12 Yorkshire Family Walks with Fantastic Cafes

I love a nice family walk almost as much as I love a good piece of cake.  For me, a great family day out combines the two!  If this also sounds like your idea of the perfect way to spend the day, below you will find 10 Yorkshire family walks with an accompanying child friendly café.

1.  Saltaire Canal Walk & Salts Diner

• Start from outside the Tourist Information Centre, 2 Victoria Road, Saltaire, West Yorkshire
• 45 minutes for the short walk, 1 hour and 15 minute for the longer walk you can download a map of the Saltaire walks
• Parking: Pay and display in the village of Saltaire – there are many parking options to choose from
• Salts Diner is located in the stunning Salt’s Mill where you can grab a coffee or have a 3-course meal surrounded by works by David Hockney. The hamburgers are fantastic and I have always found it to be very family friendly.

The walk at Saltaire is a buggy-friendly, mostly flat canal footpath for the short walk, and a woodland path for the extended walk.  If you’re looking for an even bigger walk, you can continue to 5 Rise Locks in Bingley, with another great café and views of the locks.  Don’t forget to bring food for the ducks and geese (no bread, please but they love peas!).

You can end the walk with a play in Robert’s Park.  The park is very clean, well-maintained and has been restored to a Victorian design with planting, promenades, and large grass areas.  Roberts Park also has an adventure playground and skate park if the kids still have the energy to run off.

2. Hirst Wood to Bingley Five Rise Locks & 5 Rise Locks Cafe

• Free parking at Hirst Wood Carpark BD18 4BU
• 2.5 mile walk from Hirst Wood to 5 Rise Locks Cafe along the canal path
• Five Rise Locks Cafe serves hot food, drinks and nice treats. You can sit inside or outside along the canal

It’s a nice easy stroll alongside the canal path from Hirst Wood car park to the stunning Bingley Five Rise Locks, which, according to Canal & River Trust, “are the steepest staircase locks on the longest canal in the country.”

They really are impressive, and you can even walk over the locks on small bridges for a bird’s eye view. At the top of the locks enjoy a bite to eat or ice cream along the canal at Five Rise Rocks Cafe.

3.  Toft Gate Barn Cafe & Coldstone Cut

• Bewerley, Harrogate HG3 5JE
• Open Daily 9-4
• The Toft Gate Barn Cafe is a gorgeous converted barn with a small produce and meat section as well as a cafe
• Parking free

The Toft Gate Barn Cafe is beautiful and there are fantastic views from the outdoor seating and upstairs loft area.

The cafe is a very short drive from a small free parking area. From there you can walk to Cold Stone Cut, which is an art installation created by Andrew Sabin. After walking through the maze of passages, you can admire the quarry below!

If you fancy a longer walk, you can do the entire Greenhow Lead Mining Trail which is 3.5 miles.

4.  Bolton Abbey Walk & Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour

• Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6EX
• Over 80 miles of footpaths, some pram friendly.  To plan your walk download maps.
• Parking: £7 per car or £8 per car during holidays and summer season
• Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour – Ice cream, fabulous milkshakes and yummy American diner-style food, Billy Bob’s is worth the drive just a few minutes away from Bolton Abbey.  It is very popular, though, so make sure you pre-book your table.

Highlights of a trip to Bolton Abby include walking in the ruins of a 12th-century monastery, activity trails, the River Wharf and lots of great picnic space.  From April to October, the Welly Walk is great fun too!

5.  Hardcastle Crags Walk & Weaving Shed Cafe

• Hollin Hall, Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire HX7 7AP
• There are three walks to choose from at Hardcastle Crags or you can walk the car park to Gibson Mill and back on a hilly but pram friendly path.
• Parking: Pay and display parking lots £5 all day parking
• Weaving Shed Café – The cafe can be found in an old cotton mill and serves fantastic soup and even nicer cakes, I have to admit we went back for more when we ‘forgot’ to leave any for the kids!  There is both indoor and outdoor seating.

Hardcastle Crags is a beautiful walk with a lovely stop or midway point at the picturesque Gibson Mill with a café, gift shop and visitors centre.  As it is part of the National Trust, there are free nature sheets and activities for kids as well.

Walking next to the water was great fun, fine with the kids in back packs but not pram friendly (there is a pram friendly alternative see above).  There are also activities on during school holidays, we got to try our hand at wild art

6.  Rivelin Valley Nature Trail & Rivelin Valley Cafe

• Rails Rd, Sheffield, South Yorkshire
• 6 miles of mostly flat walking, some tarmac, circling back.  You can make the route shorter or longer ifyou like Find a map here.
• Parking: Limited parking on the roadside, small car park
• Rivelin Valley Café – This lovely café offers inside and outside seating, and in the summer, there are even paddling pools to cool off in!

The Rivelin Valley Nature Trail has views of the river, mills, and wildlife and there is a playground for kids as well. It’s a great walk in the warmer months as there are plenty of great paddling spots and stepping stones too!

7. Druid’s Temple Walk & Cafe Bistro at Swinton Bivouac

• High Knowle Farm, Knowle Ln, Ripon HG4 4JZ
• The walk from the car park at Switon Estate to the Druid’s Temple Folly is a beautiful one mile circular walk which can be extended.
• Parking: Parking near Cafe Bistro at Swinton Bivouac
• Cafe Bistro – This café at Swinton Bivouac has snacks, coffee, cake, and meals made from local produce. The split-level cafe has a family den with toys for kids. 

