Rented a cottage near Keighley the week after next....

Hi, Just off the top of my head . .and because it's all on our doorstep :) There is Skipton Woods (at the back of Skipton Castle) a really nice walk. We went last weekend and saw kingfishers ! Further afield, but still well within your 60 minute drive time, you have Malham Cove (for the Peregrines and other birds), Janet's Foss & Gordale Scar have fantastic walks/scenery & wildlife.
For something a bit different, there is Threshfield Quarry, a disused limestone quarry at Threshfield near Skipton, It's great for walks/history and nature.
There's Bolton Abbey, fantastic walks along the river bank, loads of wildlife and of course the Abbey.
Just down the road from Keighley, you have Haworth, home of the famous Brontë sisters, Brontë Parsonage Museum is great. There is also the steam railway too.
For seeing red kites . head for Harewood House near Leeds (still within 60 minutes drive from Keighley!) Along with the main house, there are gardens and grounds to explore. Head to Muddy Boots Café for close up red kite action !!!
Hope that gives you a few ideas :)
Sharon

You're more than welcome. Have a fab holiday :)

Upper Wharfedale is a great birding area and easily accessible from your holiday location with Bolton Abbey being one of our favourites. There is a great variety of habitats from wild moorland tops for our hill birds,a great stretch of river and mixed woodland plus a popular raptor viewing area nearby at Barden Scale. The car parking for the areas 3 car parks may seem a little steep but we find it well worth it,oh there are two good cfes to try as well,the Strid Cafe being a favourite of ours. Hope this helps

That sounds great too, thanks Pete... looks like we'll need a holiday to get over our holiday!! :D

Many thanks Sharon and Pete, we had a splendid time thanks to your advices! I'll post a few pics as I resize them, to start with Bolton Abby

A Common Sandpiper (I think)

Goosander and baby

Young Grey Wagtail

Unknown duck species at zoom limit so not great...

Duckling?!

Nuthatch...probably youngster

Hedgehog that bumbled out onto the path right in front of us

Another Goosander

Possibly Treecreeper?

Helmet-Head

and Mr Inquisitive

Skipton Castle Wood (and a few from the cottage window!)

Hares

Kestrels not quite balanced in the breeze (breeze= blowing a hooley!!)

That's better!!

Hares again!

Little Owl

Now we'll leave the cottage, and if you go down in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise...

Terrapin

A young something or other...was too small to be a blackbird

Red Admiral

Recently fledged blackbird

Grey Wagtail (looks young or knackered!)

Not sure, thought at 1st juvenile grey wagtail but not convinced

Seen something of interest!!

It looks like we turned up trumps in Yorkshire,we aim to please

I was aiming my camera mainly toward Lancashire, Pete