Holiday in Britain - The North

Yorkshire

If you’ve never contemplated a holiday in or even travelled north to Yorkshire you’re missing out on one of the most glorious and unspoilt parts of the crowded British Isles. This great swathe of the north of England encompasses three National Parks covering between them more than 1000 square miles of stunning and varied scenery just waiting to be explored. The National Parks of the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and Peak District each have their own characteristics but all share big, big skies and sweeping vistas.

In the Yorkshire Dales you’ll find an abundance of wildlife and plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor sports. By contrast, the North York Moors are characterized by picturesque villages, dramatic views from cliff tops, and miles of heather moorland. The wilder Peak District provides a rugged landscape of millstone grit, heather moorland, limestone dales and desolate bogs. Much of the moors and dales have been classified as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, thus helping to conserve and protect them for future generations.

Yorkshire offers so much to holidaymakers. It’s got quaint dales villages and market towns, magnificent ruins, grand estates with gardens, historic castles, abbeys and ancient churches, museums, many telling of its legacy of mills and mining. There are also arts and crafts centres, antiques and gift shops and excellent sporting facilities.

Yorkshire's grand stately homes help to put the region’s history into perspective. Many of them have been lived in by the same families for hundreds of years and are filled with family memorabilia, great works of art and priceless antiques. Two of the best are Castle Howard near York, the famed setting of ‘Brideshead Revisited’. This 18th century stately home is situated in the middle of the most amazing parkland complete with temples, lakes, statues and fountains; you can even take a boat trip on the Great Lake there. Castle Howard also boasts an Arboretum, excellent play area for the children and a farm shop as well as an exhibition explaining the Brideshead story. Ripley Castle has been in the Ingilby family for 700 years. Situated close to the village of Ripley and within easy driving distance of Harrogate, part of the home – the Old Tower – dates back to 1555 and it houses armour and the mysterious Priest’s Secret hiding place. The main house contains fabulous paintings and china and whilst there you can also while away several hours in the grounds enjoying the deer park, the Victorian walled gardens and formal gardens. There are many different trails and tours suitable for children and adults.

If the informality of visiting a castle or ruin is more appealing then three of the best are Skipton Castle, Richmond Castle and world famous Fountains Abbey. For 900 years Skipton Castle was the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and is today one of the best preserved medieval fortresses in England. Standing on a 40 metre high crag, it’s not difficult to see how the Castle repelled all who ventured near! Richmond Castle stands on a rocky promontory overlooking the River Swale and is amongst the oldest Norman stone fortresses, built just after the Norman Conquest. Legend has it that King Arthur is buried in a cavern beneath the castle. What is a known hard fact is that conscientious objectors were imprisoned in Richmond Castle during World War I; you’ll learn more about this particular event when you visit. Fountains Abbey near Ripon is something of a dateline hybrid. The Abbey’s ruins date from the 12th century, as does the only surviving 12th century Cistercian corn mill and they alone are worth a visit. Once there, however, you’ll also see the Elizabethan mansion, medieval deer park and the 18th century water garden.

Yorkshire also has a number of excellent museums, several of which celebrate the region’s Viking origins. Amongst the best is the Jorvik Viking Centre in York. Also in the city of York, a spooky couple of hours can be passed at York Castle Prison and Museum where you’ll experience the excellent recreation of the famous Victorian street, Kirkgate, redolent with the sights, sounds and smells of the Victorian age and learn about the prison’s infamous inmates who included highwayman, Dick Turpin. For those with a literary bent, a visit to the Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth where the famous sisters grew up is a must.

Outdoors types are well catered for in the region. Yorkshire is, of course, famous for its love of cricket and other big sports like rugby and horse racing. Aside from these, however, there are many other minority sports and pastimes to enjoy. Starting with great golf courses, there are plenty around, some open to visitors, whatever your handicap. Championship courses include Fulford in York and Moortown in Leeds, where you will also find 220 acre Moor Allerton, which has a 27 hole golf experience. Harrogate's Pannal Golf Club is an Open Championship Regional Qualifying Course, while the Crimple Valley course which is close by has a nine-hole pay and play that's perfect for beginners.

For something a bit different, however, visit one of many polo venues or a race track featuring a round of the British Touring Car Championships. For really rugged types, there’s also excellent fell running which originated in these parts and very challenging road racing and mountain biking - Yorkshire is hosting the first UK venue in the MTB XC World Cup in April 2010. Other activities and sports that will allow you to get really close to Yorkshire’s wonderful scenery include orienteering, horse riding, pony trekking and, of course, gentle or strenuous walking on the moors.

A holiday in Yorkshire, as action packed or relaxed as you want to make it is simply waiting for you.