The Druid’s Temple walk starts at Swinton Bivouac near Masham in North Yorkshire. It is a short, easy walk with stunning views, a 200 year old stone temple to explore and a lovely cafe for a treat at the end.

There is even a few birds of prey to visit, a swing and some play equipment if the kids still have some energy to burn off!

8. St Ives Easte & The Ivy Kitchen

• St Ives Park is located at St Ives Estate just a mile away from Bingley town centre.  (If you’re using a SatNav set the postcode for BD16 1AT
• There are three main walks that can be done on the Estate and lots of geocaches to be found along the way
• Parking: Free parking near the play area
• The Ivy Kitchen – This café serves up food, home-baked cakes and even treats for dogs!

We have had a few visits to St Ives Park in Bingley and what a fantastic day out it is!   The adventure playground is great for a range of ages, there are some interesting walks, lots of geocaching to be done, ducks to feed and a nice little cafe for coffee and a treat.  It’s easily one of our favourite family parks in Yorkshire.

9. Falling Foss Waterfall & Tea Garden

• Midge Hall, Whitby YO22 5JD
• Parking: Free for customers
• Falling Foss Waterfall & Tea Gardens have gorgeous treats and light food

Just a 10-minute drive from Whitby, Falling Foss Waterfall and Tea Garden is a beautiful place to spend the afternoon. There is a free parking lot at the top of a hill about a 10-minute walk away from the tea garden and waterfall. The forest woodland surrounding the tea garden is full of little surprises like trees with faces, a troll under the bridge, and a stream that would be perfect for paddling in warmer weather. The walk to the tea garden is a bit steep but would be suitable for a sturdy pram and little legs.

This walk suggested by Muddy Boots Mummy is not pram friendly but looks fantastic!

10. Arthur’s Cafe, Mirfield

• Lady Wood Lakes, Sands Ln, Mirfield WF14 8HJ
• Oakwell Hall is over 100 acres in size with kid friendly trails and a LoveExplore app
• Parking: Free
• Walking trails through the woodland alongside the canal start from Arthur’s front door!

Arthur’s Cafe offers bistro-style dining, sweet treats and drinks in a really nice setting overlooking a fishing lake. Kids will love the heated outdoor pod tables overlooking the lake if you’re lucky enough to get one free.

Dogs are welcome in the outdoor seating area!

11. The Tiny Tearoom, Rodley

• Calverley Brg, Calverley, Leeds LS13 1NF
• The Tiny Tearoom is located alongside the and serves hot drinks, soup, fresh cakes & ice cream
• Parking: Free roadside parking nearby
• A paved path alongside the canal is great for walks

The Tiny Tearoom is big on good vibes! It’s located just alongside the canal near Calverley Leeds with outside seating, drinks and treats. The canal makes a nice pram-friendly walk and there are geese, longboats and even kayakers to keep the kids entertained along the way.

There is a toilet for customers dubbed ‘The Tiny Pee Room’ if you ask for a key.

Opening times seem to vary and depend on the weather so keep an eye on their Facebook page for updates.

12. Newmillerdam & The Boathouse

• Barnsley Road, Newmillerdam, Wakefield, WF2 6QP
• The Boathouse Newmillerdam is located on the paved path that circles the lake.
• Parking: Stay and display parking nearby
• There are some great walks including the Gnome Roam walk

The Boathouse is a beautiful dog and kid-friendly cafe on overlooking the lake. They even have a doggy menu! We treated Olive to a doggy donut while we enjoyed a light lunch and coffee and then walked around the lake and through the woods for the Gnome Roam Walk!

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More Walking Suggestions from the Yorkshire Tots Community

When I was looking for places to walk for this post, I got some great ideas for Yorkshire family walks from the Yorkshire Tots Facebook Page.  If you’re looking for more walking inspiration, here’s some more recommended Yorkshire family walks.  Many of these I haven’t done myself but I am looking forward to trying them soon!

• “Yeadon Tarn is always nice, lake, ducks, swans, park, ice cream and right next to the runway – airplanes too”. – Sharon G.
• “There HAS to be a good cafe!! Temple Newsam, Lotherton Hall, Golden Acre Park, Roundhay Park, Yorkshire Sculpture Park (a particular favourite of mine), Harewood House.” Frances D.
• “Otley Chevin is lovely, several objects carved out of wood including a chariot and a chair, placed along the path, with a boardwalk heading out to some fab views!  Burnsall to Grassington and vice versa is a beautiful walk, with plenty of cafés to choose from. Also around Malham too, including Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss. A little closer there is Swinsty Reservoir and Eccup Reservoir! Fairburn Ings  and Cow & Calf at Ilkley too!” Elizabeth G.
• “Pugneys is great and flat for kids to take bikes. Yeadon tarn is nice too just a nice distance for little legs. The strid at Bolton Abbey……..I could go on!” Claire A.
• “Buckwood @ Thackley, Appley Bridge Canal, Saltaire – Hirstwood canal, Roberts park @ Saltaire, Northcliffe park & wood” Jerri H.
• “Nostell Priory is our favourite at the moment. Hoping to try out Brimham Rocks in the next few weeks.” Michelle B.
• “It has to be Brimham Rocks for me!!” David H.
•  “Shipley glen” Michelle H.

More Yorkshire Family Walks