5 Yorkshire Walks With Coffee & Cake Along the Way

Wrap up, head outdoors and discover five scenic Yorkshire walks – each with a cosy café stop along the way.

If you’re anything like us, Yorkshire walks become even more enticing in autumn. The leaves are golden, the air is crisp and there’s even more reason to reward yourself with a treat when you’re done.

From short family-friendly loops to riverside rambles, these National Trust walks make it easy to enjoy the best of the season without committing to a full-day hike.

Explore historic parkland at Wentworth Castle Gardens

© Copyright National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

If you’re looking for an easy autumn walk in Yorkshire that won’t take up your whole day, head to Wentworth Castle Gardens. The Parkland Explorer route weaves through historic parkland and woodland, passing monuments, water features and formal avenues along the way.

Start at the parkland entrance near the Long Barn Café, then follow the pink waymarkers downhill towards the Serpentine River. Be sure to turn around for views of Wentworth Castle before continuing around the woodland, where little ones can build dens and see what they can spot amongst the trees.

There’s plenty to discover along the way, from the Roman-inspired Rotunda to the Duke of Argyll Monument, as well as the herds of red and fallow deer that roam the estate. Once you’ve completed the loop, turn left to explore the formal gardens or head right to the Long Barn Café for a hot drink and a freshly baked treat.

Good to know: The grassy route includes steady inclines and can become muddy after rain. It isn’t suitable for most pushchairs or mobility scooters.
Distance: 1.3 miles (1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes).
Difficulty: Easy.
Best for: Deer spotting and a shorter adventure.

Take a peaceful lakeside stroll at Nostell

© Copyright National Trust Images/Joanne Crawford

Wakefield’s Nostell is the destination for this short lakeside route, which takes you on an easy stroll through Nostell’s gardens. Beginning in the Stables Courtyard, the route passes the back of the house and along the Upper Lake, where the trees lining the water deliver stunning golden hues.

Explore the Pleasure Grounds, stopping to admire the boathouse and sweeping views across the lake. From here, the trail leads into the Menagerie Garden, once home to the Winn family’s collection of exotic birds and monkeys. You’ll still find traces of its unusual past amongst the garden buildings, ornamental planting and winding paths.

As you turn back on yourself for the return leg, look out for golden hazel and cut-leaf beech before you arrive back in the Stables Courtyard. All that’s left to do is cosy up in the café with a coffee and something sweet.

Good to know: The route follows even paths without steep slopes and is suitable for visitors with reduced mobility. Only assistance dogs are permitted in the gardens.
Distance: 1.4 miles (45 minutes).
Difficulty: Easy.
Best for: Lakeside views and a gentle walk.

Follow the river through Beningbrough

© Copyright National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

The longest route on the list takes you on a circular walk through Beningbrough’s woodland and along the banks of the River Ouse. Set off from the car park, wandering down the estate’s lime tree avenue before heading into the woods and picking up the river path.

Keep your eyes peeled as you follow the water. Kingfishers, curlews, green woodpeckers and grey herons can all be spotted around the river, and if you’re really lucky, you might even get a glimpse of an otter. You’ll also pass a sandy spot where the River Nidd joins the Ouse – a great place to stop and take in views of the hall.

Continue on past the Victorian Water Tower before looping back through woodland, open fields and a picnic area. Once you return to the car park, extend your day with a wander around Beningbrough’s garden, followed by something to eat in the Walled Garden Restaurant. Every purchase helps fund conservation work and look after the estate, so stopping to refuel supports Beningbrough too.

Good to know: The walk starts and finishes in the car park, but the Walled Garden Restaurant is inside the pay-to-enter garden. Normal admission charges apply for non-members.
Distance: 3.5 miles (1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours 20 minutes).
Difficulty: Moderate.
Best for: Riverside scenery and wildlife.

Follow the stream to Gibson Mill at Hardcastle Crags

© Copyright National Trust Images/Annapurna Mellor

This watery walk promises excitement for both children and adults, as you follow the red waymarkers from the Lower Midgehole car park and head along the river through the wooded valley at Hardcastle Crags.

Along the route you’ll cross streams, pass weirs and spot leaky dams designed to slow the flow of water through the valley. Listen as the stream rushes over the rocks and watch out for herons by the water’s edge. You’ll also tackle three sets of stepping stones before Gibson Mill comes into view.

Your reward is waiting for you at the off-grid Weaving Shed Café – a unique spot that generates its own electricity via solar, hydro and biomass systems. With hot drinks, sandwiches, pastries and soup to tuck into, you can refuel amongst the peaceful woodland setting before making your way back.

Distance: 1.25 miles (Around 45 minutes each way).
Difficulty: Moderate.
Best for: Riverside woodland and an off-grid café.

Walk among ancient trees at Fountains Abbey

© Copyright National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

For a woodland walk in North Yorkshire, follow the Ancient Trees Walk through the Deer Park at Fountains Abbey, passing centuries-old trees and traces of its 18th-century landscaping. The easy circular route begins at the Visitor Centre before taking you past St Mary’s Church, along Lime Avenue and into the park.

Keep an eye out for the estate’s some-325 year old cherry trees (one of the oldest in Britain), pre-18th century oaks and sweet chestnuts planted in around 1710. You might even get a sight of the park’s red, fallow and sika deer too – remember to admire them from a distance and keep dogs on a short lead.

The route follows well-defined paths, but there are a few hills and the grass and loose-stone sections can become muddy after wet weather. Once you complete the loop, head into the Visitor Centre restaurant for a freshly brewed coffee and a bite to eat.

Distance: 2.5 miles (50 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes).
Difficulty: Easy.
Best for: Spectacular autumn scenery.

Warm up with the National Trust’s new seasonal menu

© Copyright National Trust Images/Joanne Crawford

Walked up an appetite? From Wednesday 30th September 2026, you can refuel with National Trust’s new autumn menu, packed with warming dishes and seasonal bakes.

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, keep an eye out for spiced pumpkin cake, caramel apple crumble cake and cookies in seasonal flavours such as carrot cake and matcha, lemon and white chocolate. The much-loved scone of the month is getting an autumn upgrade too – expect apple crumble in October, pear and caramelised biscuit in November and mince pie and almond in December.

In the mood for something more substantial? Warm up with spiced pumpkin soup (perfect for those Halloween-time walks), pulled pork and smoky bean stew or sweet potato massaman curry. There’s also beef and red wine pie served with mash and gravy for the ultimate post-walk comfort food. Please note, the autumn food offer varies with different options available at each National Trust café.