|
|
| North Yorkshire Moors |
Bordered by Whitby & Scarborough on the North East coast and Thirsk and Pickering inland, the North Yorkshire Moors National Park is one of the finest landscapes in Britain.
With almost 1,400 miles (2,300km) of footpaths and bridleways and 90 square miles of open moorland, although a National Park, much of the land is still in private ownership. Major towns & villages of interest include Pickering, Whitby, Malton, Thirsk, Helmsley, Goathland, Robin Hoods Bay & Stokesley.
To find accommodation on the British Hotels Guide In North Yorkshire, click Here.
Places to visit
Whitby
Whitby is a small fishing port on the North East Coast, the harbour overlooked by it’s famous ruined abbey. With its cobbled streets, picturesque marketplace and Captain Cook connections, Whitby is a place full of history.
The Abbey was originally founded in 657AD but has been destroyed and rebuilt several times, the present ruins date from the Benedictine Abbey of 1220. Near to the abbey is St. Mary’s church which featured in Bram Stokers gothic novel, Dracula. The church can be reached by climbing the 199 steps from the harbourside.
Whitby’s most famous resident was Captain James Cook (1728-1779) who came here to learn his seaman’s skills. His most famous ships 'Endeavour', 'Resolution', 'Adventure' and 'Discovery' were all built in Whitby.
It was not until the completion of the railway from Pickering, in 1836, that the town's landward isolation was broken.
Also in Whitby, you will find "The Heartbeat Story exhibition", newly located in The Shambles Market Hall, off Church Street. It is open daily between Easter and October.
Robin Hoods Bay
Located six miles south of Whitby, Robin Hoods Bay is a pretty former fishing village dating back to 1536 with a plethora of tiny cobbled streets, alleyways and red roofed houses which cling to the side of the cliff.
During the 17th and 18th century, the village was renowned for smuggling. The fishing industry in the village declined at the end of the 19th century. Robin Hoods Bay is protected from the ravages of the sea by a massive sea wall which was built in 1975. Visitors should leave their car in the public car park at the top of the village and walk through the village to the dock.
Robin Hoods Bay is also the start/finish of the Coast to coast walk, which was the brainchild of the famous fell walker Alfred Wainwright in 1973. The walk runs from St Bees on the Irish sea (west) coast to Robin Hoods Bay – a distance of 190 miles, much of it through the North Yorkshire Moors.
Pickering
Pickering is officially known as the gateway to the North Yorkshire Moors and is home to the North Yorkshire Moors railway (Britian’s longest) which runs from Pickering to Grosmont along 18 scenic miles through the National Park. Also, nearby is Flamingo land Theme Park and Zoo.
To find hotels in Pickering - Click Here
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Pickering Station, Pickering North Yorkshire YO18 7AJ
Tel: 01751 472508
Website: www.northyorkshiremoorsrailway.com
The original line was opened in 1836 and was an important trade link between Pickering and the port of Whitby. The line is now owned by the North Yorkshire Historical Railway Trust who have run the line as a living museum since 1974. The NYM Railway is a great outdoor experience for all the family.
The Railway has featured in several feature length films over the years including, Brideshead Revisited and All Creatures Great and Small. More recently Pickering Station was dressed for Possession starring Gwynneth Paltrow. For the first film based on J K Rowling's series, 'Harry Potter and The Philosopher's Stone'. Goathland Station was turned into "Hogsmeade" where the school of wizardry and witchcraft is based. The railway's shop on the platform was transformed into the "Prefect's Room" and the Ladies toilets became the "Wizard's Room".
On television Poirot, Sherlock Holmes, Casualty and of course, Heartbeat have all featured the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in their programmes and all are set in different periods.
Flamingo Land Theme Park & Zoo
Kirby Misperton, Malton, North Yorkshire. YO17 6UX.
Tel: 0870 752 8000
The UK's only Theme Park, Zoo and Holiday Park all on one site. Flamingo Land is one of the UK's leading tourist attractions and last year attracted over 1.4 million visitors. It's not just the kids who love Flamingo Land, everyone does!
You'll be amazed at the fantastic kinds of animal life at Flamingo Land.
From the most powerful and fierce to the most rare and endangered species.
Come along and enjoy a great family day out and visit the world's wildest animals!
