Leave the car behind: Knaresborough and Boroughbridge
A morning in Knaresborough
As many of us choose to leave our cars at home and use public transport during our getaways, the Harrogate area is the perfect place to head for. With direct trains from London Kings Cross and from the North and South via Leeds and York plus an excellent local bus network, sustainable travel could not be easier. Make Harrogate your base and take advantage of the great connections to the surrounding towns and further afield and you will see so much more, and we promise you won’t miss your car. With the £2 bus fare cap continuing until 31 October, then £2.50 until 30 November 2024, now is the perfect time to explore the area by public transport.
To find out how easy it is to explore Harrogate and beyond by public transport, I decided to leave my car and see some of the area by bus. For my first day out, I headed to Knaresborough and Boroughbridge. As I settled back into a comfy seat, I was able to sit back, relax and take in the views as I watched the world go by. Many of the buses are electric and have free WIFI and USB charging points, which I took advantage of.
From Harrogate bus station situated in the centre of the shopping area and conveniently located next to the main train station, I hopped on a bus to the historic market town of Knaresborough (service number: 1a/1b/1c/1d). As I entered the town, I was directed by the helpful driver to alight at the bus stop opposite the oldest visitor attraction in England, Mother Shipton’s Cave.
After purchasing a ticket from the ticket booth, I wandered through the woodland that runs along the edge of the picturesque River Nidd and made my way down the steps to the mysterious Petrifying Well and the Cave where the prophetess, Mother Shipton was born. Little teddy bears hang down below the well face and as the water runs over them, they gradually turn to stone. At the end of the estate, the little museum is full of artefacts telling the story of Knaresborough and there is also a great gift shop, café, and adventure playground for the little ones.
A short walk away, across the River Nidd, perched high on the crag is Knaresborough Castle, my second destination. The Courthouse Museum in the castle grounds tells the history of the town and its connection to the English Civil War. The museum is also home to the original Tudor courtroom where prisoners were tried after being brought over from the Castle dungeon.
I explored the Kings Tower before buying an ice cream and taking a seat to enjoy the stunning view across the river with the magnificent viaduct an impressive focal point. Visitors can also enjoy pitch and putt golf and bowls in the grounds which are also home to a monthly artisan market and outdoor performances in the summer.
An Afternoon in Boroughbridge
After grabbing some lunch, I walked to the small bus station and waited for the bus to take me to Boroughbridge (service number: 21). This bus serves many of the pretty little villages between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge and you can choose to hop off the bus in one of these villages for a pub lunch or countryside walk. I was excited to visit this small market town full of little shops and cafés and it didn’t disappoint. The bus journey finishes in the pretty St James Square which is surrounded by old buildings with the ornate Market Well at its centre.
My afternoon of exploring started at the quaint Butter Market Museum and its display of local artefacts. From here I meandered along the streets with their mix of Regency, Georgian and Victorian buildings – a reminder of Boroughbridge’s past as an important staging post along the Great North Road, offering hospitality to the coach drivers and bargemen who transported goods and people. The pubs and cafes in the town still offer hospitality to travellers and visitors alike.
I was pleased to discover FINK, an independent food and drink retailer. The shop was brimming with fresh local produce, continental fine foods and a mouth-watering counter of fresh fish, cheeses, and meats and I couldn’t resist a few treats to take home, plus something for the bus journey back, of course!
I finished my afternoon by visiting the mysterious Neolithic standing stones known as the Devil’s Arrows before catching the bus back to Knaresborough and then on to Harrogate.
The Harrogate area is served by a network of regular buses running from and to the main Harrogate bus station, so it is very easy to visit the beautiful towns in our area sustainably and not worry about your carbon footprint. To find out more about car-free travel in the area, visit our car free travel page.
