Staying in a cottage neat Leyburn in Yorkshire the children were drawn to a brochure for a nearby attraction called ‘The Forbidden Corner’ just a few miles away near the town of Middleham so we set off one morning to visit. I should have read the brochure with more care because it does point out that it is only possible to visit after pre-booking so after being turned away I made reservations for the next day and had to break the disappointing news to the children.
This is a good idea as it turns out as it allows the site to regulate the number of visitors to prevent it becoming too overcrowded at peak times.
They soon got over it and we made alternative arrangements for the day and then returned at our appointed day and time for the promise of a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies, paths and passages that lead nowhere with extraordinary statues at every turn.
There is something quintessentially English about Follies, buildings or places without any real purpose except to satisfy a mad ambition and this is one of the best.
It seemed rather expensive to me when I paid the family entrance fee, left the gift shop and followed the path to the entrance and I was wondering how better I could have spent the £40 but within minutes I was certain that we had made the right decision because it turned out that this is a beautiful, four-acre Victorian garden in the Yorkshire Dales that is full of secrets, oddities and tricks.
It starts as a gentle saunter through a series of gardens with a squirting statue here, a baffling gate there but quickly turns into an enchanting, bewildering underground-overground labyrinth of passages, pathways, spiral staircases, stepping stones, revolving floors, pop-up fountains and wooden doors to somewhere – or nowhere.
It is pure genius and so good that it has recently voted best European folly of the 20th century by The Folly Fellowship and also voted the best children’s attraction in Yorkshire.
Interestingly the Forbidden Corner was not actually designed to be a Family Attraction in the first place. It was simply a private Victorian garden in a quiet spot in the North Yorkshire Dales, owned by a man called Colin Armstrong. He had the idea to turn part of it into a sort of folly for his family and friends. Just as a bit of fun – as English eccentrics with time on their hands tend to do. It is such a crazy place that when he opened it in 1994 he neglected to apply for planning permission and had to wait for six years for retrospective approval.
Places like this are wonderful, you arrive with low expectations and end up being blown away with excitement. On arrival I didn’t see how we could possibly spend a couple of hours there but we ended up going round twice and spending four. It is a giant maze with a labyrinth of paths and tunnels and with no map or formal route to follow then you have to have your wits about you to be careful not to miss something, I know that we did.
We would have stayed even longer because it had a nice restaurant and menu but there is so many hidden jets of water and surprise fountains that the children were soaked through by the time we finished and with no change of clothing we had to abandon dining plans and return to the cottage so here is a big tip – make sure the children have something to change into when you have finished the visit.
If you are close by, even if you are not, a visit to the Forbidden Corner gets my absolute recommendation for a great day out for all the family!
How excellent to find this place that made ALL the children happy.
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A hidden gem to be sure!
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What an amazing find. Fun for all ages.
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Absolutely – I know that I enjoyed it as much as the children!
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It’s a fun place, I winced at the entrance fee to be honest but we did have a great time there too.
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It seemed good value as we drove away!
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I can imagine our grandkids, and their grandfather (grandmother, too) going nuts over this place, Andrew. And I, for one, love eccentric English people. They seem to define the word. –Curt
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You would like it Curt. Not quite Burning Man but entertaining enough!
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It sounds a great place!
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It was a good find, I’m glad that I was talked into it!
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Andrew I smiled from beginning to end of this post! Your enthusiasm for the place really shines through not to mention that of the grandkids. So fabulous when one is pleasantly surprised rather than feeling one has wasted a chunk of money on a shiny tourist trap.
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If you are in Yorkshire ever be sure not to miss it Sue!
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Definitely on the list!
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It certainly looks enchanting.
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Enchanting and great fun definitely!
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Wonderful! 🙂 It’s donkeys years since we were there and admission was just paid at the door. Probably a good idea to have regulated it. I don’t remember it well and I expect they’ve added to it. Sounds great fun!
Hull made it onto the Antiques Roadshow this week. Don’t suppose you saw it?
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I enjoyed it Jo. Limiting numbers makes it more expensive I guess but it makes the visit less crowded than it could otherwise be. I missed AR in Hull!
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Iplayer? 🙂
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I am going to do that!
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Pingback: Entrance Tickets – The Forbidden Corner | Have Bag, Will Travel
It sounds really clever.
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Rich Englishmen make the best eccentrics!
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Money magically transforms crazy people into eccentrics.
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A good observation!
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It looks a marvellous place, especially for children. Hidden fountains are always good value, especially for the spectators.
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It is a good place for an afternoon!
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I love the Forbidden Corner. Very useful to have grandchildren and similar to justify return visits.
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I agree. Thanks for stopping by.
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I plan to do more than ‘stop by’. I need to do virtual visits to places we both seem to know.
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How wonderful
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Thanks Derrick, indeed it was!
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Sounds enchanting!
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Thanks Anabel. it was a really good day out!
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What a coincidence my son Joss and I have a visit planned for Spring.
The rest of the family have already visited and tell us that it is definitely worth our time.
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I am certain that you will enjoy it. Don’t forget to pack a change of clothes.
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What a fun, unique and eccentric place you found. I can imagine Sher and I taking the grand kids. The joy on the kid’s faces shine through in your photos.
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We certainly had a very happy day there!
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