First solo trip - where to go in North Yorkshire or beyond?

Well done, WharfedaleGran. Glad you had a great time.

Well, grans, I did it, and very happily too! Two nights in a blissfully relaxing b&b in Barney, with the biggest roll top bath and extravagant breakfasts that took all my dodgy digestive complaints into consideration Two evening meals taken in different restaurants… I felt a bit nervous at first but needn’t have worried. Both times the staff seemed a little bemused about where to put me, but only momentarily, and couldn’t have been nicer. Having my book to read helped. Lots of driving around, enjoying the early autumn colour on the moors and dales. And I hardly felt alone at all.

Thank you all so much for the suggestions and the encouragement, I’ll probably do it again before too long!

My advice would be if you are travelling alone then stay somewhere that offers an evening meal. Then you won't have to go wandering round at night finding somewhere to eat.

Part of Barnard Castle is on a steep hill if walking’s a problem.

Thanks also for the sister site address. I stay with friends when I visit Yorkshire but I've been thinking of branching out a bit to revisit
'the homeland ' and that could be a good way to do it.

Ps I’m really enjoying the new version of All Creatures Great and Small, which is filmed in Grassington amongst other places… I can highly recommend the little bistro in Grassington, and Burnsall is lovely too, with good food in the Red Lion next to the river ?

Thanks Bigberthal, my vague plan so far involves going up via Leyburn and back down via Hawes, Wensleydale is beautiful I agree ?

And thanks so much Nonogram for the link to Sisterstay, looks very interesting and some good articles about the contented single life too!

Look up this website for “Sister Stay”.
It’s for women who travel alone but who would be welcome to stay in other women’s houses as a guest.
www.sisterstay.com/

Wensleydale is beautiful. It's Herriot country. Start at Leyburn and cross country to Hawes taking in all the lovely villages along the way. Askrigg is where the first All Creatures Great and Small TV show had the vets surgery a lovely village with lots of nice pub s and guest houses. Aysgarth has the famous waterfall walk. I used to live in West Witton a quite village with the award winning Wenselydale Heifer Inn and racing stables.

I think a coach trip is a good idea. I did a couple with people I knew, and it was nice to have company at meal times, though i wouldn’t want to do a long journey with Covid still around.

I have also stayed in a studio flat with cooking facilities in a small town where I could make my own evening meal instead of having to eat out alone( I don't mind in the daytime).

My first solo trip away was to Filey, in a small hotel. It was lovely.
There are so many attractive places in Yorkshire and beyond. I am sure you will have a lovely time.

Barnard Castle will forever be associated with eyesight!! It has to be said, though, that it really is a sight for sore eyes ? (groan)

I like the idea of a coach trip and may yet try it, possibly once Covid-19 really is behind us! Some of them seem quite expensive too… perhaps because the ones I look at are further afield… I saw a wonderful one advertised in south west France, around the Toulouse - Carcassonne area, my old stomping ground. Sigh.
Really looking forward to my trip now, thank you all for giving me the backing I needed ☺️

You could try coach trips. I have a friend who goes on several a year on her own. She says they are wonderful for meeting other lone travellers and the hotels are always good. Enjoy your trip!

PS Love the Barnard Castle comments!

Just sorry I don’t know how to “reply” individually on here… is it just me or is this a tricky message board to work out?!

A post is fine, we can all see it

and thinking perhaps up via Barnard Castle
Everyone should visit Barnard Castle at least once, preferably after a visit to the optician .

I've never been to Nortumberland and would love to visit, especially after reading books which were set there when I was a child.
They were by Lorna Hill, I think.

Thank you all so much! I’ve just spent a happy hour with a map, and thinking perhaps up via Barnard Castle - only been there once before so keen to explore again, definitely want to visit the Bowes Museum - stay in Middleton-in-Teesdale (always been curious about that) to explore a bit more, then through the dales and over to Settle to make a day of my journey home. And I’ll have to line up another trip to take in Whitby, Runswick & Robin Hoods Bay, and probably a third in late autumn to the Lakes. All within a couple of hours of home. You can see why I found it so difficult to choose ☺️ Thank you all for your kind words and inspiration, I can do this ?????‍?
Just sorry I don’t know how to “reply” individually on here… is it just me or is this a tricky message board to work out?! ?

Derbyshire Peak District - there are some lovely towns as well as countryside.

I'm now in West Yorkshire, after moving 5 miles from my previous North Yorkshire home, back to a town we have lived in in the past so I would guess the same sort of distance.

For my 70th we went up to Northumberland - it's amazing how much of our country I haven't seen. I'm not sure if that is within your range for this first adventure.

The Lakes would be good - Kendal is lovely.

Ilovecheese

Whitby!

We love it. My brother, in the USA, has called their new dog Whitby

There are lots of lovely places to visit and I quite like going alone. Wherever you go pop into the information centre and see whats in the area or do your research in advance and plan your days. If you want company you might try coach trips which include evening meals. Sitting on your own for an evening meal is hard unless you are used to doing it. People are not always up for a chat at breakfast in b&bs but if you are in a tour group its different. Good Luck and enjoy.

I agree Whitby and Harrogate are lovely places. The Yorkshire Dales are my favourite and would be great if you are able to drive around some of the stunning scenery. Here are some lovely places: Settle, Thirsk, Gunnerside, Muker, Grassington and the fabulous Buttertubs Pass. Enjoy and have fun!

Middleton-in -Teesdale is a nice little town, and within easy reach of some lovely scenery and places to visit, waterfalls, etc.

If you don’t want to go too far how about Harrogate?

WharfedaleGran, you live within easy access of beautiful places , I am a Yorkshire ' girl' born and bred - but not there now. I am sure it takes courage to go away alone for the first time - I have never done it. I am sure you will be fine , don't go too far afield for your first trip. Go girl ! Have a great time , I am sure you will meet people while you are away to chat with. Good luck and enjoy your travels.

Barnard Castle ? with the wonderful Bowes Museum. Whitby is great and the coastline nearby. Malton and nearby Castle Howard. Enjoy wherever you go!

I am plucking up the courage to do the same, live right in the middle of the country you can’t get much further away from the sea, which I long to see. How can I have got to this age, had children, grandchildren and friends and yet no one to go away with? I know thing shut down this time of year so it will have to be somewhere a bit busy, I want pubs and foot outlets available. Think Whitby would be lovely at any time but too far from me..