/ Leave a comment

Things To Do In North Yorkshire In Autumn: My Favourite Days Out & Cosy Spots

I’ve lived in North Yorkshire since 2017, and I’ll tell you something: autumn here is something else. The moors turn a kind of bruised purple-gold…

by  Corinne

I’ve lived in North Yorkshire since 2017, and I’ll tell you something: autumn here is something else. The moors turn a kind of bruised purple-gold that I can’t quite describe properly, the villages empty out after summer, and suddenly everywhere feels a bit more like ours again. It’s my favourite season in this part of the world, and I say that as someone who spent years thinking autumn was just the sad bit between summer and Christmas.

It’s not. It really, really isn’t.

If you’re looking for things to do in North Yorkshire in autumn (whether you’re visiting for a weekend, doing day trips from York, or you live here and just want ideas), I’ve got you. These are the places I’d actually go, and a few I’d drag you to if I could.

Things To Do In North Yorkshire In Autumn

Bolton Abbey Estate

If I had to pick one place to send someone for autumn in North Yorkshire, it would probably be Bolton Abbey. The Bolton Abbey Estate in the Yorkshire Dales is one of those places that looks almost too good to be real in October. The River Wharfe winds through ancient woodland, the priory ruins sit on the riverbank, and the trees do their full golden thing overhead.

There are loads of walking routes across the estate, from short strolls along the river to longer walks up onto the moors above. The Strid is on the estate too, a narrow gorge where the Wharfe forces itself through a gap in the rocks, and which is dramatic to stand next to. (Don’t try to jump it. People have, and it doesn’t end well.)

The farm shop and café at Bolton Abbey are really good for a warming lunch or a cup of tea before or after. Entry to the estate is by parking fee, so check boltonabbey.com for current prices.

Walking boots are essential if you’re going off the main paths, especially in autumn when it’s muddy. Casual strollers can stick to the riverside paths near the car park without any issues.

Thorp Perrow Arboretum

Thorp Perrow near Bedale is one of the best places in the north of England to see autumn colour, and it doesn’t get nearly the attention it deserves. It’s a private arboretum (one of the largest in the country) with over 2,000 species of trees and shrubs across 85 acres.

In October the colour is stunning. Vibrant shades of red, amber and gold, quiet woodland walks, a lake, a café. It’s peaceful in a way that some of the bigger attractions aren’t, and because it’s not massively well-known outside the region, you can actually enjoy it without battling crowds.

There’s also a nature reserve and deer park within the grounds, which makes it feel like a real day out rather than just a garden visit. Great for nature lovers and anyone who wants a long, unhurried autumn walk in beautiful surroundings.

Check thorpperrow.com for opening times and prices. It’s seasonal so it’s worth confirming before you go.

Go Pumpkin Picking In North Yorkshire

Right, we’re starting here because pumpkin picking is one of the best things to do in North Yorkshire in autumn and I will not be hearing otherwise. There are loads of farms across the region that open their pumpkin patches from late September through October, from small pick-your-own patches to full-on Halloween extravaganzas with mazes and activities.

The Balloon Tree near York is a brilliant one that usually opens late September, and the patch is gorgeous. Piglets Adventure Farm does a whole Pumpkin Festival with tickets and a full day of activities. Stockeld Park near Wetherby goes big on the Halloween theme every year. And if you’re over in the East Riding, there are places like Tickton Farm and Sandy Bottom Farm that run pumpkin picking weekends.

I’ve got a full roundup of the best pumpkin picking in North Yorkshire if you want every option with dates, prices, and what each one’s like.

Walk The North Yorkshire Moors

The moors in autumn are what I mean when I say I can’t describe it properly. The heather’s still clinging on in early September, then it shifts through golden bracken and amber and that specific shade of tawny brown that only moorland goes. On a clear day the views from somewhere like Sutton Bank or Blakey Ridge go on forever.

