NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS
Wild, windswept and wonderful, the North York Moors are a breath of fresh air. Comprising over 1,400 miles of natural beauty, this enchanting region is home to heather moorland, pine forests, rolling hills and shimmering coastline, not to mention badgers, roe deer, red squirrels and hawks. Look closer and you’ll discover historic abbeys, castles and priories, traditional pubs and ‘hidden’ villages and hamlets.
THE BEST VIEW IN ENGLAND
To give you a flavour of just how spectacular the North York Moors National Park is, James Herriot described Sutton Bank as ‘the best view in England’. You can’t help but immerse yourself in its alluring wildness and experience pure moments of bliss as you saunter through beautiful woodland, skim pebbles across streams and breathe in the history that whispers through ancient castles and villages.
STEEPED IN HISTORY
The landscape of the moors has many secrets to share about the people who lived here in times gone past. Archeologists have discovered the remains of Iron and Bronze Age settlements and you’ll be spoilt by the number of abbeys, castles and priories that play hide and seek across the moorland. But perhaps the biggest clues come from the strong traditions which still thrive in the villages today.
SEAMLESSLY MODERN
Of course time and tide move on, and you’ll also find plenty of modern distractions within easy reach. The coastal resorts of Whitby, Robin Hood’s Bay and Scarborough are brimming with activities from fossil hunting to a spot of surfing. Or you can head to Thirsk and explore the home and surgery of James Herriot and try your hand in the TV studio.
Wensleydale Railway: Take a historic journey by steam train and trains of yesteryear with the Wensleydale Railway, through 16 miles of stunning Yorkshire countryside to the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Bolton Castle. Running between Leeming Bar [off the A1] and Redmire [for Bolton Castle], this breathtaking area inspired the artist Turner and was the setting for the TV series ‘All Creatures Great and Small.’ Getting to the Wensleydale Railway couldn’t be easier. Leeming Bar is under a mile from the A1, north of Leeds and York or you can join the trains at Redmire, Leyburn or Bedale. There is also a half hourly bus service from Northallerton which takes just 14 minutes and is operated by ‘Dales and District.’ Press the stop button on the bus when you pass the town name sign for Leeming Bar and alight at the next stop. The station is on the right at the small roundabout, just three minutes by foot. A Rover ticket giving freedom of the railway costs £18 for adults, £15.50 senior citizen, £1 child, except on special event days. A range of single and return fares are also available between all locations. It is wise to check for service updates here before travelling.