North Yorkshire

Introduction

North Yorkshire is the home of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and is definitely a county of contrasts with the flatness of the east to the large, rolling hills of the dales and lots of beautiful landscape everywhere. The people are friendly and there is always something to do but never enough time to do it all…

Getting Around

Really the simplest way to get around is to drive a car. There are bus services running but are infrequent and do not often run to some of the bigger towns. Train service runs to (or close to) most major areas.

There are many walking and bicycling trails throughout the area which offer a different perspective on the area. Primarily the method of seeing the Yorkshire Dales National Park (which dominates the county) is by foot. Maps of trails are available from all Tourist Information centres located in most larger towns.

Attractions

The following are some of the things to see and do in North Yorkshire:

Ingleborough Cave (Yorkshire Dales National Park) Clapham - A very old cave system which offers special 2-hour “explorer tours” which go much deeper into the cave system. Phone: (01524) 251242

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail (Yorkshire Dales National Park) Ingleton - A wonderful walk along a stream with a number of waterfalls on the way. The middle section is a walk along the top of a hill (through a farmyard, literally) with the walk continuing in another, less spectacular, valley. The price is a bit steep (during peak periods) at #5 / car (regardless of how many people in the car) if you park at their car park or #1.50 / person (without a car). Be aware that if you take your car it is difficult to park it anywhere but at the walk itself since other car parks fill quickly (even though they are about as expensive). The walk is a bit strenuous with some very steep and challenging sections, lasting about 1 1/2 hours (4 1/2 miles). Phone: (01524) 241930

White Scar Cave (Yorkshire Dales National Park) Ingleton - The longest show cave in Britain, the tour lasts 80 minutes and takes you along some narrow (and extremely short) passages to show a large number of rock formations culminating in a massive cave at the end. A VERY long walk at 1/2 mile each way. The path mainly consists of metal grid walkway (and wood) which can get slippery in the wet conditions. Unfortunate that many of the formations have been worn and stained by continual tourist hands touching them but an impressive site. Phone: (01524) 241244

Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre Hawes - Offers tours of it's cheese manufacturing facilities, “Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese Experience” (admission charge), and, of course, has a great shop and dining room.

The World of James Herriot (Thirsk) - An exhibit devoted to the famous Dale vet, the real and the one on television. Phone: (01845) 525 333.

York

The City of York is an ancient and historical town surrounded by a wall that can be walked (on the three surviving sections) and the River Ouse which you can walk along or take a boat trip along. The main attraction is the wonderful York Minster Cathedral (admission charge) but there are many other sights to see as you wander around the narrow cobble streets of the city centre including “The Shambles” – an ancient, narrow street, where the buildings on opposite sides lean over and almost touch in the middle – and the nearby “Shambles Market” which includes a street food section.

There are a number of museums in the town including a Viking museum, the Jorvik Viking Centre (admission charge) discussing some of the Viking origins of the town and the amazing National Railway Museum (free admission; car park £10 for the day or use nearby cheaper town car parks) which has several large halls containing the first steam locomotive (The Rocket), various royal carriages, old and relatively new locomotives and carriages, a rail library, a café, shops, as well as a room full of railway ephemera.

Main Entrance to National Railway Museum

Highly recommended is the FREE walk put on twice every day by the York Tourist Information Centre (it meets just opposite the centre, see https://avgyork.co.uk/ for details). The tour lasts two hours and gives you a lot of background and historical information about the town.