There are some fantastic places to take children on our doorstep and a short journey away, some of them also welcome dogs. Below are some suggestions, if you have any other suggestions for a family day out that you have enjoyed with your dog, or want to feature your attraction, please contact us here
Dalby Forest, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park offers the perfect place to escape, relax and adventure
Home to 8,000 acres of breath-taking views, endless walking, running and cycle trails and Gruffalo adventures, a great day out awaits at Dalby Forest.
A visit to Dalby will uncover many magical things such as The Gruffalo orienteering course, Gruffalo 25th Birthday trail, some of the very best mountain biking trails and endless stunning views. Keep your eyes peeled along the way for our unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest, get the adrenaline pumping at Dalby Activity Centre or test your nerve and swing amongst the trees on their Go Ape courses.
Dalby Forest is home to an abundance of internationally important wildlife species and is also a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site, where you can experience the magic of seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye.
If one day leaves you wanting more, extend your forest adventure with a stay at the Forest Holidays cabins .
Please note that barbeques and fires are not currently allowed anywhere in the forest.
Dalby Forest, YO18 7LT
Dalby Forest, in the heart of the North York Moors National Park offers the perfect place to escape, relax and adventure
Home to 8,000 acres of breath-taking views, endless walking, running and cycle trails and Gruffalo adventures, a great day out awaits at Dalby Forest.
Gruffalo Party Trail – Join in the celebrations! The Gruffalo is celebrating his 25th birthday this year. Can you us help find his missing party items? Pick up your pack for just £4 from our Visitor Centre information point, packed with fun things to do on your party adventure.
A visit to Dalby will uncover many magical things such as The Gruffalo orienteering course, Gruffalo Party Trail, some of the very best mountain biking trails and endless stunning views. Keep your eyes peeled along the way for our unique sculptures which are dotted throughout the forest, get the adrenaline pumping at Dalby Activity Centre or test your nerve and swing amongst the trees on their Go Ape courses.
Dalby Forest is home to an abundance of internationally important wildlife species and is also a designated Dark Sky Discovery Site, where you can experience the magic of seeing the Milky Way with the naked eye.
If one day leaves you wanting more, extend your forest adventure with a stay at the Forest Holidays cabins .
Please note that barbeques and fires are not currently allowed anywhere in the forest.
Dalby Forest, YO18 7LT
Located Off Church Cliff Drive, Filey. Field 1 and Field 2 are both secure, enclosed fields offering dog owners the space to let their dogs exercise off the lead and allowing users the sole use of the field for their booked slot.
The fields are well positioned to offer dog owners a great faciity to let their dogs run free!
They are ideal for exercising and training dogs as well as providing a safe place for dogs (or their owners!) recovering from injury or treatment or simply for dogs who like their own space. It is a useful area for people who have a new dog, a rescue dog or rehomed dog, providing a secure area for you to be able to bond.
We allow up to 12 dogs at a time and prices start from £5 for half an hours use of the field.
The fields are open daily 7am to 9pm
Filey Dog Fields, Off Church Cliff Dr, Filey. YO14 9ET
Onsite facilities with two play areas, a trim trail to challenge you, a sculpture trail, circular waymarked walks and bike trails, and a permanent orienteering course. A dipping platform provides access into the wetland area and there’s a regular events programme. The trail is 2.5 miles in length. Free to walk.
Grab a Zog trail activity pack for only £4 before starting the trail for lots of fun things to do on your forest adventure. Children can channel their inner Zog by donning a pair of wings and completing fun challenges to collect golden stars. They can also pop on the magic glasses to look for hidden letters along the way to solve a word puzzle. When reaching the end of the trail, they complete a crayon rubbing to get their certificate and take a selfie with Zog!
To complement the trail and to take your dragon training to the next level, there is also a brand new augmented reality app, ‘Zog: A Forest Adventure’, that is free to download.
