A Yorkshire Dales New Years Bucket List
Want to create your New Year’s Bucket List?
Well, I have a few Yorkshire Dales ideas to help you out here! Over the years, we have explored a LOT of the Yorkshire Dales and have had the absolute joy of experiencing what the local attractions have to offer and after all of that, I’m going to let you know what some of our absolute MUST DO activities are for the new year! So you can have the epic Yorkshire Dales year ever!
So, raise your glass and toast in the the new year (or fall asleep in front of the Jools Holland’s Hootenanny - you do you!)
Let’s go make a bucket list!
Taking a dip at the White Wells Spa in Ilkley where there is a tradition for a New Years Day Dip!
Take a dunk in White Wells Spa, Ilkley
Traditionally, a dunk at the Well in White Wells on Ilkley Moor is the best way to start the day on the 1st of January, so why not kick off the New Year in style?! Dipping starts at 10am and ends at 5pm! From experience the later you go during the day, the murkier the water gets, so head there early, normally the water runs crystal clear, NOT like in the picture above!
If it’s too much of a stretch to do it on New Years Day, then go whenever you fancy.
Head up to the White Wells building when the flag is flying. The spa building is next to the cafe, and the custodians of the building ask you to support the cafe in order to take a dip! Simple as! A brew with a view and a refreshing dip to boot!
You can even buy a certificate to prove your bravery.
Abseiling off the bridge at How Stean Gorge
Complete the Via Ferrata at How Stean Gorge
How Stean Gorge in Upper Nidderdale is the home to Yorkshire’s only Via Ferrata, a climbing challenge that will take you along the edges of the gorge, crossing narrow bridges, climbing ladders, high wires, and abseiling off the bridge!
Sound up your street? Then head to the How Stean Gorge website to book!
Minimum requirements are age 7, 140cm height, all equipment is provided. The experience is a half day experience, but took as 2 hours on a one to one basis and we recommend wearing footwear with a good grip!
Swimming in Janet’s Foss, Malham
Take a dip in Janet’s Foss, Malham
This is such a magical place (if you can get it all to yourself!) and legend has it, that this is the home of the Queen of the fairies!
Janet’s Foss is pretty unique in the Dales, with the water being a lovely turquoise colour (rather than the standard Yorkshire Tea peaty water you get elsewhere!) In the Summer, the canopy of green reflects on the water, and gives the whole place a truly ethereal vibe!
The perfect place for a dip…. as long as you either go early to beat the crowds, OR late after most of them have gone home! Yes. Janet’s Foss is no hidden gem, but it is well worth a trip outside of peak times!
Check out the walk details by heading to our Janet’s Foss page.
AND most importantly, familiarise yourself with the safety information about wild swimming on the Outdoor Swimming society website.
Inside Gaping Gill on Winch day 2022
Do the Gaping Gill Winch
Ever felt the need to be winched down the highest unbroken drop waterfall into a massive cave, large enough to house a cathedral?
OF COURSE YOU HAVE!
Located on the side of Ingleborough, the Gaping Gill Winch takes place across two separate weeks, hosted by two separate caving and potholing clubs. One week is around the second May bank holiday, one in August.
Both offer you the ability to descend the 105m drop into one of the largest chambers in the UK.
The winch is serious bucket list stuff, and whilst underground you will be able to marvel at the waterfalls, explore some of the cave system and learn about this incredible place!
The winch operates on a ticketed basis, the lower age limit is 6 / 7 dependant on which club you use and is costs £30/ person. Check out the Bradford Pothole Club to learn about the 2027 May dates and the Craven Potholing Club to check out the August dates.
We have also written a full blog about FAQs and info about doing Gaping Gill with the kids!
The Dent Vampire Stone
Hunt down the Dent Vampire (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Style)
Ok, perhaps my 90’s reference may be lost on some…. (COME ONNNNN! Buffy was ace!) but did you know that Dent is the home of the Dent Vampire, George Hodgson?
It is true and this should be on the bucket list for anybody who has a fascination with folklore or delights at a bit of Dracula! You can read the full story in the Dent Heritage Museum or you can check out our Folklore of the Yorkshire Dales blog, but long story short?
