easter eggsploration among yorkshire’s unrivalled glories

What’s more, many heritage attractions across the county offer fantastic value for money, meaning families can have lots of thoroughly fun days out.

If the weather takes a turn for the worst, you can still get out of the house by visiting  someone else’s.

Yorkshire’s stately homes are full of wondrous stories and histories, such as Ripley Castle in North Yorkshire where you can follow the lives and loves of one family over almost 700 years.

These are set in some truly impressive settings, including the award-winning grounds of Castle Howard, where children can burn off some energy and explore a woodland garden, discover temples and even take a boat ride. Burton Agnes Hall in Driffield, East Yorkshire, includes an Old Elizabethan walled garden with over four thousand different plants and plenty of opportunities to play with its jungle garden and maze.

From the depths of the dungeons to the Watch Tower, delve into the 900 year history of Skipton Castle as you investigate every nook and cranny of one of the best preserved medieval castles in England. 

As the twin towers of the castle stand at the top of Skipton’s main street, when you come here it’s also a perfect opportunity to do a spot of shopping. After all, Skipton was voted as having the Best High Street of the Year in 2009. Along with a blend of independent shops and high street names, four days a week market stalls set up on the cobble stones.

Walk a little further and find the market town’s colourful canal basin, where you can take a narrow boat trip on the Leeds and Liverpool canal.

If you prefer to view the countryside by steam, this mode of travel will take you through some of the county’s most magnificent scenery.

What child, or adult, wouldn’t be enchanted by the rolling countryside, or even the steam engines which were once a regular sight across the county. 

Catch the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and be captivated by the views offered by the 18 miles through the National Park as you sit in the cosy wood-panelled carriages or take in the Yorkshire Dales scenery as you travel the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway.

If you need to stretch your legs, a pleasant 1.5 mile walk will lead you to the ruins of the 12th century priory.

The Keighley and Worth Valley Railway takes passengers through the heart of Brontë country.

And with this year seeing the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee, it’s also the perfect opportunity to find out more about Yorkshire’s link to the Royal Family.

From March 31 to June 17 not only is Harewood House, near Leeds, celebrating the life of the Princess Royal, Princess Mary, regarded as the “The Yorkshire Princess”, who lived at the house through four decades, it is also commemorating the Diamond Jubilee with an exhibition of family photographs of the Queen.

At Cannon Hall Museum, Barnsley, from April 7 to October 28 there will be Jubilee memorabilia, photographs and royal portraits from the Cooper Gallery collection to celebrate the Jubilee Year.

yorkshire.com/heritage