Pay & display car park
Pinchinthorpe, Guisthorpe, TS14 8HD
Sewerby Hall and Gardens offers a great mix of heritage, interactive trails, play features and best of all, the zoo. Be entertained in the zoo with the friendly penguins, pygmy goats and Eccy the parrot, who is always keen to chat. Relax in the Walled and Rose Gardens and be amazed by the giant monkey puzzle trees in the Pleasure Gardens. Check out the new events with Rusticus during school holidays on our website. Don’t miss a freshly baked scone and cup of tea from the Clock Tower Café – it certainly is a great day out for the whole family. Book your tickets today and find out more on our website.
Dogs welcome in most of the outdoor areas, but must be kept on a lead. There is a designated section in the cafe for dogs.
Find out more on the website here. Follow Sewerby on facebook here for more updates. Church Lane, Sewerby, Bridlington, YO15 1EA. 01262 673769
Sledmere, Driffield, Yorkshire YO25 3XG. 01377 236637
Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday 10am – 5.00pm (also open Bank Holiday Mondays)
Come and spend a day at Sledmere House and Gardens this May half term!
Explore the Grounds and Walled Garden, before heading off to the Adventure Play Area! We have a Rare Breed Farm Park with lots of animals to see – including a new foal and piglets too!
The House is open for Free-Flow self-led tours on Sunday 4th June (11.30am–3pm) – spend as long or as little time as you like looking inside the house which is steeped in history, with guides and stewards on hand to answer any questions!
Picnics are welcome, and we also have a state of the art Coach House Café, Farm Shop plus The Pantry for that all-important ice cream!
Dogs are always welcome, we just ask they are kept on leads.
The Yorkshire Arboretum offers 120 acres of peace and tranquillity in the heart of North Yorkshire. Experience exceptional natural beauty, a botanically diverse tree collection, sweeping vistas and wildflower meadows. The Arboretum Café serves delicious home-cooked food using locally-sourced ingredients – open all day. Dogs welcome, with an 11-acre off-lead area. Kids can take one of our tree trails, with additional activities on offer during school holidays.
Just 30 minutes from York, it’s yours to explore! Well behaved dogs on a lead welcome.
The Yorkshire Arboretum, Castle Howard, YO60 7BY
Hall, gardens and gift shop open every day 11am until 5pm. With a fabulous adventure playground, enchanted woodland village, giant board games, willow dens and a trail to follow, children will find so much to amuse and inspire here!
Dogs on leads are welcome in most outdoor areas.
Burton Agnes, Driffield, YO25 4NB
01262 490324
There’s acres of fun to get lost in and lots of wildlife to discover. If the kids want to let off some steam, they can escape to Skelf Island, our legendary Adventure Playground named after the historic site Castle Howard sits on, Henderskelfe. Throughout the school holidays, they might encounter the faerie-like creatures that live in the canopies and crooks of Skelf Island. Known as Skelves, they’re a friendly and curious bunch that loves to play!
Dogs on a lead are welcome.
Open every day
Castle Howard, The Estate Office, Castle Howard, York, YO60 7DA
01653 648333
Thrilling Theme Park with big rollercoasters for older kids as well as a great choice of junior and family rides, including the dinosaur themed Dino-Stone Park, and the Peter Rabbit play ground. They are also an award winning zoo, with 140 species of reptiles, mammals and birds. Host regular events during school holidays.
Well behaved dogs on a lead are welcome in most areas theme park, but not in the zoo, Children’s Planet or Splish Splosh. Assistance dogs have unrestricted access.
Kirby Misperton Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 6UX
0800 40 888 40
Unlock 900 years of life at Helmsley Castle, a must-see for any visitor to the picturesque market town of Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park. Discover how the castle evolved over the centuries, from a mighty medieval fortress to a luxurious Tudor mansion, to a Civil War stronghold and a romantic Victorian ruin. Why not also visit Rievaulx Abbey and Byland Abbey nearby – the perfect stop on any family day out, or if you’re out walking or cycling.
Handy long stay car park behind! Dogs on a lead welcome.
Train from Pickering to Goathland, Grosmont and through to Whitby over 24 miles of beautiful Yorkshire Scenery.