I’ve put together a full guide to the best autumn walks in Yorkshire if you want specific routes with details. It covers the Hole of Horcum, Goathland, Sutton Bank and more.

Fair warning on all of them: check the weather before you go. Moors in autumn can be gorgeous. They can also be grey and horizontal and miserable. Proper walking boots are non-negotiable, and a waterproof you can actually trust. Both are valid North Yorkshire experiences, honestly.

Brimham Rocks

Brimham Rocks near Pateley Bridge is one of those places that surprises you the first time. It’s a National Trust site on the edge of Nidderdale, roughly 50 acres of moorland covered in enormous natural rock formations that have been sculpted by thousands of years of weather into these strange, balancing shapes. It looks slightly like somewhere a fantasy film would be set.

In autumn the heather and bracken around the rocks go golden and the whole landscape feels dramatic. Good for all ages (kids love clambering around the rocks and adults do too, honestly), and the walking is reasonably accessible from the car park, with longer routes available if you want more.

Pateley Bridge itself is a picturesque town worth a wander if you’re making a day of it. There are independent shops, cafés, and a Yorkshire market town feel. The drive through Nidderdale to get there is beautiful in autumn too.

Ride The North Yorkshire Moors Railway

I know, I know. A steam train sounds like something you do with your grandparents. But the North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the best things to do in this area in autumn and I will die on this hill.

The railway runs between Pickering and Whitby (via Grosmont), and in autumn the journey through the moors is stunning. You’re going through woodland and open moorland with the colours at their peak, steam billowing, the whole thing. It’s a great day out.

Pickering itself is worth a wander before or after. There’s a castle, good independent cafés, and a lovely market town feel. You can do the full Pickering to Whitby run and have a few hours in Whitby before the return, which is exactly what I’d do.

Check the timetable at nymr.co.uk because services vary seasonally. Book ahead for weekends in October. It gets busy. I’ve written about our visit to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway if you want to know what to expect.

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal

Fountains Abbey near Ripon is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and in autumn it’s one of the most beautiful places you can visit in the whole of North Yorkshire. The ruins of the Cistercian abbey (the largest monastic ruins in the country) sit within the Studley Royal Water Garden, and the combination of medieval stone, formal Georgian landscaping, and ancient woodland is spectacular in October.

It’s managed by the National Trust and it’s a full day out. You’ll easily spend four or five hours here if you take your time. The deer park is home to three herds of deer, and spotting them through the trees in autumn light is one of those things that feels almost unfairly lovely. Bring walking boots because the grounds are extensive and the paths can get muddy.

Worth booking National Trust parking in advance at weekends, especially in the October half-term period. Check nationaltrust.org.uk for entry prices and what’s on.

Visit Rievaulx Abbey or Helmsley

These two are close together in Ryedale and honestly work brilliantly as a combined day out.

Rievaulx Abbey is a ruined Cistercian monastery in one of the most beautiful valleys in North Yorkshire. It’s managed by English Heritage and the setting is extraordinary, with ancient stone arches and hills rising up on either side. In autumn it’s even better because there’s something about old ruins in autumn light that feels exactly right.

Helmsley is the market town nearby, with a medieval castle, a lovely square, and a really decent selection of independent shops and cafés. I love Helmsley. It’s the kind of place where you can wander for an afternoon, have a good lunch, and feel rested. The walled garden is worth a look too if it’s open.

Both together make a really lovely autumn day out. Park in Helmsley, drive or walk out to Rievaulx (there’s a footpath, it’s about a mile and a half each way), then back into town for something to eat. I’ve got a full guide to the best things to do in Helmsley and a separate post on the best walks near Helmsley if you want to plan your day.

Head To Whitby In Autumn

Whitby in summer is brilliant but it’s also absolutely rammed. Queues for fish and chips snaking down the street, cars backed up everywhere, abbey on the horizon while someone’s elbow is in your face. I love it but I love it more in September and October.

