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Castle Howard, Malton

Companionship careNorth Yorkshire

Days out in North Yorkshire for an older parent

Nine places in North Yorkshire that make a good day out for an older parent, from Castle Howard to Dales Countryside Museum. For each one: what its own access information confirms, what it costs, how long to allow, and the carers nearby who drive and could take them.

Researched by PrimeCarers from each place’s own website and access information  ·  Updated October 2026

Castle Howard. Photo: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0

Nine days out across eight towns

The best places to take an older parent in North Yorkshire

Three of them are free to visit or to walk around. The access information for two describes a step-free route, and one confirms an accessible toilet. Where a place does not publish its access, we say so.

Castle Howard, Malton

Photo: Gordon Hatton, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Historic house · Malton

Castle Howard

Castle Howard is an 18th century baroque palace in the Howardian Hills near Malton, home of the Howard family for over 300 years, with a painted dome, statues and a large art collection. The grounds include lakes, fountains, temples and a walled garden.

Parking is free with Blue Badge bays at the front of the car park, and a paved route in the Stable Courtyard leads to the cafés, shops, toilets and ticket office.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry, free parking

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Blue Badge parking
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon

Photo: silver_doctor. Iain Gilmour - www.silverexpressions.co.uk, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Ripon

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Fountains Abbey is the largest monastic ruin in England, a World Heritage Site run by the National Trust near Ripon, set beside the Georgian Studley Royal water garden with its lakes, temples and statues. There is also a deer park, a mill and a Jacobean hall.

The accessible car park at West Gate gives level access to the abbey and water garden, with recommended routes through them.

Time to allow
A full day
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate

Photo: Peter Jeffery, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Garden · Harrogate

RHS Garden Harlow Carr

RHS Harlow Carr is the Royal Horticultural Society's garden on the edge of Harrogate, with a streamside garden, borders, a kitchen garden and woodland. There is a Bettys café and a shop at the entrance.

The gardens and buildings are accessible and wheelchairs and scooters can be hired, though it is a sloping site and some parts are steep.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Wheelchairs to borrow
  • Café

Their websiteAccess information

Whitby Abbey, Whitby

Photo: Jeff Buck, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day out · Whitby

Whitby Abbey

Whitby Abbey is the ruin of a Gothic abbey on the headland above Whitby, looked after by English Heritage, which inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula. A visitor centre tells the story of the site from Saint Hilda to the present.

It can be reached by car to the headland car park, avoiding the famous 199 steps from the town, so a carer can plan a short visit to the ruins.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Skipton Castle, Skipton

Photo: Adrian Taylor, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Castle · Skipton

Skipton Castle

Skipton Castle is a well preserved medieval castle at the top of Skipton's High Street, with a Tudor courtyard and an ancient yew tree. It survived a three-year siege in the Civil War.

There are spiral staircases, cobbles and uneven steps inside, so this suits a parent who is steady on their feet, and the market town is right outside for a rest.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their websiteAccess information

Bolton Abbey Estate, Bolton Abbey

Photo: Konoron, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Nature reserve · Bolton Abbey

Bolton Abbey Estate

The Bolton Abbey estate in Wharfedale has the ruins of Bolton Priory beside the River Wharfe, riverside meadows, stepping stones and woodland walks up to the Strid. There are cafés and shops in the village and at Cavendish Pavilion.

The estate says it is accessible for wheelchairs where reasonably possible, and electric wheelchairs can be hired from April to October, so a carer can plan a flat riverside stretch near the priory.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free to walk, parking charged

What their access information confirms

  • Partly step-free
  • Wheelchairs to borrow

Their websiteAccess information

Ripon Cathedral, Ripon

Photo: Soloist at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Cathedral · Ripon

Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral has a 7th century crypt built by Saint Wilfrid, one of the oldest in England, beneath a medieval church with carved choir stalls. It stands in the centre of the small city of Ripon.

There is level access through the main entrance, which has an automatic door and is wheelchair accessible.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Free

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route

Their website

Scarborough South Bay, Scarborough

Photo: Thomas Tolkien from Yorkshire, UK, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Coast · Scarborough

Scarborough South Bay

Scarborough's South Bay is a large sandy beach below the town with a long promenade, the harbour and lighthouse at one end and the Spa at the other. Cafés, amusements and the cliff lifts are along the seafront.

The promenade runs along the whole bay close to the facilities, so a carer can plan a flat seafront stroll with plenty of stops.

Time to allow
Half a day
Cost
Free

Access

Their website does not set out its access in detail, so ring ahead about parking, paths and toilets.

Their website

Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes

Photo: Stephen Craven, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Museum · Hawes

Dales Countryside Museum

The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes, run by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, is in the old railway station and tells the story of farming, crafts and life in the Dales. The market town of Hawes has cafés and the Wensleydale Creamery nearby.

The museum is wheelchair friendly with wide aisles, lifts and ramps, fully accessible toilets inside and accessible parking close to the entrance.

Time to allow
An hour or two
Cost
Paid entry

What their access information confirms

  • Step-free route
  • Accessible toilet
  • Blue Badge parking

Their websiteAccess information

Regular groups and events in North Yorkshire

Something to go back to every week or every year, from our research into what older people enjoy doing in North Yorkshire.

