family-friendly walk in York is always a great way to get everyone outside for some exercise and fresh air. It’s even more fun with the bonus of a drink and cake or maybe lunch as a treat at the end of your walk!We’ve listed some fantastic independent cafes and coffee shops in and around York that you can include on your next family walk. To make your life even easier we’ve suggested where you could walk too. Enjoy these walks in York with cafes nearby!
☕️ Cafe details: Laura and Mark run the Dark House Espresso bar, a converted horsebox, located in the centre of York in the Shambles Market. They offer amazing coffee and a homemade wholesome menu if you are feeling hungry.
🚶♀️Where to walk: There are so many fantastic walks to do around York city centre, including a few gems that will even keep little legs entertained. You could walk around the city walls (or a small section of it) and there are plenty of free trails to enjoy, such as the Cat Trail or the Squirrel Trail in the Museum Gardens. You could even walk the Chocolate Trail whilst sipping on a delicious hot chocolate! Plus don’t forget about the Mumbler Mythical Creature Quest around York which goes very close to the Dark Horse Expresso Bar – you can download our FREE trail here!
💜 15% discount if you mention York Mumbler 💜
ℹ️ Find out more: See Mumbler for more information about the Dark Horse or see the Dark Horse website.
🗺 Location: 5 Silver Street, Shambles Market, York, YO1 8RY
☕️ Cafe details: Bluebird Bakery is a shop and cafe where everything is baked freshly on the premises. Grab a coffee and pastry to go before or after your walk! Or there is plenty of seating inside and out of this family-friendly cafe if you fancy a drink and a rest after your walk!
🚶♀️Where to walk: If you turn right out of Bluebird Bakery onto Acomb Road, you can walk to West Bank Park in 5 minutes. You can walk through West Bank Park and in a loop back up to where you came from. There is also a great play area in West Bank Park whilst you are there!
ℹ️ Find out more: See more details on Bluebird Bakery’s website or find them on Instagram. Open Monday – Saturday 8am – 4pm
🗺 Location: 201 Acomb Rd, Acomb, York YO24 3HD
☕️ Cafe details: An independent coffee shop in Haxby offering snacks, lunch options and all-day brunch! Enjoy their award-winning brownies! Where possible they use local independent suppliers.
🚶♀️Where to walk: There are 5 suggested walking rounds available in this pdf that range from 30 minutes to just over an hour. There is also a lovely duck pond in Haxby and one in nearby Wigginton if you want to build in another fun activity (whilst you finish your massive milkshake!)
ℹ️ Find out more: See more details on Curious Coffee’s website or find them on Instagram. Open Monday – Friday 7.30am -4pm, Saturday 8.30am -4pm & Sunday 9am – 3pm.
🗺 Location: 8 Haxby Shopping Centre, Haxby York YO32 2LU
☕️ Cafe details: Robinsons is an independent neighbourhood café serving delicious, homemade food. Alongside a fantastic range of drinks and you can enjoy breakfast or brunch too. Yummy!
🚶♀️Where to walk: A great place to start your walk would be around the Knavesmire to Bishopthorpe Road. Or if you fancy a short walk and are looking to include some extra fun for the kids, why not spend some time playing in Rowntree Park and then wander over for a well-earnt drink and snack – Robinsons Cafe is just a 10 minute/half-mile stroll away.
ℹ️ Find out more: See more details and a full menu on Robinsons Cafe website. Robinsons is open Monday, Thursday & Friday 8.30am – 3pm, Saturday & Sunday 9am – 3pm and closed Tuesday & Wednesday.
🗺 Location: 7 Bishopthorpe Road, York, YO23 1NA
☕️ Cafe details: This independent coffee shop in Fulford, York offers a brilliant, ever-changing selection of homemade cakes and serves locally roasted coffee. Well worth a visit!
🚶♀️Where to walk: You can enjoy a circular walk in Fulford around Fulford Ings which takes about 40 minutes (1 1/2 miles). Or there are some great walking routes around Walmgate Stray which vary in length from one to three miles so there is something for everyone.
ℹ️Find out more: Check out their Facebook or Instagram to see pictures of deliciousness. Open Tuesday – Saturday between 8am-4pm.
🗺 Location: 52 Broadway, York, YO10 4JX
☕️ Cafe details: This authentic Sicilian Caffé is located in the beautiful village of Wheldrake. They serve up Italian pastries and food, and offer amazing Sicilian coffee.
