February Half Term in the Yorkshire Dales

What’s going on in and around the Yorkshire Dales this February Half Term?

Want to know what’s going on in the Yorkshire Dales this half term?

It may be February, it may be freezing cold, but there is still PLENTY going on in and around the Yorkshire Dales this school holidays!

Admittedly, February Half term is possibly the LEAST inspiring of the half terms when it comes to getting outdoors, but with it being preceded by Children’s Mental Health Awareness week, the benefits of just getting outside are definitely worth it!

So, from the astronomical Dark Skies Festival to fun on the farm, we will bring you all of the adventurous and outdoors events there are to be had in and around the Yorkshire Dales this half term!

BUT not only that, you’ll find all of the places that are open to explore (not JUST the ones with events) and a list of all the attractions that are still closed for the season.

This list is BANG up to date and is accurate as of February 2024! Keep checking back and bookmark our website, as our Yorkshire Events are updated with EVERY season all year round!

Stump Cross Caverns

February Half Term at Stump Cross Caverns

What Dates? All throughout February, you can head to Stump Cross Caverns for a fun fossil dig, along with the usual subterranean fun!

How much? Prices range from £5 per person for the fossil dig, with cave entry at an additional cost.

Where? Stump Cross Caverns on Greenhow Hill, near Grassington The Yorkshire Dales National Park

What’s going on?

When is the outdoors indoors? IN A CAVE!

So if you need to shelter from the rain this half term, why not head to Stump Cross? There is the chance to dig for fossils and gems as well as the usual Cave tours.

Find the Stump Cross Caverns booking page here!

Stockeld Park Playhive in the airoplane

Stockeld Park Sublime Science Half Term

What Dates? 10 - 10 February 2024

How Much? Prices begin from £13 - Under 2’s free (Playhive, Sublime Science Show and Ice Skating are all at an additional cost, check out the website for more information) Booking required.

Where? Near Wetherby

What’s Going on?

Well….. I’ll tell you! Ice Skating, a Sublime Science Show, the Playhive, as well as the usual outdoors adventure playgrounds and fun! Stockeld’s Adventure Forest will be open for February Fun, as will the maze.

Find the Stockeld Park Booking page here!

Harlow Carr at the holiday illuminations

Harlow Carr Half Term: World on your Windowsill

What Dates? 10 - 18 February 2024

How Much? Prices begin from £15.85 for adults and £7.95 for children RHS members are free.

Where? Harrogate

What’s Going on?

Follow the seasonal trail around the gardens, enjoy the play areas and create your own herb character to put on your windowsill at home!

Check out the Harlow Carr booking page for more information.

Thorpe Perrow Arboretum

What Dates? 10 - 18 February 2024

How Much? Prices begin from £13.95 per adult and £9.20 per child

Where? Bedale, North Yorkshire

What’s Going on?

Nothing specifically has yet been announced for this half term, but historically kids have eaten for free at Thorpe Perrow Arboretum during Feb half term.

Keep your eyes peeled for any updates. But regardless of that, the arboretum is open so you can to blow off some steam this half term, take the kids to run around the 100 acres of arboretum, check out the fantastic birds of prey displays at the Bird of Prey Centre, check out the snowdrop trail and of course play on the adventure playground!

Check out the Thorpe Perrow website for booking information.

The Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies festival frame and rockets

Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival

What Dates? 9-25 February 2024.

How Much? This is dependant on the event you choose to attend, but prices start from FREE!

Where? The Yorkshire Dales National Park including Aysgarth, Hawes, Stump Cross Caverns and more.

What’s Going on?

The Yorkshire Dales is the home of the Dark Skies Festival this half term along with many other national parks across the UK. A celebration of all things astronomical, these events are taking place across the area and range from crafty fun right up to canoeing under the stars. There’s so much family friendly stuff going on, we have a whole page dedicated to it!

Walking towards the ruins of Fountains Abbey

Fountains Abbey Half Term Winter Trail

What Dates? 10 - 18 February 2024

How Much? Free for National Trust members. Prices start from Adult: £19 Child: £9.50 Family discounts are available. No booking is required.

Where? Near Ripon, North Yorkshire

What’s Going on?

Fountains Abbey is open all half term for some outdoors adventures in nature! This half term, it’s all about being a Winter Spotter!