Adult All Day, All Line Rover Ticket: £49.50, offering 12 months of return travel for free. Plus, Kids Go FREE in 2024!* Enjoy the freedom of our entire 24-mile line for a whole day, hopping off wherever you choose. *Children aged 0-15 years old.
Our Shorter Journey Tickets offer day return travel between up to two neighbouring stations at fixed fare prices starting from £13.50 plus Kids Go Free!
Shorter Journey Tickets are not available in advance or online. Purchase them from a Station Booking Office on the day of your visit.
To help you with your visit, we recommend you book your tickets in advance and save time at the Booking Office, however tickets are available to purchase on the day from a Booking Office.
Pickering Station, YO18 7AJ. 01751 472508
Offers a range of watersport activities including aqua park (including one for Toddlers (Splash Kingdom), stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, open water swimming, sailing, canoeing. Plus walks, cycle track, cafe and a relaxing environment. Free parking, free entry, you only pay to play.
Well behaved dogs on a lead welcome.
Wykeham Lakes, Long Causeway Road, Scarborough YO13 9QU
01723 865052
Peasholm Park Scarborough, North Yorkshire is open for everyone to enjoy all year round, 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Entrance to the Park, which is never closed, is free. Within the park is a boating lake with an island to explore in the middle. There are also lots of pathways leading around the park and surrounding woodlands. Also a café & toilets.
There are dinosaurs & fairies on the loose in Peasholm Park! Grab your mobile phone and take your children along to play our Augmented Reality Dinosaur Safari and Winter Fairy Fun. The Love Exploring app is free to download
Dogs welcome.
Victoria Park Ave, Scarborough YO12 7QZ
01723 500954
Why not take the beautiful walk from Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx? It takes approximately an hour then you can enjoy well deserved refreshments in the café. Escape to this tranquil valley of the North York Moors and discover the impressive ruins of one of England’s most powerful Cistercian monasteries.
Dogs on a lead welcome.
Rievaulx, Nr Helmsley, YO62 5LB
Phone: 01439 798228
Scarborough Castle is beautifully situated on the cliffs giving panoramic views of Scarborough and the Yorkshire Coast. Experience 3,000 years of history, play on the grassy headland, and grab a take away coffee from the coffee shed.
Dogs on a lead welcome.
Castle Road, Scarborough, YO11 1HY
01723 372451
Historic seaside miniature railway, offering a wide range of attractions including the Sky Trail, Water Walking Balls, Boating Lake, Bumper Boats and Historic Water Chute. Operating trains since 1931, taking passengers just under a mile from Peasholm Park to Scalby Mills stations, offering beautiful views of Scarborough’s North Bay. 100% wheelchair and pushchair friendly. Dogs are welcome but must be kept on a short lead. Trains start running from 10.40am every day from April to end of October.
Burniston Rd, Scarborough, YO12 6PF
01723 368791
This region has plenty of outdoor spaces that you can visit, most of which are free. Check out this extensive list here Walks and The Great Outdoors to find walks, trails and outdoor areas that are great for families to explore.
Most of these places will be suitable for well behaved dogs.
You can uncover centuries of history at Whitby Abbey with the new interactive guide, and visit the revamped museum to find out more about how the abbey inspired Caedmon, the first named English poet, and Bram Stoker, the author of ‘Dracula’. The entrance to the abbey is fully accessible, and you’ll find improved facilities in the visitor centre, including a bigger shop. There is no need to book in advance, but it is recommended.
Dogs on a lead welcome.
Abbey Lane, Whitby, North Yorkshire, YO22 4JT
01947 603568
Open space with woodland walks, children’s play area and plenty of space for the kids to run about and burn off some energy. Also good footpath connections from town to Scalby Road. Dogs welcome.
Woodlands Ravine and Manor Road, YO12 5JP
Yorkshire is host to some of the best beaches in the country, take your pick from our list of Yorkshire beaches, whether your thing is fossil & pebble hunting, sandcastle building, swimming, paddling, rockpooling – you will find something for everyone from this list.
Some beaches have dog restrictions during the Summer months, but many are dog friendly.
