North Yorkshire between moorland, coast and cultural heritage

North Yorkshire showcases its unique diversity between expansive moorland, coastal landscapes, historic buildings and a vibrant museum culture. The North York Moors National Park covers 44,000 hectares of moorland stretching from the heart of North Yorkshire to the coast. Walkers, riders and cyclists can find 2,250 kilometres of public rights of way there. The different route lengths and landscape areas help you compare active days with cultural discoveries.

Nature and trails

At How Stean Gorge, visitors can explore natural caves and walk through water-filled gorges. The limestone of the gorge is designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Mother Shipton’s Cave includes a picturesque, one-mile-long walk along the River Nidd. The Petrifying Well is also located there, a geological phenomenon in which falling water turns everyday objects to stone.

Culture and history

Studley Royal is an 18th-century water garden with canals, ponds, cascades, lawns, hedges, garden buildings, gates and statues. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs along its own historic line for 18 miles from Pickering to Grosmont; via the national railway network, it continues for another 6 miles to Whitby.

The Rotunda Museum is one of the world’s first museums purpose-built for this purpose. It explores coastal heritage and geology, displays fossils and depictions from the Jurassic period, and presents artefacts from the 11,000-year-old Star-Carr collection. Middleham Castle is known as one of the places where Richard III spent his childhood; the Norman keep is one of the largest in the country.

The first monastery on the site of Whitby Abbey was founded around 657 and developed into an important religious centre of the Anglo-Saxon world. Whitby Abbey was the setting for the Synod of Whitby in 664. Richmond Castle is one of the finest and most complete 11th-century fortresses in the country and is also England’s best-preserved early Norman castle. Easby Abbey is one of Britain’s best-preserved Premonstratensian monasteries and was founded around 1152 by Roald, the Constable of Richmond.

The museum at Knaresborough Castle presents royal history and includes a secret tunnel. It stands above the River Nidd and offers views, medieval ruins and a Tudor courtroom; the grounds provide family-friendly activities. Mother Shipton’s Cave has been open since 1630 and is considered England’s oldest visitor attraction.

Cuisine and regional tradition

The Wensleydale Creamery visitor centre hosts live cheese-making demonstrations. The “Taste of Yorkshire” tasting room offers pairings with artisan cheeses. At the visitor centre, visitors can also learn about the 1,000-year tradition of cheese-making in the Yorkshire Dales.

Places in the surrounding area

In the immediate vicinity of North Yorkshire are Hutton Conyers Castle and Ripon Ailcy Hill, both castles. Givendale Manor House and Tanfield Castle are located in the surrounding area, both castles. Nearby are The Island, an island, and Hollin Head Wood, a hill. Pillmore Hill, a hill, is also located in the immediate vicinity.

Other places in North Yorkshire include: Cray, Winteringham, Wigglesworth, Tollerton, Threshfield, Thirsk, Tadcaster, South Milford, Skipton, Settle, Selby, Scalby, Ruswarp, Ripon, Ravenscar, Pickering, Pateley Bridge, Otterburn, Northallerton, Newton-Le-Willows, Middleham, Masham, Malton, Malham, Leyburn, Knaresborough, Kirkbymoorside, Kettlewell, Huby, Hovingham, Helmsley, Hawnby, Harrogate, Goathland, Ganton, Escrick, Easingwold, Crathorne, Catterick Bridge, Busby, Burnsall, Bedale, Great Broughton, Bolton Abbey, Scotch Corner, Wykeham, Monk Fryston, Richmond, Carlton Miniott, Austwick, Bainbridge, Nawton, Hinderwell, West Witton, Bilbrough, Egton, Redcar, Hunton, Clapham, Whorlton, Danby, Grassington, Whitby, Aldwark, Aysgarth, Lothersdale, Crosby, Castleton, Shipton, Burrill, Ripley, Gargrave, Boroughbridge, Long Preston, Hipswell, Willerby, Rosedale Abbey, Cropton, Flaxton, Hawes, Burniston, Cawood, Stillingfleet, Robin Hood's Bay, Ingleton, Carperby, Cloughton, Oldstead, Saltburn-By-The-Sea, Hackness, Appleton-Le-Moors, Stokesley, Sherburn In Elmet, York, Low Row, Coxwold, Thornton Dale, Hunmanby, Green Hammerton, Colton, Riccall, Staithes, Whenby, West Rounton, Thornton Steward, Thixendale, Sneaton, Sleights, Settrington, Rillington, Oswaldkirk, Norton, Kildale, Bentham, Hebden, Grosmont, Draughton, Crayke, Cononley, Cayton, Burythorpe, Burton-In-Lonsdale, Airton, Dalton, Alne, Embsay, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Hambleton, Hetton, Birstwith, Felixkirk, Darley, Hellifield, Brompton, Tockwith, Linton-on-Ouse, Brafferton, Redmire, Great Edstone, Hopperton, Newsham, Flixton, Well, Thwaite, Thornton Watlass, Thornton-le-Moor, Sand Hutton, Muker, Middlesmoor, Bradley, Gristhorpe, East Harlsey, Commondale, Stearsby, Sutton-on-the-Forest, Stainsacre, Mickleby, Spofforth, South Kilvington, Sandsend, Lealholm, Battersby, Oulston, Reeth, Cowling, Gilling East and Carnforth.

To the higher-level travel overview: Yorkshire And The Humber.