Yorkshire Adventure
Outdoor puzzle adventures in Knaresborough. Follow the map, read a little history (or a ghost story) at each stop, and solve a puzzle using what's in front of you. A bit like an escape room, but around town. No install needed.
The original trail. Ten stops through Knaresborough's history, from the Market Cross down to the river and up to the castle.
10 stops · 1–2 hours · All ages
Start Historic Knaresborough
All the chills, none of the crags. A shorter ghost trail that keeps to the town centre.
9 stops · About an hour · Ages 8+
Start the Town Trail
The full haunting. Murderers, prophets and restless spirits, from the old streets down to the river and up the crags.
15 stops · 1.5–2 hours · Brave explorers
Start the Dark TrailNo sign-up · Runs in your browser · Free · Location used for the map and directions
Learn about Knaresborough's history, and its darker side
A built-in map shows where you are and guides you to the next stop
Two haunted trails, full of murderers, prophets and restless spirits, made with Knaresborough Youth Council
Escape-room-style puzzles at every location—work together to crack each challenge
Play in the browser—share the adventure and use multiple phones or devices together
Free to play. If you enjoy it, chip in to a local charity or buy me a coffee via links in the game
Yorkshire Adventure is a set of free puzzle trails around Knaresborough, North Yorkshire. They work like an outdoor escape room: at each stop you read a little about where you're standing, then solve a puzzle using what's in front of you to unlock the next set of directions.
Historic Knaresborough is the original treasure hunt through the town's history, for all ages. Haunted Knaresborough is two ghost trails made with Knaresborough Youth Council: the shorter Town Trail and the full Dark Trail. More about the haunted trails →
All three trails are free, and always will be. No ticket, no booking fee, nothing to unlock. I'm Jamie. I live in Knaresborough and built this as a hobby project for people visiting the town.
Donations are very welcome, though, and they go straight to local causes rather than to me.
At the end of Historic Knaresborough you can also give to Friends of Aspin School or Henshaw's, and there's a buy-me-a-coffee option, because I really like coffee. Know another local cause worth supporting? Drop me a message.
Everything runs in your phone's browser: no app, no account and nothing to book. The map shows where you are and where to head next. Please be careful walking while on your phone, and stay aware of your surroundings.
Historic Knaresborough takes around one to two hours, the Dark Trail one and a half to two hours, and the Town Trail about an hour. There's no timer, so go at your own pace, and please support local businesses as you go!
In the market square, at the Market Cross (Historic Knaresborough) or the Old Royal Oak right next to it (the haunted trails). It's a short walk from the train station and the main car parks, and every trail finishes near where it began.
Historic Knaresborough is for all ages, with easy and hard versions of every puzzle. The ghost trails talk about ghosts and murderers, so we'd say ages 8 and up. The Town Trail is shorter and a little less scary; the Dark Trail has the gorier stories and the steeper walk.
No, they're open all year. Play in daylight, or at dusk for the full effect. After dark, bring a torch: you'll need to spot clues around you.
No. The haunted trails are self-guided on your phone, with no guide and nothing to book. If you'd like a guided walk with a storyteller, Knaresborough Ghost Walks run those.
A charged phone with mobile data, comfortable shoes and clothes for the weather. The trails are outdoors and include some hills and steps.
Yes to both. Everyone can open the trail on their own phone and solve the puzzles together, and progress is saved on your device, so you can stop for a drink or come back another day.