North Yorkshire
Yorkshire is the place to live but if you cannot do this the next best thing is a visit.
A recent study has shown that life expectancy in the county has rocketed since the start of the Millennium. A lot of this is put down to cleaner air and water and along with fabulous scenery, so you really should visit the North Yorkshire area!
Country Lanes Classic Car Hire are ideally situated close to York and in easy driving distance of many attractions in the Howardian Hills, the North Yorks National Park, the Yorkshire Wolds and the wonderful coastline from Bridlington to the quaint fishing village of Staithes, north of Whitby.
If stately homes and gardens are your thing then the following attractions are worth a visit...
- Hovingham Hall
- Castle Howard
- Helmsley Walled Gardens
- Nunnington Hall
- Walled garden at Scampton
- Rievaulx Terrace and Temples
- Duncombe Park
- Pickering Castle
There’s lots of living history in the North Yorkshire area so don’t miss the chance to experience…
- Eden Camp Modern History Theme museum – 40 huts of World War II way of life with tanks and aircraft
- Pickering Traction Engine Rally – the largest display of Showman’s engines and fairground rides in the North of England
- English Heritage sites at Rievaulx Abbey, Byland Abbey and Kirkham Priory – all monastic ruins of historical spiritual religious centres.
- Helmsley castle and Visitor centre
- North Yorkshire Moors Railway gives you the chance to travel on a steam train for 18 miles in the National Park
Ryedale has many market towns all around the moorland edges with weekly markets giving you the opportunity to buy excellent produce direct from the producer…
- Kirkbymoorside has it’s market day on Wednesdays
- Malton has it’s market on Saturdays
- Pickering market day is Monday
- Helmsley has many attractive craft shops, regular Antique and Craft fairs with an excellent Tourist Information office at the Castle’s vistor centre.
Local customs and traditions still continue throughout Ryedale…
- Try your hand at the ancient game of Merrills at the Ryedale Folk museum, Hutton Le Hole
- Or try a maypole dance at Slingsby, Sinnington or Hutton Le Hole.
- Malton Museum traces the Roman way of life when they lived in the fort and nearby villas
- Visit Wharram Percy a deserted Medieval village on the Wolds
The area is also home to many TV series, so call at Goathland and drive over the Whitby Moors if you are a HeartBeat fan, The Royal is filmed in the area as well. BridesHead Revisited was filmed at Castle Howard.
Don’t forget the Dalby Forest Drive if you are north of Pickering (toll payable) and see the fantastic trees and scenery. This was very much part of the 1970’s RAC rallies where top British and Scandinavian drivers could be seen driving at incredible speeds on forest tracks between the trees.
All these attractions are well placed and spaced around the area with interesting roads linking them so you can enjoy your classic car drive. There are numerous guest houses, Bed and Breakfast establishments, Hotels and Self catering accommodation throughout Ryedale to enable you to stay a little longer and enjoy the many different contrasts of the area.
Useful websites to help you plan a visit are...
Ryedale District Council
Ryedale Accommodation
Visit Yorkshire