Beck Isle Museum
The Beck Isle Museum is housed in a handsome Regency residence near the centre of Pickering, adjacent to the Pickering Beck. Here William Marshall planned England's first Agricultural Institute in the early 1800's. It is therefore fitting that today this house should contain a collection of bygones relating largely to the rural crafts and living style of Ryedale. The collection is not restricted to a particular period of interest, it aims to reflect the local life and customs and to trace many of the developments in social and domestic life during the last 200 years. Formality has been avoided as far as possible and the accessibility of most objects displayed is a particular attraction. A selection of photographs from the extensive Sidney Smith collection held in the museum are displayed around the building - particularly the photography and model rooms. Sidney Smith was born in Pickering and his work appreciated world wide. He is thought of as a successor to Frank Meadow Sutcliffe of Whitby.
Scarborough
For more information on Scarborough, please read our Scarborough Article by clicking Here
Goathland
Goathland is a picturesque village set around wide grass areas of open common land along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. It is famous on television as the fictional "Aidensfield" in the series Heartbeat.
The Goathland Hotel situated in the heart of the village is better known as the Aidensfield Arms in the Heartbeat series and there are many other easily recognisable locations are dotted around the village. Goathland station featured as Hogsmeade in the Harry Potter films.
To find accommodation in Goathland (Aidensfield!), click Here.
Thirsk
Thirsk is a pretty market town with a cobbled market place which dates back to medieval times. The clock tower was built in 1896 to commemorate the marriage of the then Duke of York (who came to the throne as George V) to the future Queen Mary. Thirsk has had many famous residents in the past including Thomas Lord, who gave his name to the London cricket ground he founded, was born in Kirkgate in 1755. The most famous resident of Thirsk was James Herriot (real name Alf White) the famous vet whos books about his practice in nearby Hambleton were turned into both film and TV Series (Thirsk was the fictional Darrowby in the TV series). A heritage centre was established to the memory of this much loved vet and author.
The World Of James Herriot
23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, YO7 1PL
Tel: 01845 524234 Fax: 01845 525333
The World of James Herriot is a unique tribute to vet and author James Herriot (Alf Wight).
Based in his original surgery at 23 Kirkgate, Thirsk, North Yorkshire - the 'Skeldale House' of the Herriot books - it takes visitors on a journey back to the 1940's and 1950's.
Helmsley
Helmsley, located between Scarborough and Thirsk is a pretty market town situated in Ryedale. The town had a strong weaving industry in the 17th century. Nowadays it is the gathering place for walkers on the Cleveland Way, Englands longest footpath, which continues for 108 miles across the NY moors.
The medieval castle at Helmsley dates back to the 12th and 13th century. During Elizabethan times it was the home to the Manners family. In the Civil war, the castle was held for King Charles II but was later destroyed in 1644 (apart from the mansion) by Parliamentarians under Sir Thomas Fairfax. A visitors centre now caters for tourists with a fine display of finds from the castles past.
Rievaulx Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey, a ruined medieval Cistercian monastry is situated 2 miles from Helmsley in a beautiful and tranquil valley. Founded in 1132 by St Bernard of Clairvaux, the abbey was once occupied by a community of 140 monks and 600 lay brethren and was once one of the wealthiest monasteries in the land. Most of the 13th-century church still stands to virtually its full height, a reminder of Rievaulx's original splendour, but the abbey was less fortunate and was destroyed in 1538 by Thomas Manners, first Earl of Rutland during the time of the dissolution.
Tourist Information Centres
Thirsk
49 Market Place, Thirsk YO7 1HA
Tel: 01845 522755 Fax: 01845 526230
Email: thirsktic@hambleton.gov.uk
Whitby
Langborne Road, Whitby North Yorkshire. YO21 1YN
Tel: 01947 602674
Website: www.whitbyonline.co.uk
Pickering Tourist Information
The Ropery, Pickering, North Yorkshire YO18 8DY
Tel: 01751 473791
Other useful links
www.moors.uk.net
www.ryedale.gov.uk
www.hambleton.gov.uk
www.discoveryorkshirecoast.com
www.northyorkshiretowns.co.uk
www.yorkshirevisitor.com
Accommodation in North Yorkshire Moors Area
Mallyan Spout Hotel, Goathland (Aidensfield!) - Click Here
Best Western Forest & Vale Hotel, Pickering - Click Here
17 Burgate Hotel, Pickering - Click Here
East Ayton Lodge Hotel, East Ayton - Click Here |
|
|
|
|
|