Autumn in Whitby is something else. The town feels a bit more like itself. The harbour is still beautiful, the shops are still open, the 199 steps up to the abbey are still there waiting to ruin you. But it’s quieter, the light is different, and you can actually stop and take it in.

Obviously it helps that Whitby leans into the Gothic Halloween thing in a way that nowhere else in the UK really does. The Whitby Goth Weekend happens twice a year (spring and around Halloween) and if you’ve never been, it’s a brilliant atmosphere. Thousands of people dressed up, all manner of Victorian and Gothic outfits, and the whole town joining in. It’s brilliant.

If you want to know what to do while you’re there, I’ve put together a full guide to the best things to do in Whitby. And for where to eat, I’ve written a full review of Cosa Nostra Whitby, which is my favourite Italian restaurant on the coast.

Back Isle Thatched Cottage in Thornton Le Dale - view from the stream

Explore Thornton-le-Dale

I’ve had a soft spot for Thornton-le-Dale for ages. It’s a small village on the edge of the Vale of Pickering, often cited as one of the prettiest in Yorkshire, and in autumn the stream and the thatched cottages and the trees going golden all at once is just lovely.

There isn’t loads to do there (it’s a village, not a theme park) but that’s kind of the point. You walk around, you look at the beck, you find somewhere to have a cake, you feel a bit calmer than you did before. Good for a peaceful hour on the way somewhere else, or as a deliberate slow afternoon if that’s what you need.

I’ve written a full things-to-do guide for Thornton-le-Dale if you want the detail.

Sledmere House and The Estate Village

Sledmere is one of those places that feels slightly unreal. It’s a Georgian stately home in the East Riding with extraordinary interiors, a walled garden, and a whole estate village that has barely changed. In autumn the drive out across the Wolds is beautiful. That open, rolling chalk landscape goes golden.

The house itself has a Thomas Chippendale library that’s one of the finest in the country and an organ that plays itself. The garden is lovely in a restrained, formal way. The estate village has a Norman church and a war memorial worth taking time over.

It’s a bit off the beaten track, which is part of why I like it. Not somewhere you stumble on. Somewhere you choose to go. I’ve written a full guide to Sledmere if you want to know what to expect. And if you need a pub recommendation while you’re in the area, the Triton Inn at Sledmere is worth knowing about, and I’ve reviewed it here.

Autumn At Castle Howard

Castle Howard is one of the most recognisable buildings in Yorkshire, the sort of place that looks like it was designed to be photographed. Which, in autumn, it absolutely was.

The grounds turn golden and the lake reflects the dome and if you catch it on a clear October morning it’s the kind of view that stops you in your tracks. There are woodlands to walk through, the walled garden, the formal parterre, and the house itself with all its Brideshead Revisited connections.

While you’re in the area, the Yorkshire Arboretum is just next door and absolutely worth adding on. It’s a woodland garden managed separately from the house, and in autumn the tree colour is brilliant. I’ve reviewed it here.

Castle Howard itself is not cheap (this is one of those days out where you feel the price) but for a special autumn weekend it’s worth it. Book tickets in advance. There are events on through October including their own pumpkin patch in the farm shop and Halloween activities. Check castlehoward.co.uk for what’s on. I’ve visited Castle Howard for two of their big seasonal events and written about both: Alice in Wonderland and Christmas in Neverland. The Christmas one is worth bookmarking for later in the year too.

Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest For Autumn Colour

If you want autumn colour in the most straightforward sense (trees, leaves, golden light filtering through), Dalby Forest on the edge of the North York Moors delivers. It’s managed by Forestry England and it’s absolutely enormous, with cycling trails, walking routes, a Go Ape, and a decent café at the visitor centre.

For families it’s brilliant, and for a solo or couple’s walk it’s just… peaceful. There’s a toll road into the forest which is a bit annoying but it’s reasonable. September and October are honestly the best months to go because the crowds are down and the colours are up. Go on a weekday morning if you can. I’ve written about our visit to Dalby Forest if you want to know what it’s like before you go.

