The largest county in the UK by far, Yorkshire has plenty to recommend it. Not only is it awash with wide open spaces to explore, it’s also home to a wide range of great attractions with good accessibility. Here you’ll find everything from hands-on family friendly activities like The Deep aquarium in Hull, the Jorvik Viking Centre in York and Diggerland in Castleford to arty must-sees like the Hepworth Wakefield gallery and the world famous Yorkshire Sculpture Park. There’s also vibrant cities like Leeds, Sheffield and York, each with their individual style and personality, to explore.
So you can see that in Yorkshire there really is something for everyone, including those looking for wheelchair friendly breaks. While the Accessible Yorkshire initiative helps to make travel around the county easier for the 13.9 million people in the UK with additional access needs, local attractions, accommodation and transport is becoming increasingly suitable for disabled users, making Yorkshire a must-visit spot for wheelchair travellers.
How to find accessible accommodation in Yorkshire
Whether it’s a long haul trip of a lifetime to Tahiti or a short staycation in Scunthorpe, unfortunately finding wheelchair friendly accommodation is rarely simple. There are, however, things you can do to make booking disabled access holidays less stressful, starting with choosing the right accommodation for your needs.
Choose the right accommodation type for you
The type of holiday accommodation you choose may depend on where in the county you’re visiting and who with. Group holiday? A rural holiday cottage could give you the space you need. City break? Look for centrally located wheelchair accessible hotels close to transport. On a budget? A hostel won’t break the bank and may offer surprisingly good facilities.
Choose the perfect location
Make your holiday easier by looking for accommodation close to step-free transport as well as easy access to amenities like local shops and restaurants. If you have health concerns, staying close to healthcare facilities may help to reduce stress too.
Check access statements
A good accommodation provider will have an easy to understand access statement. This gives complete details of the hotel’s interior and any obstacles you may encounter.
Read reviews and check blogs
Other disabled travellers may have recommendations for accommodation in your preferred area. Check review sites and blogs for honest summaries of facilities and service.
Ask the right questions
Don’t be afraid to ask staff at hotels or holiday cottage owners for more information including measurements and photos of rooms. This can help you to prepare for your trip.
Call to book
Calling a hotel or homeowner direct to make your booking gives you an opportunity to make requests and get confirmation that you’ll be booked into the right room for your needs.
Get confirmation
Dodge any day of arrival snafus by insisting on written confirmation of your room type and any special amendments or services you’ve been promised.
The best hostel accommodation for wheelchair friendly holidays in Yorkshire
Committed to diversity and inclusion, we provide disabled holiday accommodation within its hostels wherever possible. Several Yorkshire properties include wheelchair suitable amenities, helping you to enjoy the very best that God’s Own County has to offer.
Explore the moors from YHA Dalby Forest
Located in the heart of Dalby Forest where adapted e-bikes are available to hire from the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, YHA Dalby Forest is ideally located for travellers hoping to experience the best of the North York Moors National Park Accessibility Project.
Catering for a range of needs, including those of wheelchair users, this project has ensured that local attractions are more accessible for all. In addition to bike hire, Tramper wheelchairs can also be hired from four different sites, making visits to natural areas like Sutton Bank easier. For a more sedate day out, the North Yorkshire Moors Railways offers wheelchair accessible steam train journeys through spectacular countryside.
Available for YHA Exclusive Hire, YHA Dalby Forest is an affordable choice for a group holiday. This snug hostel offers four large shared bedrooms, one of which is accessible, with its own en-suite. This bathroom includes a wheel-in shower and low-level sink for easier morning ablutions. Level floors make this hostel easy to get around, while on-site car parking and proximity to a bus stop ensures good access to all the local area has to offer.