Of course, there’s also the epic adventure playground too!

No booking required.

Sleeping piglets on Birchfield Ice Cream Farm

Fun on the farm at Birchfield Ice Cream Farm

What Dates? The farm reopens on the 3 February (closed on Monday)

How Much? Adults £5.95, Children £5.95 Under 2’s are free. No booking is required. (2024 prices not yet announced)

Where? Summerbridge, near Pateley Bridge Nidderdale

What’s Going on?

The farm is reopen for half term! With lambing season being one of the busiest times of year in the farming calendar you will be able to go and see the sheep and might even be lucky enough to see a lamb being born.

There will also be the usual farm animals, play areas, bouncy castle, woodland trail and go-karts!

No booking is required.

The tractor ride in Hesketh Farm

Hesketh Farm Park Half Term

What Dates? 10 - 18 February 2023

How Much? £7.50 Adults £7.50 Children Under 2’s £3.50 and Under 1s £1. No booking required

Where? Bolton Abbey Estate, The Yorkshire Dales

What’s Going on?

Hesketh Farm is reopening for some half term fun on the farm! You can expect the usual farm animals, play areas (both indoor and out) and the tractor ride (dependant on the weather)

No lambs yet though, they’re due in April!

No booking required.

Jumping out of the caterpillar ride

Thornton Hall Farm Half Term Fun

What Dates? 10 - 18 February 2024

How Much? Prices from £9.95/ adult £12.95/ child £7.95 for under 2’s and under 1’s are free.

Where? Thornton in Lonsdale, North Yorkshire

What’s Going on?

You’ll find fun on the farm at Thornton Hall Farm this February half term! There’s a farm party, slime workshop, farm activities and bubble making as well as bottle feeding, pony grooming, the caterpillar rides and farm safari (additional cost, weather permitting) pedal bikes and the new indoor play area (timed slot) there’s loads of fun to be had.

Find out the booking information on the Thornton Hall Farm website.

Where can you explore this half term?

These places are open over February half term, but have no specific events planned.

⭐ Bolton Abbey Estate: Open for walking trails. The Cafes are also open as usual. Find more about the Bolton Abbey walking trails by heading to our page dedicated to them!

⭐ Skipton Castle: Open for self guided tours, you can head around the remarkably preserved castle, and then take a stroll through the Woodland Trust owned Skipton Castle woods! Book your tickets on the Skipton Castle website.

⭐ Visit Ilkley: Why not check out the history of Ilkley by following the Origins of Ilkley augmented reality tour around the town. Download the Discover Ilkley LS29 app to do it.

⭐ Brimham Rocks: Located near Summerbridge in Nidderdale, Brimham Rocks are open to explore. Car Parking charges apply.

⭐ How Stean Gorge: Take a tour of How Stean Gorge or book one of the more adrenaline fuelled activities! Find out more on the How Stean Gorge website.

⭐Nidderdale Llamas: take a wander with a llama! Suitable from ages 7 plus, why not check out the Nidderdale Llamas website for more details? Read about our Llama walking experience here!

⭐ Kilnsey Fish Farm: Kilnsey Fish Farm is open across February half term, and has a family fishing pond, nature trails and animals to feed. Check out more on the Kilnsey Park website.

⭐ The Dent Heritage Centre: A hub for stunning walks (check out Flintergill) and a great way to hide from any rain (they do some super tasty light bites and a great hot chocolate!)

⭐ Kilnsey pony trekking: why not book a pony trek with the Kilnsey Pony Trekking Centre?

⭐ Ingleborough Cave: Located in Clapham in the Yorkshire Dales, why not pay a visit to an epic show cave? Check out the Ingleborough Cave website for more information.

⭐White Scar Cave: Just down the road in Ingleton on the other side of Ingleborough is White Scar Cave! The UK’s longest show cave. Check out the White Scar Cave website for more information! And check out our blog to find out more about the Yorkshire Dales Caves here!

Places that are closed until it warms up!

⭐ Forbidden Corner is closed until the 1st April.

⭐ Mother Shipton’s Cave is closed until weekends in March, then open daily from 1st April.

⭐ Studfold Adventure Trail is closed until 1st April when it reopens for the Great Studfold Easter Egg and Fairy Hunt.

⭐ Castle Bolton near Leyburn is closed until 18th March 2023.  

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