens to explore and a selection of woodland walks. Families with young children can borrow an ‘Explorer Pack’ and complete a treasure hunt around Burton Constable and the giant garden games at Burton Agnes Hall are always a firm family favourite.

Sledmere House is one of the finest Grade I listed Georgian country houses around, and its magnificent grounds were designed by famous landscape gardener Capability Brown.

Sewerby Hall and Gardens is set in 50 acres of parkland and the many attractions at this clifftop stately home include a mammal zoo, land train and 18-hole putting green.

Discover more stately homes in our guide to 10 historic houses to visit in Yorkshire.

Go wine tasting at a local vineyard

If you’re a bit of a wine buff (or just enjoy a good glass of vino), you can visit a couple of award-winning vineyards in the Yorkshire Wolds. The Little Wold Vineyard in South Cave and Ryedale Vineyard in Westow both offer vineyard tours, so you can see how the wine is made and explore the scenic settings before sampling the finished products and purchasing some for later.

Walk along the Yorkshire Wolds Way

Following the Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail is a great way to discover this beautiful part of the world and you’ll find an abundance of market towns and villages along the route. 

Highlights include:

• Calling in Thixendale, a traditional English village that’s located in the middle of several intersecting dales.
• Taking a seat on the Huggate Poetry Bench which looks out over three Yorkshire Wolds valleys.
• Visiting the remarkably well-preserved medieval village of Wharram Percy.
• Exploring the Millington Wood Nature Reserve then getting refreshments at The Rambler’s Rest tearooms.

Keep your eyes peeled for wildlife throughout the trail including hares and red kites.

Browse the shops in Beverley

The beautiful market town of Beverley is filled with cobbled streets, charming courtyards, historic pubs, and lovely shops to browse. It’s also home to a Georgian quarter and the 15th-century North Bar which is the only surviving brick-built town gate in the UK.

You’ll find a range of known brands such as Jo Malone, Joules and White Stuff along with independent stores and antique emporiums.

Take time to visit the impressive Beverley Minster which features more than 70 medieval minstrel carvings amongst its gothic architecture. 

Explore the Yorkshire Nature Triangle

You’ll find an abundance of Yorkshire Wolds nature reserves in an area that’s known as the Yorkshire Nature Triangle. Our favourites include:

Spurn Head - take a safari ride over the sand and spot birds that migrate here from as far away as Africa.

Flamborough Cliffs - see puffins up close and look out for visiting dolphins in the waters below Flamborough.

Bempton Cliffs - an RSPB reserve that’s home to around half a million seabirds with six safe viewpoints.

Skerne Wetlands – this Driffield nature reserve attracts kingfishers and otters.

Follow in the footsteps of David Hockney

The peaceful countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds is ideal for a relaxing short break or holiday. You’ll find lush green landscapes, riverside walks and pretty villages (with charming country pubs) to explore. There’s an abundance of scenic spots for a picnic, whilst the flatter rolling hills are perfect if a gentle stroll is right up your street.

This part of the world has provided huge inspiration for the painter David Hockney, and you can seek out many of the spots that have been featured in his artwork including ‘The Road to York through Sledmere’, ‘Woldgate Woods’ and ‘Huggate’s St Mary’s Church Spire’.

Grab a bite to eat in ‘Yorkshire’s Food Capital’

Malton has become a top choice destination for foodies in recent years and was even named ‘Yorkshire’s Food Capital’ by the late Antonio Carluccio thanks to regular food markets and the abundance of artisan producers based in this Yorkshire Wolds town.

Visitors can take the 3-hour Malton Food Tour to find out how some of the town’s food and drink items are created including Florian Poirot macarons and Rare Bird gin.

Monthly food markets take place on the second Saturday of every month and there are chef demonstrations and lots of artisan Yorkshire food and drink stalls to browse. 

What’s more, Malton was named the UK’s most dog-friendly town in 2018 thanks to lots of shops, cafes and restaurants where four-legged friends will be made very welcome.

Take a look at our range of Malton holiday cottages.

Have a family-friendly adventure at William’s Den

William’s Den is a family-friendly Yorkshire Wolds attraction near Howden that comprises an indoor play barn that’s perfect when the weather is rainy, and a large outdoor adventure playground that’s set in open countryside. Children can build their own den, clamber up a range of wooden structures, swing through tyres or play in a giant sandpit. 

Book your short break or holiday to the Yorkshire Wolds

If this has inspired you to pay a visit to the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds, take a look at our range of holiday cottages that are perfect for both short breaks and longer holidays.

You’ll find romantic cottages, family-friendly holiday homes and a range of dog-friendly Yorkshire Wolds properties so that canine companions can come along too.