Yorkshire is England’s largest historical county, which covers four ‘official counties’ of West Yorkshire, North Yorkshire, East Riding and East Yorkshire (home to a stunning coastline, including Robin Hood’s Bay where you paddle your toes at the end of Wainwright’s Coast-to-Coast Walk, which begins in the pretty Cumbrian village of St Bees on the west coast).
Although Yorkshire is home to stunning natural landscapes, most of the 6 million or so people live in the main cities:
- Bradford (packed with culture, and the ‘curry capital of England!’)
- Doncaster (with stunning Georgian and Regency architecture)
- Hull (ferries sail from this port to Belgium and the Netherlands)
- Leeds (the unofficial capital, a thriving busy city)
- Ripon (the ‘cathedral city’, just 10 miles from the Dales)
- Sheffield (one of England’s greenest cities, with beautiful walks)
- Wakefield (vales and woods inspire the local artsy community)
- York is an historic walled city, home to stunning Gothic architecture
Yorkshire also has many popular towns including:
- Harrogate is a ‘spa town’, known for its floral displays
- Hebden Bridge is home to many artists and writers
- Scarborough was England’s first seaside resort
- Whitby has a history of dinosaurs and Dracula!
The Three National Parks of Yorkshire
Yorkshire is home to two main National Parks, and another spills into it. They are popular walking destinations.
Always follow the Countryside Code, to keep dogs and livestock safe.
The Yorkshire Dales is ‘typical Yorkshire’ with cobbled street villages with stone cottages like Grassingham and Goathland (where the TV series Heartbeat was filmed).
Named after the Danish word for ‘river valley’, this park grows a unique moss (found nowhere else on earth) and is also home to the brown long-eared bat (whose ears are almost as long as his head and body!) This large park crosses over into Cumbria.
Malham Cove stands 80 metres high, a tale of ancient glaciers etching their mark (to walk the stone pavement is like being on a different planet). Malham Cove Circular Walk is a moderate trek of a few miles. Nearby is the visual symphony of Aysgarth Falls on the River Ure, surrounded by serene woodlands and meadows.
Always keep a distance near waterfalls, as moss-covered wet rocks can be slippery (wear sturdy shoes with good grip). Also never swim in the pools below, as the water force can be extreme, with hidden rocks.
Nearby Rosedale was once the heart of Yorkshire’s ironstone mining industry, with ruins of old kilns and railway lines, still dotting the landscale. You can still take a walk on Rosedale Railway Path.
The North York Moors is one of England’s largest areas of heather moorland, situated in the uplands of northeast Yorkshire, covering around 44,000 hectares (it’s the most wooded of England’s National Parks).
Towering trees in the forests provide shelters to drumming woodpeckers and nibble squirrels, and these woods are wildlife paradise for the song thrush and shy roe deer, seeking refuge under the canopy of trees.
The Peak District is England’s oldest national park, opened in 1951. Although mostly situated in Derbyshire, it spills over into parts of Yorkshire, known for its steep limestone valleys and White Peak. Here you’ll find gritstone ridges and moorland, very near the Pennines.
This is a very accessible National Park, with around 20 million people living within an hour’s journey. For this reason, it’s one of England’s most popular walking holiday destinations.
This charming area features a patchwork of green valleys, rugged mountains and inspiring walks along Limestone Way or Monstal Traila. Look above to watch the delicate dances of lapwings and skylarks, soaring overhead. When winter returns, the Peak District is often cloaked with snow, the landscape softened under a blanket of white.
Pennines: The Backbone of Yorkshire
Known as ‘the backbone of England’, the Pennines are a series of hills that stretch across the top of the English map. Many people like to walk the challenging ‘Three Peaks Challenge’, which passes through through Pen-y-ghent, Whernside, and Ingleborough. Rewarded with panoramic views from the peaks.
The Pennine Way is a journey through time, spanning 250 miles from Derbyshire up to the Scottish Borders, cutting through Yorkshire. Walkers find themselves charmed by rolling moors, lush fields and ancient stone walls, also taking in Yorkshire’s Roman ruins and old mining cottages. It’s like walking through a Yorkshire history book.
Pennine villages include Haworth (home to the Brontë sisters) and Addingham (ideal for a leisurely stroll along the River Wharfe). And Hebden Bridge (an artsy village that was the setting for the TV series Happy Valley). Chat with friendly locals, or stop off at one of the many independent pubs along the way.
The Coastal Resorts of Yorkshire
Yorkshire has a long coastline (from 100 miles in North Yorkshire to the East Coast towns and villages).
Read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.
Bridlington is the ideal bucket-and-space family holiday resort, with clean seas and sandy beaches. Grandparents can wander off to spot birds and wildlife n, or simply join in the fun on local fairground rides!
Flamborough Head is a quiet resort with dramatic cliff walks and home to many seabirds (including gannets and puffins), so bring your binoculars. The unique geology of caves has been formed over mllions of years.
Scarborough was England’s first seaside resort, and even today combines the charm of history with the buzz of a lively seaside reort. It has two pristine beaches (South Bay and the quieter North Bay). Inland the castle has views to take your breath away.
Whitby is a popular holiday resort, though it has a sad history as a whaling port. A pretty harbour where boats bob on the water, it faces East Yorkshire’s Dinosaur Coast. The town has its own Saint Hilda, the first abbess of the local monastery. Born into royalty, she refused to marry a monarch and went off (age 33) to Northumbria, to become a nun!
If you’re feeling energetic, you could climb the 199 historic steps, to view the dramatic ruins of Whitby Abbey, for panoramic views. If that’s too much effort, just rest on the sandy shore at Whitby Beach.
