For those looking to experience both fascinating history and beautiful pastoral vistas in England, Yorkshire is the place to visit. Widely considered to be one of the greenest counties in the country, Yorkshire is a playground for lovers of the outdoors and offers a never ending supply of picturesque hikes and outdoor pursuits. The locals proudly call their home God’s own County, and visitors to this beautiful area of the UK will quickly understand why. With two National Parks and history stretching from Celtic tribes to the industrial revolution, you won’t quickly bore on a Yorkshire holiday.

Swaledale Valley, Yorkshire Dales

National Park Pursuits

The two National Parks situated within the borders of Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors, offer some of the best outdoor activities in the country. Whether you decide to follow one of the many short scenic trails, or the iconic long distance treks of the Pennine Way and the Coast to Coast Path, the best way to take in the scenery in the two National Parks is either by foot or on two wheels. Pack yourself a picnic and head off in the morning to see as much of the county as you can, giving yourself lots of time to stop and explore along the way. There are many self-catering holiday cottages within both the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors and many Yorkshire Cottages have great walks right from the front door. It can’t get much more convenient than that!

High Octane Outings

Walking and bicycling aren’t the only outdoor pursuits available to you in Yorkshire. The wide open spaces and varied terrain make it a perfect location for the thrills and spills of quad biking and 4×4 off-roading. Imagine yourself behind the wheel of your own vehicle, manoeuvring your way through some of the most challenging off road terrain in the UK. Don’t worry if you’ve never tried anything like this before; there are a number of local companies who will supply you with all your gear as well as expert tuition, leaving you to worry about nothing but getting covered in mud!

On the Water

If you’re looking to get wet and wild there are endless options in Yorkshire. With miles upon miles of coastline, tranquil rivers, and meandering canals there are water sports galore waiting for you. The Yorkshire coastline offers some of the best sailing in the country, and many of the local sailing clubs offer lessons for beginners, right through to experienced sailors and gives you the added benefit of meeting some like minded locals. If you’re looking for something a little bit different, maybe give surfing or kite boarding a go! With all of this, plus great canoeing and kayaking, you could spend your whole holiday on the water.

River Wharfe near Yocklethwaite

Heading Underground

To experience Yorkshire from a whole different perspective you can head underground to explore the extensive cave systems found beneath the beautiful Yorkshire fells and glens. Yorkshire boasts over 2,000 caves and potholes and more than 400km of surveyed passages, so there is no shortage of underground exploration to do. Obviously this is something that you’ll want to undertake along with an experienced professional and there are a number of great local guiding companies eager to take you on the trip of a lifetime. For those not wanting to get down and dirty scrambling through underground streams and passages you can enjoy the subterranean beauty in a number of show caves in the Yorkshire Dales. The White Scar Cave is the longest show cave in Britain and provides spectacular views of underground streams, waterfalls, and thousands of stalagmites. No matter what type of caving experience you choose it is sure to be the experience of a lifetime!

Yorkshire may not be the first county that comes to mind when planning a UK holiday, but for outdoor adventurers there really is no better county! From simple walks, to challenging mountain treks and subterranean caves your Yorkshire holiday is sure to be unforgettable. If you’re looking for a great holiday cottage to spend your evenings in then take a look at those offered by Sykes Holiday Cottages, with over 300 Yorkshire cottages to choose from they are sure to have the perfect one for you.

Easy Cottage - one of Sykes Cottages

This is a guest post written by Amanda Andrews and sponsored by Sykes Cottage.

Photo credit: Swaledale, River Wharfe, Easy Cottage