Action and Family Fun in Ryedale
19 August 2010
For those interested in a more action packed holiday, Ryedale offers excellent walking, cycling and horse-riding country. Dalby Forest is the main recreational area of Ryedale, with a forest drive and many way marked trails. Set within the North York Moors National Park, walkers and cyclists can choose from a variety of way marked trails, including an easy access path and those more suitable for the experienced walker and cyclist. One of the more popular walks is through Bridestones moor, a National Nature Reserve managed by the National Trust, where visitors can marvel at the huge sandstone outcrops formed during the Jurassic period and sculpted over the passage of time.
Two National Trails pass through Ryedale. The Cleveland Way starts in Helmsley and takes walkers through the North York Moors National Park and along the North Yorkshire Coast for 110 miles before finishing at Filey. The Wolds Way is a 79-mile trail starting at Ferriby near Hull. It winds its way over the rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds and finishes at Filey.
There are several cycle hire facilities in Ryedale, providing the opportunity to cycle on the moors, through the forest or along quiet country lanes. A list of these can be found in the Activities section of the site, under General. Horse-riding stables offer riding for the novice and more experienced rider, usually through spectacular countryside. Alternatively, if you want to bring your own horse, several of Ryedale’s accommodation establishments will provide stabling.
One of the country’s largest theme parks can be found in Ryedale, at Kirby Misperton. Flamingo Land Theme Park and Zoo offers a fantastic family day out and, with over 100 rides, shows and attractions, there is something for children of all ages. White-knuckle thrillers include Magnum Force, the triple looping roller coaster, Terroriser, Bullet and Cliffhanger. To wind down, a stroll around Flamingo Land’s zoo offers the chance to see a variety of animals, including many rare and endangered species.
For those who desire calmer pastimes, Ryedale has many popular fishing spots, including the Pickering Trout Lake where you can catch your own tea. Children can also feed the trout at the nearby Moorland Trout Farm.
Golf is a popular activity in Ryedale, with the best known courses being at Ganton, Malton and Norton and Kirkbymoorside. For those who appreciate a challenge, the hillside course at Rosedale Abbey is a must.
Picnic sites in Ryedale’s beautiful countryside are plentiful, and often children’s playgrounds are nearby. For a list of where these are, see the Activities section of the site.