  • Music · ScarboroughScarborough Spa Orchestra concertsSeasonal afternoon and evening concerts by the Spa Orchestra, playing light classics and popular standards in the Spa complex on the seafront. A carer could book seats on an aisle, arrive early to settle and combine the concert with a slow turn along the front.Details
  • Music · HelmsleyRyedale Festival summer concertsA summer festival of classical and folk concerts held in churches, halls and country houses across Ryedale. A carer can pick a shorter daytime concert at a venue with parking close by and check the festival's access notes for the chosen building.Details
  • Painting · StaithesStaithes Festival of Arts and HeritageAn annual September festival in the fishing village of Staithes, when cottages and studios open as temporary galleries showing hundreds of artists. A carer can plan a route around a few venues on the flatter part of the village and allow plenty of sitting time.Details
  • Reading · HarrogateTheakston Old Peculier Crime Writing FestivalA long running July crime fiction festival in Harrogate with author interviews, panels and book signings. A carer could book one or two afternoon sessions rather than a full day and arrange parking or a taxi close to the venue.Details
  • Sports · ScarboroughScarborough Cricket FestivalCounty cricket has been played at the North Marine Road ground since the nineteenth century, with the summer festival still a fixture in the Yorkshire calendar. A carer can bring a cushion and a flask, book seating rather than the bank and leave when the day gets long.Details
  • Volunteering · PickeringVolunteering with the North Yorkshire Moors RailwayThe heritage line between Pickering and Whitby is run largely by volunteers, with roles from station stewarding and shops to archives and gardening. A carer can provide the lift to a station, stay for the shift and help with the paperwork of signing up.Details

Hobbies and carers who share them in North Yorkshire

At a glance

The nine places side by side

What each place’s own access information confirms. “Ask” means it does not say, not that it is missing.

PlaceTimeCostStep-freeToiletCafé
Castle HowardMaltona full dayPaid entryPartlyAskYes
Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water GardenRipona full dayPaid entryAskAskAsk
RHS Garden Harlow CarrHarrogatehalf a dayPaid entryPartlyAskYes
Whitby AbbeyWhitbyan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Skipton CastleSkiptonan hour or twoPaid entryAskAskAsk
Bolton Abbey EstateBolton Abbeyhalf a dayFreePartlyAskAsk
Ripon CathedralRiponan hour or twoFreeYesAskAsk
Scarborough South BayScarboroughhalf a dayFreeAskAskAsk
Dales Countryside MuseumHawesan hour or twoPaid entryYesYesAsk

Where the places are in North Yorkshire

The county’s boundary, numbered as on this page, with the main towns for reference.

BedaleFileySelbyBenthamKirkbymoorsideKnaresborough123456789
  1. 1Castle Howard, Malton
  2. 2Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden, Ripon
  3. 3RHS Garden Harlow Carr, Harrogate
  4. 4Whitby Abbey, Whitby
  5. 5Skipton Castle, Skipton
  6. 6Bolton Abbey Estate, Bolton Abbey
  7. 7Ripon Cathedral, Ripon
  8. 8Scarborough South Bay, Scarborough
  9. 9Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes

For somewhere further afield, days out for older people lists the places we have checked county by county, with what each one confirms about toilets, parking and places to rest. For a few nights away, accessible holidays on the Yorkshire coast covers where to stay and how to get there.

What it costs

What a day out with a carer costs in North Yorkshire

Carers in North Yorkshire charge £18 to £25 an hour through PrimeCarers, typically £19.47, with our fee included. A four-hour outing is about £77.88 for the carer’s time. Entry, food and parking are extra, and travel costs are only payable if you agree them with the carer in advance, in writing. The cost of home care in North Yorkshire has the full figures.

Photographs on this page are from Wikimedia Commons, credited under each one.

Questions

Questions families ask about days out in North Yorkshire

Castle Howard in Malton, Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden in Ripon, RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate, Whitby Abbey in Whitby, Skipton Castle in Skipton, Bolton Abbey Estate in Bolton Abbey, Ripon Cathedral in Ripon, Scarborough South Bay in Scarborough and Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes. Each has its own section on this page with what its access information confirms, the cost and how long to allow.

The access information for Ripon Cathedral and Dales Countryside Museum describes a step-free route. Dales Countryside Museum has an accessible toilet. RHS Garden Harlow Carr and Bolton Abbey Estate lend wheelchairs. Access changes, so ring ahead about anything your parent depends on.

Bolton Abbey Estate, Ripon Cathedral and Scarborough South Bay. Parking is often charged even where entry is free.

Yes. A companion carer can drive your parent there, walk at their pace, help with the toilet and meals, and bring them home. Visits are booked by the hour, typically £19.47 an hour here with our fee included. Companionship care in North Yorkshire shows who is available.

Often. Many attractions let a carer or companion in free, or at a reduced price, with a disabled visitor, and some ask for proof such as a letter or a benefit award. It varies, so check each place’s access or prices page before you go.

Companionship care in the areas around North Yorkshire

Days out in the areas around North Yorkshire

Companionship care by town in North Yorkshire

Each town page shows the carers who list it as home, with their rates and reviews.

Find a carer who could take them out in North Yorkshire

See carers near North Yorkshire who drive, with their photos, interests, rates and reviews. Talking to them is free and nothing is booked until you say so.

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9 Days Out in North Yorkshire with an Older Parent