Phil & Caroline's North Yorkshire

We think this part of North Yorkshire is one of the most beautiful areas in Britain which should be reason enough to come and see it but there is so much more to do and see. We have picked out a few of the places we love to visit.

Great beach, lovely views with a spectacular 25 minute drive there across the moors. The crab sandwiches at The Hart are good and the Sandside cafe has an outside seating area almost on the beach, there is also the Wits End Cafe and Walled Garden. Afterwards perhaps some shopping at the Turnstone Gallery. Whitby is only a short distance along the coast, with it's Abbey and famous 199 steps. For a special occasion on a summers evening we find the Fox and Hounds at Goldsborough hard to beat.

A relaxing oasis, Scampston has spectacular plants throughout the spring/summer/autumn. The café makes it enjoyable even for those without a green finger.

Less than 15 minutes away our closest town has everything you might need to while away the hours. There is a great farm shop and cafe at Cedar Barn and other Café’s including Feast which also has a great deli counter. A choice of good pubs like The White Swan Inn for lunch. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Beck Isle museum and Pickering castle are all well worth a visit. Monday is Market day.

A huge sense of history with the Minster, the city walls and The Shambles. There is also The Jorvik Viking Centre, The National Railway Museum, the famous Betty's Tearooms or a boat trip on the River Ouse. The shopping is pretty spectacular too. There are some great places to stop for lunch Oscars and the Blue Bicycle spring to mind.

So much more than just Brideshead but to be honest that’s enough for us. The house is breathtaking as it comes into view. If the beautiful gardens leave you feeling inspired there is an excellent garden centre next to the farm shop and cafe.

The route travels from Cawthorne, almost through our garden then across the moors. It is now only visible at Wades Causeway on Wheeldale moor but you can almost imagine the marching legions when you look at it.

There is something timeless about the sight and sound of the engine as it whistles past. A great way to see the Moors and especially Newtondale which is like a mini Grand Canyon rarely seen apart from by train although well worth the effort to walk through it. This is a very popular outing with special events run throughout the year like the War Weekend in October.

It can seem like you are the only person on earth when walking through the quieter parts of the forest. Very good paths make it ideal for visiting quiet glades and giant trees. Some areas of the forest were used as the Forbidden Forest in the Harry Potter Films. For a completely different and fun way to see the area Cavaliero offer horse drawn carriage tours. Also great for walking the dogs off the leads and for cranking up that mountain bike!

A lovely market town with Rievaulx Abbey, Duncombe park , The Walled Garden and Helmsley castle. Some really good gallery’s like Saltbox and nice little shops such as Hunters which is a great deli. The Star close by in Harome is one of the best pub/restaurants in the north of England; it is owned and run by chef Andrew Pern. Friday is Market day in Helmsley.

Local Events 2011

February

18th - 20th Coastival, Scarborough

March
2nd - 3rd , 6th - 10th, 12th - 13th & 9th April - Eskdale Festival of the Arts, Whitby
25th - 27th - Whitby Gothic Weekend

April

9th - 10th - Pickering Walking Festival
9th Thirsk Races
9th - 15th - National Student Drama Festival, Scarborough
14th - 17th - Scarboorugh Literature Festival
17th - Spring Cup National Road Races, Oliver's Mount Scarborough
29th - 2nd May - Spring Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
30th - Thirsk Races
30th - 1st May - Festival of Speed Hill Climb, Scarborough

May

2nd - 7th - Scarborough Bowls Festival
6th - 8th - Spring Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
7th - Thirsk Races
13th - 15th Gospel Music Convention, Whitby
14th - Thirsk Races
21st - 22nd - UCl Mountain Bike Cross Country World Cup, Dalby Forest
21st - 22nd - Malton Food Lovers Festival
23rd - Thirsk Races
27th - 29th - Moors & Coast Festival, Whitby
27th - 30th - Ryedale Folk Festival
27th May - 5th June - Filey Festival of Music
31st - Country Park, Duncombe Park

June

3rd - 5th - Whitby's 60's Festival
10th - 13th - Pickering 60's Festival
10th - 12th - Robin Hood's Bay Folk Weekend
12th - 60's Weekend at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
14th - Thirsk Races
18th - Great Yorkshire Bike Ride
18th - Scalby Fair
18th - 3rd July - International Youth Music Festival, Scarborough
25th - 26th - Filey Regatta
25th June - 3rd July - Filey Town Festival

July

1st - 3rd Whitby Northern Soul Weekender
3rd - Barry Sheen Classic Road Races, Scarborough
10th - 11th - Cock ‘o' the North Road Races
9th - 10th - Vintage Vehicle Weekend, North Yorkshire Moors Railway
15th July - 31st - Ryedale Festival
17th - 18th - 1940's Weekend at Wensleydale Railway
17th - 25th - Go Racing in Yorkshire Summer Festival
18th - Race for Life, Scarborough
19th - 25th July - Scarborough Fayre and Continental Market
20th - North Yorkshire County Show
20th - 21st - Bike Week Hill Climb & Sprint, Scarborough
22nd - Thirsk Races
23rd - 25th Seafest, Scarborough
23rd - 24th - Cock of the North Bike Road Races, Scarborough
24th - 1st August - Muston Scarecrow Festival
27th - The Ryedale Show
29th - 30th - Rockwath Festival, Cloughton
29th - 30th - Thirsk Races
30th - 31st - 1940's Weekend, Wensleydale Railway

August

5th - 6th Rock & Roll Weekend, Scarborough
5th - 8th - Pickering Traction Engine Rally
7th - 8th - Filey Lifeboat Weekend
8th - Thirsk Races
12th - 14th Staithes & Runswick Bay Lifeboat Weekend
13th - Castle Howard Proms Spectacular
13th - 15th Whitby Regatta
15th - Thirsk Races
15th - 27th - North York Moors Chamber Music Festival
21st - National Hill Climb Championship, Scarborough
21st - 22nd - Staithes and Runswick Lifeboat Weekend
20th - 26th - Whitby Folk Week
26th - Thirsk Races
27th - 28th - Whitby Lifeboat Station Flag Weekend
August Scarborough Cricket Festival

September

3rd - Thirsk Races
5th - 10th - Open Golf Week, Scarborough
11th - Goldwing Light Parade, Scarborough
11th - Acoustic Gathering VI, Scarborough
16th - 18th - Diesel Gala at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
18th - 19th - Gold Cup Road Races
23rd - 25th - Scarborough Jazz Festival
23rd - 25th - Whitby 60's Spectacular
30th - 2nd October - Autumn Steam Gala, North Yorkshire Moors Railway

October

1st - 3rd - Autumn Steam Gala at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
14th - 16th - Railway at War at North Yorkshire Moors Railway
28th - 31st - Bram Stoker International Film Festival, Whitby

November

4th - 6th - Whitby Gothic Weekend
8th - 13th - Scarborough Dance Festival
13th - 14th - Christmas Craft Festival at Duncombe Park

December