Last Updated on September 24, 2026 by Tavernier’s Travels
There were many highlights of our trip to Yorkshire; so many places visited and many things to mention that couldn’t be included in our Yorkshire Road Trip guides. But that certainly doesn’t mean they were unworthy of a mention – in fact, some were among the things we waxed lyrical about to anyone who would listen afterwards. So, I’ve compiled a round-up of memorable places that deserved a shout-out of their own, even if they couldn’t fit into one of the guides.
Thornton Village
This village is small, and, in reality, it has two main draws: the beautiful viaduct that’s worth stopping to try and capture the nicest picture you can (or even walk it if you’re so inclined), and the house that was the birthplace of some of the Brontë siblings.
The house is community-owned and open to the public, allowing you to explore the first home of Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë before the family eventually moved to the nearby village of Haworth, where their father, Patrick Brontë, served as vicar.
We visited on our way over to Haworth, but unfortunately it was closed that day so has to settle for admiring it from the outside. As it’s so close to Haworth, it’s well worth stopping by on your way to explore this lesser-known part of the Brontë family’s story.
Terrington: Scarecrow Festival Village
There are so many beautiful villages throughout Yorkshire, especially in the regions of West and North Yorkshire that we explored on this visit. Driving through them frequently became a ‘STOP THE CAR – I NEED TO TAKE A PICTURE!!’ moment.
From the beautiful town of Malton to the picturesque villages just outside Whitby, even the dry-stone walls built from Yorkshire stone and stretching out across the Dales seemed to be dripping with charm. But one village that really stood out was the whimsical Terrington, where we found a village right in the middle of a scarecrow festival.
I can’t lie – initially, driving through Terrington was a bit confusing. There was one lone scarecrow sitting at the beginning of the village to welcome us, before we quickly realised that this was only the beginning. As we continued driving through, scarecrows appeared in all sorts of positions, tucked around houses, perched outside doorways and seemingly lurking in gardens. Some of them were incredibly creative, with plenty of thought clearly going into their outfits and scenes.
It was equal parts charming – and slightly unsettling!
Yorkshire Lavender Farm
A short drive from Castle Howard and not too far from York is Yorkshire Lavender Farm, located just outside the village of Terrington. We were a little surprised – perhaps naively – to discover that Yorkshire even had a lavender farm, considering the county isn’t exactly renowned for its sunny weather! Although, on the day we visited, you’d never have guessed it as the blazing sun continued to shine none-too-comfortably on our heads.
As it was still only mid-June, the lavender wasn’t yet in full bloom, so it wasn’t quite as vibrant as I imagine it becomes in the following weeks. Even so, it was a pretty scene, with rows of lavender stretching across the hillside and creating a wonderfully tranquil spot to sit and take in the surroundings.
It’s the kind of place that feels made for a sunny afternoon – and thankfully, Yorkshire decided to put on a pretty good impression of one for us!
Castle Howard
Castle Howard was somewhere I really wanted to visit during our trip to York, particularly as it was included in the York Pass. However, as we were relying solely on public transport – and had already travelled from Bradford to spend the day in York – the one-and-a-half-hour bus journey, on a fairly infrequent service, felt like quite a lot to fit in.
As Castle Howard is renowned as one of the grandest stately homes in the country (not to mention its role as a filming location for productions such as Bridgerton, among many others), it remained pretty high on my bucket list. So, on our way back from Whitby, we decided to make a detour and finally see it for ourselves.
By then, it was edging towards the late afternoon, and the sun was beating down on us with surprising vigour. This was right at the beginning of the crazy heatwaves of summer ‘26, so rather than attempting to explore everything, we decided to stick to just the grounds.
And, to be fair, the gardens alone are spectacular. The grand fountain and lake, a long walk away from the house, create a picture-perfect view back towards the castle, while even the road leading up to Castle Howard is an experience in itself (think of that strange dream-slash-nightmare where you’re driving uphill on a road that seems to have no end).
Unfortunately, the heat meant we only got a glimpse of what Castle Howard has to offer, but it was enough to convince me that I need to come back. Hopefully, on another visit some day soon, I’ll finally get the chance to explore the interior as well.
Stott Hall Farm: the Farm in the Middle of the Motorway
Our knowledge of Stott Hall Farm came courtesy of our cousin, Diane, as we drove back to Bradford along the M62. As we approached, she told us the story of the farm’s owners supposedly refusing to sell their land to allow the construction of the motorway. And so, when the M62 was eventually built in the 1960s, the motorway was simply developed around them.
Sadly, it turns out this story is a bit of an urban legend – although I like to imagine it’s true anyway! In reality, the land was already owned by Yorkshire Water, and it was simply a geographical fault beneath the 18th-century farmhouse that meant building the motorway straight through the site wasn’t practical. So, instead, they decided to build it around the farm.
And that’s how Stott Hall Farm has come to be one of the M62’s most unexpected landmarks. To this day, it remains a working farm, with people still living there – with the help of triple-glazed windows and strategically planted trees to help protect them from the noise and traffic.
So now, as you drive along the M62, you can imagine the surprise of anyone unfamiliar with the landmark as they suddenly spot a farmhouse and fields sitting improbably between the two carriageways. It’s certainly not something you expect to see on a motorway!
