Here’s how to spend 2 days discovering the Yorkshire Dales and also eat a lot of food 🤪

The first stop was Ilkley, one of my favourite places in Yorkshire with boutique shops and an amazing food scene.

On the way into Ilkley, make sure to pay a visit to Moss and Moor Garden Centre, with lots of amazing home decor and gifts as well as a lovely restaurant, where you can opt to sit outside with scenic views and eat delicious food which we thoroughly enjoyed.

Next we had a walk on Ilkley Moor, which has accessible paths and walks of all lengths. A popular spot includes The Cow and Calf Rocks, a famous natural rock formation located just above the town and local myths said it was split in two by a giant stamping its foot. Ilkley Park is also lovely to wander around.

We then went for a couple of rounds of drinks at The Ticket Office in Ilkley Station before bottomless brunch at Yard Bar and Kitchen which has a huge selection of both food and drinks making it really stand out.

For accomodation, a good spot to stay is the Craiglands Hotel, a 10 minute walk from the city centre with ridiculously big bathrooms and free parking!

For breakfast or lunch, you have to pay a visit to 39 kitchen and bakehouse, one of my favourite cafes ever and this time we got delicious breakfast buns, the best I’ve had!

Another very high contender, a 5 minutes drive outside of Ilkley is The Joyful Deli, a farm shop and barn draped in fairy lights serving up mouthwatering breakfasts, lunch, dinner and sunday roasts!

After exploring Ilkley, we hopped in the car and headed to Pateley Bridge. On the way, you’ve got to visit The Brownie Barn, a hidden gem off the beaten track in the middle of nowhere. Have an afternoon sweet treat here, and go for a walk if you fancy.

Once arriving in Pateley Bridge, a beautiful mall market town in Nidderdale, admire the views and visit my favourite hot chocolate shop, Cocoa Joes, and the oldest sweet shop in England!

Next, drive 7 minutes to The Coldstone Cut, the highest public artwork in the UK. It’s a bit of a steep 10 minute walk to the top but the paths are good and it’s worth it for the panoramic views at the top of both Nidderdale and also the limestone quarry below!

Next stop is Grassington, which is another of my favourite places in Yorkshire. Park in National Park Information Centre. Grassington is a short walk away from the Information Centre and has lots of foodie spots including another Love Brownies, pubs and cafes as well as some lovely shops and a folk museum. We had a lovely sandwich at the Cobblestones Cafe which has a cozy back yard with sheepskins! Back at the information centre, take the short walk down to Linton Falls, taking in this iconic Yorkshire view on the way. From here there are lots of different length walks you can do.