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.

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.

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

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 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.