Dark Skies In The North York Moors

This one’s for the early evenings, which come in fast in autumn. The North York Moors National Park is one of the largest dark sky discovery sites in Europe. Once you’re away from the towns, the stargazing is extraordinary.

Autumn is actually a brilliant time for it because the nights are long and the weather can still be clear. The park publishes dark sky events and guides on northyorkmoors.org.uk, including star-gazing walks and information on the best spots. Hole of Horcum, the Wainstones, and the moorland above Goathland are all good options.

I mean, you do need to be prepared for the cold, standing in a field in October looking at stars. Warm layers, a flask of something hot, and someone to stand with. But it’s worth it.

Rainy Day Options In North Yorkshire

Let’s be honest: autumn in North Yorkshire is not always crispy golden sunshine and perfect light. Sometimes it’s just wet. There are good options for bad weather days too.

Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge is a show cave with stalactites and stalagmites that doesn’t disappoint. It’s underground, which means weather is irrelevant. The caves are beautifully lit and there’s a small museum. Good for families and for anyone who finds the idea of ancient underground geology a bit thrilling (which I do, quietly).

RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate is worth knowing about for a rainy or drizzly autumn day. The walled kitchen garden and the woodland garden are beautiful even in grey weather, and the Betty’s café on site is obviously an excellent reason to go in itself.

York itself is always a good call when the weather turns. Museums, the Shambles, the Minster. It’s all undercover or interesting enough that rain doesn’t really matter. I’ve got a full list of free things to do in York if you want ideas without spending a fortune.

Find A Proper Cosy Pub

Okay, this is the most important item on the list and I’m not apologising for putting it here.

Autumn in North Yorkshire was basically designed for sitting in old stone pubs with low ceilings, a proper fire if you’re lucky, and something good to eat. I think about this quite a lot. It’s one of my favourite things about this part of the world, the density of good pubs in beautiful places.

A few I’d point you towards:

The Pheasant at Harome. One of the most beautiful pubs in North Yorkshire, thatched roof and everything, in a tiny village near Helmsley. The food is really good and the atmosphere is exactly right for an autumn afternoon.

The Star Inn at Harome. Also in Harome, also brilliant (Harome is tiny but somehow has two excellent pubs, which feels like a gift). Michelin-recommended, so not cheap, but a treat.

The Blacksmiths Arms at Lastingham. A proper village pub in the moors, stone floors, low ceilings, the works. It’s been there since the 1700s and it feels like it.

Honestly, any trip into the North Yorkshire Moors villages is going to give you good pub options. Part of the joy is just finding one.

The Best Time To Visit North Yorkshire In Autumn

To be honest, the whole of September and October is good, but I’d say mid-September to mid-October hits the sweet spot. The pumpkin patches are open, the trees are in their best colour, the moors are golden, and the school holiday rush is over.

Early November can be lovely too, especially for moody moorland walks when everything’s gone quiet and bare and atmospheric. It depends what you’re after.

Weekdays are always better than weekends for crowds, especially at the more popular spots. If you’re doing Whitby or the Moors Railway, a midweek visit in late September will feel very different to a Saturday in October half-term.

What To Wear For Autumn In North Yorkshire

Layers. Lots of them. North Yorkshire in autumn can be beautiful and sunny in the morning and cold and drizzly by the afternoon, and if you’re going onto the moors at any point, wind is always a factor.

Waterproof jacket, sturdy shoes or walking boots (not trainers for moorland walks, you’ll regret it), and something warm underneath. A decent bag for carrying the layers you’ve taken off. That’s it, really. Don’t overthink it, just be prepared for the weather to change.

I’d love to know where you’re planning to go, or if there’s a favourite North Yorkshire autumn spot I’ve missed. Drop a comment below and let me know.

Related posts:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.