How to Spend a Long Weekend in North Yorkshire
- May 19
- 3 min read
A long weekend in North Yorkshire hits differently when you’re actually somewhere worth being. Not just killing time between check-in and check-out, but genuinely in a place that makes you want to put your phone down.
North Yorkshire is that kind of place. And if you’re staying at West Cawthorne, you’ve got a pretty solid home base to work from. Here’s how we’d do it...
Night one: just settle in
Resist the urge to immediately drive somewhere. Get the fire going, open something good to drink, and get in the outdoor bath. The views across the Vale of Pickering at dusk are genuinely ridiculous - in the best way. You’ll be glad you didn’t rush off somewhere.
Get on the steam railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs from Pickering, literally minutes away, all the way through to Whitby. In May the countryside along the route is at its best: everything’s green, the lambs are out, it still feels fresh rather than peak summer busy. Go the whole way to Whitby for fish and chips on the harbour, or get off at Goathland and walk through the heather if you’re feeling adventurous.
Walk from the door
You don’t need to drive anywhere to get a proper walk in. West Cawthorne sits right on the edge of the North York Moors National Park with footpaths leading straight out from the farm. A morning walk before breakfast - no agenda, no destination, is genuinely one of the better things you can do here. If you want a specific route, the walk around Cawthorn Roman Camps is brilliant, with ancient earthworks, big open views, and barely anyone else around.
If you want something more structured, Dalby Forest is about twenty minutes away and has trails for all abilities, plus decent mountain biking.
A morning in Helmsley
One of the nicest market towns in North Yorkshire and very easy to like. There’s a proper ruined castle, a handful of really good independent shops, and enough decent places to eat and drink that you won’t be rushing back. It’s the kind of place where a quick coffee turns into a two-hour wander without you really noticing. About twenty-five minutes from West Cawthorne and well worth it.
One bigger day out
York is the obvious one and for good reason - it’s genuinely one of the best cities in the country for a day trip. The Shambles, the Minster, the food scene, the bars. It’s about forty minutes from West Cawthorne and easy to fill a full day without trying too hard. Go on a weekday if you can; weekends in May can get busy.
If you’d rather head for the coast, Sandsend is our favourite. A quieter, less chaotic alternative to Whitby just up the road, with a great stretch of beach and Fish Cottage for what is genuinely some of the best fish and chips you’ll have. The fish tacos are our go-to order!
The last night sky
Don’t go to bed too early on your last night. West Cawthorne sits under some of the darkest skies in England, and even in May, when it doesn’t get properly dark until late, the stars are worth staying up for. Light the firepit, settle into the outdoor bath and take it all in.
West Cawthorne is three miles from Pickering on the edge of the North York Moors. The A-Frames sleep two, and The Barns sleep up to six - long weekend sorted.
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