Yarm

Day Trips

Start your day at the Market Cross, the historic center of Yarm, and soak in the medieval architecture. Wander along the cobbled High Street, browsing independent boutiques and artisan bakeries. Warm up with a locally roasted coffee and a freshly baked pastry in a charming café.

Be enchanted by the gothic spires of Yarm Parish Church and climb the tower for panoramic views of the town. Stroll across the iconic Yarm Bridge over the River Tees and watch swans glide beneath. Treat yourself to traditional afternoon tea in a riverside tearoom, complete with scones, clotted cream, and jam.

Dine at a cosy riverside restaurant, feasting on seasonal British fare paired with local ales. Wander back across the bridge at sunset to see the sky painted with fiery hues. Top off the evening with a pint and live music at The Dragon Inn, where locals gather for warm conversation and storytelling.

Cross the historic Yarm Bridge early to catch the golden light over the River Tees and start a gentle riverside walk. Listen for the calls of kingfishers and wagtails as you follow the winding waterway path. Pause at secluded benches to breathe in the fresh air and admire the reflections of lush greenery.

Stop at Low Wood for a riverside picnic, choosing from locally sourced cheeses, cold meats, and freshly baked breads. Explore the hidden trails that wind through tranquil woodlands, where dappled sunlight filters through ancient trees. Keep an eye out for deer and other wildlife grazing in the meadows.

Head back to Yarm for an evening meal at a riverside pub, sampling hearty pies and craft brews. Join in pub quiz night or catch live acoustic performances for a truly local experience. End the day with a moonlit stroll along the riverbank, listening to the gentle rush of water.

Begin the day with a guided photography tour of the majestic Yarm Viaduct, learning tips to capture its towering arches against the sky. Wander along the embankment trails and discover hidden vantage points. Feel the breeze off the Tees as you watch trains glide across the historic structure.

Rent an e-bike to explore the nearby woodland paths in Low Wood Country Park, stopping to admire ferns, bluebells, and ancient oak trees. Pack a snack to enjoy at a lookout point overlooking the river valley. Learn about the local ecosystem from informational plaques scattered along the route.

Return to town for a cosy dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant where the emphasis is on foraged and home-grown ingredients. Order a seasonal tasting menu paired with fine regional wines and ciders. Stroll back through the lantern-lit streets to experience the peaceful ambiance of Yarm by night.

Plan your visit on a Friday to coincide with the bustling Yarm Market, where stalls overflow with fresh produce, handmade crafts, and aromatic flowers. Chat with growers and artisans about their crafts and pick up treats like award-winning cheese and local chutneys. Sip a latte as you sample oven-warm pastries from a family-run bakery.

Enroll in a pottery workshop at a nearby studio and shape your own clay mug or bowl under the guidance of a skilled ceramist. Visit a glass-blowing demonstration to watch molten art take shape in glowing furnaces. Browse galleries showcasing local painters and sculptors, and perhaps bring home an original piece.

Enjoy dinner at an upscale bistro that champions small-batch ingredients sourced from North Yorkshire farms. Sip on bespoke cocktails infused with foraged herbs like hawthorn and elderflower. End the evening with a leisurely stroll along the river, illuminated by soft lantern light.

Cycle or drive to the nearby Kirkleatham Walled Gardens, a restored Victorian horticultural jewel filled with lavender beds and heritage roses. Learn about Victorian gardening techniques from knowledgeable volunteers tending the flowerbeds. Breathe in the fragrant air as bees flit from bloom to bloom.

Head to Kirkleatham Discovery Centre to encounter rare farm animals, feed cheeky goats, and learn about the region’s agricultural history. Explore interactive exhibits that showcase the daily lives of past inhabitants. Grab a homemade jam tart and a hot drink at the on-site café nestled in a historic stable.

Settle by Lake Arrowhead inside the walled grounds for a scenic picnic as the sun dips low. Listen to waterfowl calls and watch dragonflies dart across the shimmering surface. Return to Yarm for a relaxed pub dinner featuring locally foraged mushrooms and wild garlic.