Enjoy miles without stiles at YHA Malham
One of the main objectives for the team overseeing the Yorkshire Dales National Park in recent years has been to open up this area of almost unspoilt countryside to all. To achieve this, initiatives have been put in place to create wheelchair suitable routes throughout, with wide pathways, minimal gradients and smooth surfaces, allowing wheelchair users to get right into the countryside without struggle. In addition Trampers – all terrain four wheel drive buggies – are available to hire, ideal for wheelchair travellers with a sense of adventure. From going off-road to visit Ingleborough Cave or taking a gentler path to see the famed Malham Cove or Gordale Scar, the Yorkshire Dales offers a wide range of fully accessible all-natural delights.
Comfortable and cosy, YHA Malham on the Pennine Way is an affordable choice for those planning to explore the Yorkshire Dales. Close to the Yorkshire Dales Cycle Way, this hostel with cycle shed is a good choice for those going by handcycle and is also well located for public transport with a bus stop just metres from the front door. Disability friendly accommodation at YHA Malham comes in the shape of a large three bed accessible bedroom with wheelchair friendly en-suite bathroom and wide doors.
Discover the Howardian Hills from YHA Helmsley
A lesser known AONB nestled between the Yorkshire Wolds, the North York Moors National Park and the Vale of York, the Howardian Hills are named for the Howard family of Castle Howard. This picturesque little corner of Yorkshire may not be as famous as neighbouring natural sites but it’s no less lovely for it. The best bit? It’s full of accessible trails suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users. With GPS mapped routes available to download via app, getting around the Hills is easy for all. And when you’re tired of exploring? Why not head into nearby Malton, the county’s food capital for a bite to eat at one of the many local accessible restaurants or cafes?
With a three bed accessible bedroom complete with en-suite, YHA Helmsley is well equipped and perfectly located for both the Howardians and the North York Moors. Car parking is available (with assistance from staff if needed) here, however, getting around using public transport is easy too thanks to the hostel’s proximity to a step-free bus stop.
Have a historic stay at YHA York
While historic cities like York come with their challenges – winding lanes, ancient buildings and cobbled walkways – there are still wonderful ways to experience all they have to offer. With good accessible transport connections getting to and getting around York is hassle-free for wheelchair users. Wheelchair friendly must-visits in the vicinity include spectacular Castle Howard, setting for the iconic 80s TV adaptation of Brideshead Revisited, and centrally located York Minster where ramps and accessible parking make wheelchair visits possible. No trip to York is complete without a visit to Betty’s Café Tea Room of course. Home to arguably the nation’s favourite afternoon tea, Betty’s has accessible loos, ramps and a lift, meaning your wheelchair won’t keep you from enjoying those dainty sandwiches.
Situated on the outskirts of York city centre with direct access to a frequent low-level access bus service, YHA York is an ideal base for exploring this small but perfectly formed city. A large accessible bedroom with disabled suitable bathroom is available in the hostel’s annex while in the main building a spacious café bar and lounge with access to a disabled WC provides the ideal spot for evening lounging.
Wild and windswept breaks at YHA Whitby
A characterful coastal town, Whitby is famed as the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula, not to mention as one of the best seafood sites in the UK. You don’t have to be completely obsessed with bivalves or vampires to visit this part of East Yorkshire though. Providing plenty of wheelchair accessible sights, including the quaint Whitby Museum and Art Gallery and the intriguing Captain Cook Museum as well as the lovely sandy beach, accessed by concrete slope, there’s loads to do and see here in town as well as out in the vast North York Moors National Park.
Located next door to the spectacular ruins of Whitby Abbey, YHA Whitby is a tourist sight all of its own. A Grade 1 listed mansion dating back to the 12th century, this hostel has a number of spacious rooms including one wheelchair accessible en-suite room, reached by lift, complete with roll-in shower, shower seat, grab rails and emergency cord. Though direct access to the town is via the famed 199 steps (a challenge for any visitor), the hostel has accessible car parking with the option to reserve a priority space.
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Photo credit: Helen Hotson / Stephen Meese / Josie Elias / SakhanPhotography / hardyuno / JulietPhotography / Adobe Stock
