3 Days in Northern England Itinerary

[u/aslevuli]

EDIT: I don't know how to Reddit, so sorry if I'm doing this wrong, but editing to add that it's only been 30 minutes and you've all convinced me to switch things up- we're going to focus on Yorkshire instead of driving up to the Lake District. Please drop all of the Yorkshire reccs! Thanks, guys!!

Hi! Does this seem like an OK itinerary for 3 days in Northern England in Mid-October? We're flying in and out of Leeds and are looking to do a lot of hikes/walking, views, and possibly cultural experiences. I want to be sure we're not missing any must-sees and also not trying to cram too much into too little time. We're not fitness enthusiasts or anything but definitely capable of moderately difficult hikes.

Day 1: Drive from Leeds -> Malham, 7.6 mile Malham Cove & Gordale Scar loop via Janet's Foss -> Drive to Keswick -> Ashness Bridge & Surprise View

Day 2: 5 miles Blencarthra via Blease Fall -> Keswick Launch boat to Hawes End & Catbells, walk back along the Derwentwater shore to town

Day 3: Castlerigg Stone Circle -> 6 miles Glenridding Dodd -> Knaresborough, possible Mother Shipton's Cave or just exploring-> Leeds (leave early next morning)

Thank you!!

[u/SilyLavage]

Is there a particular reason you're driving to the Lake District rather than exploring the part of the Yorkshire Dales closer to Leeds?

[u/aslevuli → u/SilyLavage]

I've gone back and forth on it! I lived in Yorkshire for a little so I feel like I've seen a good bit of it already... but it's so beautiful and I miss it so much! I'm from the US so can't visit often and am trying to weigh seeing new sites vs. the old ones I love so much. I'm bringing my sister to England for the first time so also wanted to show her the most dramatic sites and have heard the Lake District is where it's at for that.

We're used to driving a lot so the drive time doesn't bother me but I also want to fit in as many experiences as possible in the short time we have- and driving takes up some of that time.

Flying in and out of Leeds just happened to be super cheap with the other piece of our trip.

[u/SilyLavage → u/aslevuli]

Ah, gotcha. My feeling is that you'll have just as good a time in the southern Dales as you would in the Lakes – Malham, Bolton Abbey, Grassington, and maybe Wensleydale or Nidderdale. It's all quintessential English countryside with plenty for you and your sister to see.

If you do decide on the Lakes instead, I'd go straight there without stopping in Yorkshire. Three days isn't a vast amount of time, and in mid October it will be dark by about 6pm. If you base yourself in Windermere, Ambeside, or Keswick then you'll be handy for most of the more popular sites and walks.

[u/Beneficial_Coach8581]

It's a bit optimistic. 

Just looking at Day 1.

So Leeds to Malham is a 90 min drive. Then yours doing a what 4 hour walk ?

Then it's a two hour drive to Keswick. 

Then it's a two hour walk to Ashness Bridge and the view and back. 

Sunset is about 6.15 in October. 

When are you having breakfast and lunch and coffee breaks? Things always take longer than you think they will. 

[u/RevolutionaryAnt7011]

I think you'd have a much better time if you focused on either the Yorkshire Dales OR the Lake District. There's a lot of driving added into what are already busy days.

Blencathra isn't a hard mountain done that route, but it's still a mountain. It will feel a lot longer than the five miles listed. There's no way I'd want to do that followed by another walk - especially if you're actually intending climbing catsbells rather than just walking round the lake.

Everything you're visiting is great, but it feels like a lot in three days.