From Newcastle to Helmsley, this tour of the North York Moors offers everything you could want from a holiday in Northern England: great hiking routes, nature, exciting history and of course good food and cosy accommodation.
If you want to travel with your own car, Newcastle has a ferry connection with Amsterdam, in the Netherlands (duration just under 16 hours). DFDS offers seven sailings a week. Route 2 heads away from the coast through the North York Moors. Route 1 and Route 2 can also be easily combined.
The journey from Newcastle by car to the northern part of the North York Moors plateau takes about an hour. The first stop is Roseberry Topping. This 320m-high hill, between the villages of Great Ayton and Newton under Roseberry, is unmistakable for its semicone-shaped peak and jagged cliffs. It is also called the “Yorkshire Matterhorn”. There are various hiking routes uphill, the easiest is a good four kilometres long and takes about 1.5 hours – and the views along the way are spectacular.
A few kilometres further east is the Danby Beacon, the lesser-known relative of the same moor ridge. The view of the moor, valley and sea from the summit here is almost even more spectacular. At the Danby Lodge National Park Centre, less than two kilometres away, you can learn all about the geology and history of the region.
The King’s Head is a traditional English country inn to the west of Roseberry Topping.
Onwards to Saltergate, just under 40 kilometres further south. Here you’ll find the “Hole of Horcum”, a breathtaking, natural cauldron – a moor landscape that has its charm in every season. The scenically spectacular hiking route between the Hole of Horcum and Levisham Moor is around eight kilometres long. A detour along the route to the ruins of Skelton Tower at Corn Hill Point is worthwhile: you can stop here and look over the tracks of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, and if you’re lucky, a steam train will be passing by.
The bustling town of Pickering is very close by. In addition to the ruins of Pickering Castle and the church of Saints Peter and Paul with its colourful murals, the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a magnet for visitors. The steam train takes visitors through the middle of the North York Moors from Pickering via Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont to the beautiful coastal town of Whitby. It’s possible to ride partial distances. You can also book tickets in the historic dining car or other events, such as a one-day photo workshop.
The Fox and Hounds is a cosy, traditional four-star inn in the heart of North York Moors National Park in Danby.
The next day we go to nearby picturesque Hutton-le-Hole. The village is flanked by the limestone headlands of the Tabular Hills. Sheep roam and graze on the slopes, while a brook splashes through the village. There are a number of hiking trails, and it is also a beautiful spot for a picnic in the countryside. Worth seeing is the Ryedale Folk Museum in the open air, right in the centre of Hutton-le-Hole.
Lastingham is just over three kilometres away, making it a pleasant hiking route. In the small village there is an impressive church: Saint Mary’s, which dates from 1250. From here it is 18 kilometres to Nunnington. The small village on the banks of the River Rye is known for the Nunnington Hall estate, which dates back to the 13th century. There are changing exhibitions, an organically managed garden and a cafe. The All Saints and James’ Church is also worth seeing.
From Nunnington, head 10km west to Helmsley. Helmsley Walled Garden is a five-acre garden adjacent to Helmsley Castle. Visitors can marvel at terrific perennial arrangements, a clematis garden as well as a kitchen garden and a cottage garden. Fruit trees line walls and paths and there is a special collection of Yorkshire apple varieties. The Vine House Café offers food and drinks and also picnic baskets – so you can also take a seat in one of the gardens for lunch.
Rievaulx is only five kilometres from here. There, visitors can visit the spectacular ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and the Rievaulx Terrace, which is located high above the abbey and is an 800-metre-long terrace with a Doric temple at one end and an Ionic temple at the other. Rievaulx Terrace was planned and implemented around 1750 by Thomas Duncombe II. There are many viewpoints and many wildflowers bloom here in spring and summer. Fantastic!
The Black Swan is a former 15th century post office in Helmsley, now a cosy hotel with lots of charm.
Today we head west to Sutton Bank. How about a bike ride? You can rent a bike at Sutton Bank Bikes. There are tracks for beginners as well as experienced cyclists – all offer great panoramic views. As an alternative to the bike tour: At the Sutton Bank National Park Centre you can enjoy the beautiful view and hike about 2.5 kilometres to Kilburn White Horse, a 97m-by-67m-large hill figure that was created in the middle of the 19th century. From here you can go to Castle Howard. This magnificent manor house is considered to be the first Baroque building in England and was built in the 18th century. In addition to the castle, the surrounding area of various gardens, temples, lakes and fountains is impressive and world-famous.