Travel to Stockton-on-Tees to explore Preston Park Museum, stepping back in time through 19th-century houses, period gardens, and interactive displays. Dress up in vintage costumes and imagine life in the Victorian era as you roam cobbled courtyards. Let the sounds of a working forge and vintage machinery transport you to a bygone age.

Visit the Transport Collection within the museum grounds, marveling at steam engines, classic automobiles, and antique bicycles. Watch a live steam demonstration and learn about the innovation that powered the Industrial Revolution. Pause for tea and homemade cake in the museum tea room with panoramic views of the park.

Dine at a trendy Stockton restaurant that fuses traditional British dishes with global influences. Opt for dishes like slow-roasted shoulder of lamb with minted pea purée or pan-seared seabass with fennel salad. Return to Yarm under starlit skies, reflecting on the day’s historical discoveries.

Board the heritage steam train at Grosmont station, hearing the whistle blow as you set off through rolling moorland. Watch billowing steam clouds drift over purple heather and past emerald valleys on the journey to Pickering. Enjoy freshly baked scones and tea served in the train’s vintage dining car.

Explore Pickering’s charming town centre, browsing antique shops and sampling local delicacies in cosy cafés. Walk along the Mill Beck and visit Pickering Castle’s ruins for a medieval perspective of the landscape. Lunch on hearty shepherd’s pie or a ploughman’s lunch at a family-run pub.

Return aboard the steam train as dusk settles, with carriage lights twinkling against the darkening moor. Feel transported to another era as you sip on a warm toddy and listen to the clickety-clack of wheels on rails. Arrive back in Grosmont and savor a leisurely drive back to Yarm, guided by a sky full of stars.

Drive along the scenic A174 coastline to Whitby and ascend the famous 199 Steps to the ruins of Whitby Abbey. Gaze out over jagged cliffs and azure sea as gulls wheel overhead. Spot the fishing boats bobbing in the harbours below and learn about the abbey’s literary ties to Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Descend to the harbour to indulge in the town’s famous fish and chips wrapped in paper near the piers. Wander through narrow alleyways to discover charming bookshops, Whitby jet jewellery boutiques, and the Captain Cook Memorial Museum. Take a leisurely stroll along the beach, hunting for fossils and wind-smoothed pebbles.

Enjoy an early dinner at a seafood restaurant overlooking the harbour, relishing oysters, crab cakes, and locally caught haddock. Watch the sun dip into the Irish Sea as the pier lights begin to twinkle. Finish with a warm cup of Whitby’s signature lavender-infused ice cream before the drive back to Yarm.

Start your day at a farmhouse bakery just outside Yarm, sampling freshly baked sourdough loaves and honey-infused scones. Chat with the baker about traditional bread-making techniques and pick up a jar of local heather honey. Enjoy a steaming hot coffee roasted in a nearby micro-roastery.

Tour a local brewery where craft beers are brewed using spring water from the North Yorkshire moors. Sample a flight of bitters, pale ales, and stouts alongside a curated cheese board. Learn about the malting and hopping processes from the head brewer.

Continue the trail at a gastropub specializing in nose-to-tail cooking, savoring dishes like braised ox cheek with root vegetable mash. Pair your meal with a house-made cider infused with elderflowers. Conclude the evening with a twilight walk along the Tees to work up an appetite for tomorrow’s journey home.

Return to Kirkleatham Woods for a gentle guided forest therapy walk, focusing on breathwork and mindful observation of moss-covered trunks and fern fronds. Listen to birdsong echoing through the canopy and breathe in the earthy scent of the woodland floor. Collect fallen leaves to press as a memory of your visit.

Lay out a farewell picnic at the woodland edge, featuring goodies from local delis: artisan cheeses, cured meats, and freshly baked breads. Reflect on highlights of your 10-day adventure as you linger over glasses of chilled cider. Sketch or journal by the old oak that stands sentinel in the heart of the woods.

Return to Yarm for a final meal at a riverside inn with panoramic views of the Tees and the viaduct. Raise a toast to your immersive journey with a glass of North Yorkshire sparkling wine. Capture one last sunset silhouette of the bridge before bidding this enchanting town farewell.