Old George was dealt a healthy hand of longevity, which was looked upon with a heavy dose of suspicion by the residents of 18th Century Dent. After all, if you live a long life, you MUST be a vampire right?
Anyway, after his demise, George was spotted roaming Dent, despite being 6 feet under in the churchyard and after a series of mysterious deaths, George was posthumously blamed. He was exhumed, treated as a vampire and buried with a stake through his heart….
You can go see that stake today…. or in 2024, because it’s on your bucket list now right?
The summit of Pen y Ghent
Climb the Yorkshire Dales Three Peaks
When the kids were younger, we tackled each one individually, beginning with Whernside (the highest), Pen y Ghent (the smallest) and Ingleborough (the one in the middle!) It was a great achievement for the kids and you can read all about our family friendly routes up each of them on the dedicated three peak page!
In 2025 and again in 2026, the kids have taken on the Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge, which is a mega achievement (24 miles and over 1800m of ascent in less than 12 hours). If you fancy taking on the challenge yourself, head to our Three Peaks Challenge blog.
Bag all the 39 Nuttalls in the Yorkshire Dales
Continuing on the peak bagging theme, we bagged all 39 of the Yorkshire Dales Nuttalls in one year. If you fancy setting yourself the challenge, you can read all about our experience, including the routes we took and what we learned along the way in our Nuttall Bagging Challenge pages.
The Stump Cross Caverns Ice Age Dig
Literally take part in the making of actual history.
Stump Cross Caverns are currently excavating their new show cave and offer the opportunity to join in their ice age dig by sifting through the rubble that’s being brought out. This is an incredibly unique opportunity to take part in something great.
They’ve found bones from ice age animals, mining relics from hundreds of years ago and you can take home what you find (as long as it’s not got any historical significance!)
The dig resumes in Spring 2027.
Check out the Stump Cross Caverns website for more info.
Walking with Nidderdale Llamas
Go walking with Llamas and Alpacas!
The Semerwater Alpacas ambles is an incredible way to experience these fantastic beasts!
You’ll get to take them down to the waterside and feed them too. Definitely an experience worth putting on your bucket list!
Eating Chilli at the Black Bull in Sedbergh
Check out the Black Bull at Sedbergh
We discovered this super gem earlier this year and we have told anybody with ears about it ever since!
Why?
Because places like this are few and far between. Calling itself a ‘Contemporary Inn and Restaurant’ this is one for the foodies out there. Foodies with kids.
Because this is the first place I have come across in the Dales (or further afield for that matter), that offers a fancy style tasting menu alongside a fab kids menu. The kids menu is also excellent and has some really tasty options that take a huge leap away from your chicken nugget and chips, or fish goujons….. (not that there’s anything wrong with the old school favs, just that it’s refreshing to find somewhere with other choices).
Even better? It’s also dog friendly.
So get it on your list! And if you fancy a cheeky overnight stay, it has rooms too (including one that sleeps up to 4!) You can check out the Black Bull website here for up to date info and also find out what else Sedbergh has to offer by checking out our visit Sedbergh with Kids guide or if you’re looking for a walk featuring this pub, then head to our Walks with Pubs and Cafes!
Walking across the stepping stones to the Labyrinth at Forbidden Corner
Be Mind-Boggled at Forbidden Corner
This place has to be seen to be believed and is firmly one of the Kids’ favourite places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
It’s honestly amazing. You can find out all you need to know about the Forbidden Corner by heading to our blog about it, but trust me. This has to be on your bucket list.
It’s just all kinds of bizarre. In the best way!
Bag all three Yorkshire Dales Show Caves
The Yorkshire Dales is the home of thousands of caves! It being limestone country and all, it is riddled with holes!
And there are three of them that are so spectacular they are open to the public!
The three Yorkshire Dales Show Caves are Stump Cross Caverns near Pateley Bridge, Ingleborough Cave in Clapham and the longest show cave in the country, White Scar Cave!
So put them on your 2024 list and tick them all off! You can read more about the Yorkshire Dales show caves by heading to the blog!
After some epic walks for your 2027 Bucket List?
Check out our Yorkshire Dales family walks!
