Stay in a Holiday Cottage on the North York Moors
Rent a self catering holiday cottage in the North York Moors and you will have an idyllic family holiday. The area offers families with children of all ages a wealth of things to do. Recommended tourist attractions include the following:-
The North York Moors Railway runs from Pickering, on the southern edge of the national park, to Whitby on the coast. Travel on a wonderful old steam train through eighteen miles of stunning countryside and you really will feel as though you have travelled back in time. There are six stops along the route (including Whitby and Pickering) and it is certainly worth getting off at one or two of these and exploring the area a little. Goathland is probably the most popular of all the stops as it has a certain celebrity status. For Heartbeat fans it is the location of the fictional Aidensfield – the village is charming and as you wander around you will be able to spot well known landmarks such as Scripp’s Garage, the Aidensfield Arms and the Aidensfield Stores to name but a few. For Harry Potter fans Goathland also featured in the first film (Harry Potter and The Philosopher’s Stone) as Hogsmeade Sation. Newtondale Halt is a request stop and from here you can begin a picturesque walk on to the moors. It is also an ideal place to spot local wildlife. Levisham is a picturesque station which serves the lovely little village of Levisham.
There are many ruined abbeys in the area and one of the most well loved is that of Rievaulx Abbey. It is located near to the pretty town of Helmsley and is certainly worth a visit to anyone staying in the region. It is set in a remote valley and is thought of as one of the most complete of England’s abbey ruins. It is also extremely atmospheric and is popular with children and adults alike. Many events are held throughout the summer months.
Pickering Castle is located of course in Pickering, the aforementioned market town located on the edge of the national park. Discover how this thirteenth century castle has been used throughout the centuries. At one point it was used as a royal hunting lodge.
The Moors Centre is the main visitors centre within the park and it is located at a beautiful spot by the River Esk. The centre has recently been refurbished and there is a brand new exhibition and gallery area. There is also an indoor climbing wall and outdoor play area.