🚶♀️Where to walk: Enjoy a walk through Wheldrake Woods, which has a vast range of wildlife, a mixture of trees and lots of informal paths to wander. There is also a decent 6 mile walking route around Wheldrake which takes about 2 1/2 hours.
ℹ️Find out more: See Caffé Valeria’s website or Facebook page for more details. Open Tuesday to Friday 8am – 5pm, Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm & closed Mondays.
🗺 Location: 3A Main St, Wheldrake, York, YO19 6AG
☕️ Cafe details: This independent cafe in Copmanthorpe serves homemade food for breakfast, lunch or just delicious snacks after a long walk! Fabulous coffee and a warm welcome await you at Little Acorns.
🚶♀️Where to walk: There are four walking routes available here that vary in distance from 4 to 11 miles. All routes start and finish at the Royal Oak Pub on Main Street.
ℹ️ Find out more: See Little Acorns Facebook page for more information. Open Mon 9am – 3pm, Tues to Fri 8.30am – 3.30pm & Sat 9am – 2pm & closed Sundays.
🗺 Location: Copmanthorpe, York YO23 3SE
☕️ Cafe details: This independent coffee shop is located within the Poppleton Community Centre. It serves Square Mile coffee, yummy homemade cakes and sandwiches. Plus they offer pizzas in the evening – perfect if you are on an evening summer stroll.
🚶♀️Where to walk: One of the easiest walks is to park at Poppleton Community Centre, then walk out of the centre and turn left. Then turn left immediately up Ouse Moor Lane. Then follow a circular walk around the rural backfields of Poppleton: Follow Ouse Moor Lane and turn left down Common Croft Lane. Then follow this and turn left down West Fields Lane. Follow this and turn left again down the Green where you will arrive back in Poppleton village. Follow the main road back up to the Community Centre where you will find the Poppleton Social for a well-deserved coffee and cake!
ℹ️Find out more: Find out more on the Poppleton Social website and on their Facebook page. Open Monday 8.30am – 4pm, Tuesday – Friday 8.30am – 11pm, Saturday 10am – 11pm & closed Sundays.
🗺 Location: Poppleton Social Community Centre Main Street, York YO26 6JT
☕️ Cafe details: Enjoy a wander around the farm and the best place to enjoy amazing eggs from Yolk Farm’s free range hens! Enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch or coffee from this award-winning farm shop!
🚶♀️Where to walk: Staveley Nature Reserve, run by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, is only a couple of miles away from Yolk Farm (postcode: HG5 9LQ / What.3.words///spoons.dose.bogus). Staveley is a superb wetland reserve with something for everyone, from keen birdwatchers to families who just fancy a leisurely stroll on its network of paths. There’s a small car park and the reserve has good accessibility for wheelchairs and buggies. You can find more details of Staveley Nature Reserve here.
Alternatively, you could take an easy walk from Boroughbridge along the River Ure and the Ripon Canal on the flat canal towpath where there are plenty of barges, locks and bridges to see. Or how about some mysterious ancient monuments? This Boroughbridge “Town Tour” will take you past the ancient “Devil’s Arrows”. More walks of varying lengths and difficulties can be found via the Boroughbridge Town Council website here.
ℹ️Find out more: See Yolk Farm website for more information. Open Monday – Thursday & Saturday 8.30am – 5.30pm, Friday 8.30am – 7pm, Sunday 9am – 4pm
🗺 Location: Minskip Road, Minskip, York YO51 9HY
☕️ Cafe details: With a great range of homemade cakes and coffee available, plus picnics and afternoon teas available for collection (pre-ordering required).
🚶♀️Where to walk: If you are after a short walk then Acomb Wood and Meadow Local Nature Reserve is a 20-25 minute circular walk, and approximately a one mile walk from Love to Eat. Or you could pop by Love to Eat after a visit to Askham Bog if you are in the car.
ℹ️Find out more: See more on Love to Eats Facebook page. Open Tuesday – Saturday 9am – 3pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm (closed Jan & until early Feb on Sundays) & closed Mondays.
🗺 Location: 52 Moor Lane, Woodthorpe, York YO24 2QY
Note: Opening times & all other details are correct at the time of publication (Jan 2024).
🚶♀️💜🚶♀️We hope you enjoy one of these walks in York followed by a visit to a cafe!🚶♀️💜🚶♀️
