Over the last two weekends, Yorkshire’s world-class beauty spots have received a thorough trashing.

While the majority of visitors to these rural attractions acted respectfully and responsibly, the sun brought out the idiot brigade in force.

Roads were blocked by inconsiderate parking and beauty spots were covered in litter. Locals complained of revellers, high on drink and drugs, behaving antisocially while firefighters dealt with blazes started by thoughtless visitors with barbecues.

Yorkshire’s economy benefits enormously from tourism and we’re not for one minute saying don’t visit these places.

But it’s important to know what to expect if you visit them during the current coronavirus pandemic – or whether, at the moment, you should visit them at all.

Bolton Abbey

Bolton Abbey
Bolton Abbey

Access to the car parks is available by booking only and spaces sell out quickly. Do not park on the street or in the village.

Drinks and snacks can now be bought from the Cavendish Pavilion.

Strid Wood Car Park, the tearooms and the Cavendish Shop remain closed.

Dalby Forest

Dalby Forest, near Pickering
Dalby Forest, near Pickering

The walking, cycling and running trails at this Forestry England site, near Pickering, are now open. The play areas, cafe, Go Ape treetop adventure courses, bike hire and activity centre remain closed.

Toilet facilities remain limited to allow social distancing.

Barbecues are not permitted.

Gaddings Dam aka the ‘Secret Beach’

Gaddings Dam, near Todmorden
Gaddings Dam, near Todmorden

Last weekend police had to tow away vehicles and issue fines to inconsiderate drivers blocking the narrow road that runs nearest to the Dam. The beach itself was covered in litter and the remains of fires and barbecues.

Gaddings Dam, near Todmorden, is a small reservoir that was never designed as a beach. It’s also isolated; the nearest road is a narrow lane and there is only parking for a dozen cars.

It’s a steep hike up to the dam and once you reach it there are no facilities; no toilets or refreshments sellers. It is not a suitable place to start a fire or bring a barbecue.

Also because of lockdown restrictions the nearest pubs – the Shepherd’s Rest and the Top Brink Inn – are currently shut.

Kirkham Priory

Kirkham Abbey
Kirkham Abbey

The site is currently closed but that didn’t stop selfish visitors covering this medieval abbey site with litter over the weekend.

It may open on June 13 as part of a phased reopening of English Heritage sites.

Mother Shipton’s Cave

Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough
Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough

This famous cave at Knaresborough, surrounded by woods, reopens on June 13 but access is by car only and you must book your parking space online beforehand. Tickets will not be for sale at the gate.

The museum, gift shop and play area remain closed. There are no catering services on the site and barbecues are forbidden. Access to Knaresborough town centre from the site will be closed.

Groups are limited to seven people per car. Vans, minibuses and motorhomes will not be admitted.

National Trust sites
 

Some NT sites have begun a phased reopening but many currently have limited facilities. If you’re visiting most of these sites by car you will need to book your space in advance online.

The abbey and water gardens of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, are open. As are the gardens of Beningbrough Hall, near York. However, your visit must be booked in advance. Anyone arriving without pre-booked tickets will be sent away.

The main car park for Marsden Moor on the A640 is open but spaces are limited and we do not recommend parking on the road or grass verges.

Marsden Moor on fire
Marsden Moor on fire

There are no toilets or facilities nearby.

Marsden Moor has suffered enormous damage over the last 20 years from fires started by careless people. Do not bring a barbecue.

Bridestones, Crosscliff and Blakey Topping has toilets and dogs on leads are welcome. Access is via a Forestry Commission toll road.

North York Moors

Roseberry Topping, North York Moors
Roseberry Topping, North York Moors

Most car parks and public toilets are currently closed.

As part of phased reopening car parks at Goathland, Newton under Roseberry, Saltergate and Sutton Bank are open.

The toilets at Sutton Bank are open but at a reduced capacity and on reduced hours (10am-3pm).

Barbecues and fires are not allowed.

The North Yorks Moors National Park Authority says: “At present many facilities in the North York Moors, including toilets, are closed and relaxation of restrictions on the tourism industry are not planned until early July. So we cannot yet give you the welcome we would want, but we are carrying out a phased reopening of our car parks and toilets in line with Government guidance.”

Richmond Falls

The police and military police were called in last weekend to deal with antisocial behaviour at this bathing spot in Richmond town centre. Officers were forced to close the car park and prevent visitors bringing alcoholic drinks to the falls. Volunteers spent hours clearing masses of litter from the site afterwards.

There are public toilets and a car park on the site plus a cafe nearby selling takeaway food. However, capacity for the site while enabling social distancing is 100 to 150. Richmond West councillor (Ind) Stuart Parsons last week said there were 300 to 400, some of whom were under the influence of drink and drugs and showed little respect for the beauty spot or the town.

Dozens of people were seen gathering at Richmond Falls

Clr Parsons said: “All we want are respectful visitors and a lot of people over the weekend were fantastic. It was the indiscriminate group of 24 to 35-year-olds that were completely lacking in respect for themselves and everyone else...

“Come if you’re prepared to respect it and don’t if you’re not – and take your rubbish home.”

Yorkshire Dales

Rising sun peeking through the clouds at Malham Cove
Rising sun peeking through the clouds at Malham Cove

Car parking is limited for most popular sites in the Dales and official weekend car parks can fill up very quickly.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority has a webpage with live information on how much parking is left.

According to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority: “The National Park Authority car parks in Malham and Horton-in-Ribblesdale fill up early on a Saturday and Sunday morning, followed by the car parks in Aysgarth, Stainforth and Linton around lunchtime. National Park car parks in Hawes and Clapham have good availability all day.”

Most of the National Park’s amenities – shops, cafes, toilets and other car parks – are still closed.

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Barbecues present a fire risk and are not permitted.

Visitors must take all their rubbish home.