From the Cleveland Hills to Filey Brig

To the north and east of the ancient walled City of York the North York Moors cover a broad area stretching from the Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray across to the Yorkshire Coast. A large part of this area has been designated as one of England's national parks. Popular destinations in and around the North York Moors include Helmsley, Pickering, Ryedale, Rosedale, Rievaulx Abbey, Mount Grace Priory, Hutton Le Hole and Goathland (famous as the location for the filming of the popular TV series "Heartbeat".  To the west of North York Moors Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray, (spectacularly overlooked by the white cliffs of Sutton Bank) and the market towns of Boroughbridge, Northallerton and Thirsk (the latter being famous for its associations with the English country vet James Herriott, whose practice also took in the Yorkshire Dales.

Running along the northern edge of the North York moors are the Cleveland Hills, while to the east is the Yorkshire Coast, and the popular seaside resorts of Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. To the south of the moors lie the gentler hills and valleys of the Yorkshire Wolds. The Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray is a broad plain lying between the fells of the Yorkshire Dales to the west and the hills of the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Wolds to the east. Several of Yorkshire's largest rivers converge in the plain, including the Swale, the Ure, the Nidd and the Wharfe, the result being the navigable Ouse. Several important archaeological and prehistoric sites can be found in the Vale of York and the Vale of Mowbray, including the The Devil’s Arrows and Aldborough Roman Town just outside Boroughbridge, Thornborough Henge near Masham on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales, as well as Marston Moor and Stamford Bridge, where the famous battles of Marston Moor and Stamford Bridge took place in 1644 and 1066, respectively.

From south of the mouth of the Tees and where the Cleveland Hills and the North York Moors meet the sea the coastline is rocky and wild, with numerous fishing villages and resorts including Staithes, Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay. Further south are the popular seaside resorts of Scarborough and Filey (positioned at the head of a broad bay which sweeps from the rocky prominentry of Filey Brig.

North York Moors

The North York Moors National Park is one of the finest landscapes in Britain, there are miles of stunning heather, towering sea cliffs, secluded beaches and grassy dales give it a character all of its own.  You can discover wildlife, historic buildings, archaeology, ancient woodlands and picturesque villages. Culture and traditions are as much a part of the North York Moors National Park as the landscape itself. Its depth of cultural heritage and history of human interaction with the environment are what sets this National Park apart and which make it important and distinctive on a national and even global scale. Because of this special relationship between people and place there is literally nowhere else quite like the North York Moors National Park. The North York Moors is also the home of the ITV Network Series "Heartbeat" which is filmed on location at Goathland.

Staithes

Was once one of the largest fishing ports on the north east coastof the United Kingdom and an important source of the minerals Jet, Iron, Alum and Potash. Staithes today is a very attractive tourist destination of great interest to both the amateur and professional Geologist.

Any visitor to the town of Staithes will be astonished by the history such a small place can have. Staithes is famous for its past fishing industry and hundreds of years of mineral production, and this industry continues to the present day. The Boulby Potash mine being one of the deepest in the United Kingdom and one of the tidiest being located within the North York Moors National Park as is  Staithes itself. Staithes was home to many hero's, from Captain James Cook to those with their names recorded in stone on the War Memorial and those today who take the Staithes Lifeboat to sea as their ancestors have done for the last 100 years.  The unique beauty of the area attracted numerous artists who became known as the Staithes Group and arrived on what must have been a very spectacular railway, now known as The North York Moors Railway.

Whitby

Whitby is one of the most picturesque ports in England, Whitby and its harbour are set in a ravine at the mouth of the River Esk. Dominated by the cliff top ruined Abbey, the narrow alleys and quaint streets. There are small shops filled with crafts, curios, and antiques, from these centuries old streets, 199 steps lead up to the parish Church of St Mary, one of the finest Anglo Saxon churches in the country. The church has carved pews made by ship's carpenters and craftsmen from Whitby's once booming whaling fleet, its churchyard is famous for providing the setting which inspired Bram Stoker to write his classic novel - Dracula. Dickens and Tennyson are also known to have enjoyed the hospitality of Whitby's ancient inns.

Robin Hood's Bay is a coastal bay and picturesque fishing village which is situated between Whitby and Scarborough on the North Yorkshire Coast. The fishing village takes its name from the bay on which it is situated, though any association with the popular folk hero of Robin Hood remains shrouded in mystery. Robin Hood’s Bay lies in the ancient parish of Fylingdales and was reportedly the busiest smuggling community on the Yorkshire coast. Its natural isolation protected by marshy moorland on three sides, offered a natural aid to the well-organised business of smuggling which despite its dangers, must have paid better than fishing. Smuggling at sea was backed up by many on land who were willing to finance and transport contraband. Fisherfolk, farmers, clergy and gentry alike were all involved. Fierce battles ensued between smugglers and excise men, both at sea and on land, and Bay wives were known to pour boiling water over excise men from bedroom windows in the narrow alleyways. Hiding places, bolt holes and secret passages abounded. It is said that a bale of silk could pass from the bottom of the village to the top without leaving the houses. The threat of the excise men was not the only danger to Bay folk. In the late 18 th century and early 19 th century, the Press Gangs were feared and hated. Sailors and fishermen were supposed to be exempt but, in reality, rarely were. Once ‘pressed’, their chances of returning to their homes were not high. Village women would beat a drum to warn the men folk that the Press Gangs had arrived and it was not unusual for the Press Gang to be attacked and beaten off.

Scarborough

Probably the world's first seaside resort, Scarborough has attracted visitors for almost 400 years. Scarborough is steeped in a thousand years of history and surrounded by beautiful countryside; Scarborough is seen as the Queen of the Yorkshire Coast offering something for everyone. From the two splendid bays, separated by the castle headland, the town is reached by Victorian Cliff Lifts. And with some of the finest formal gardens in Britain, an exciting shopping centre, a variety of nightlife and plenty of family fun. Scarborough provides the perfect seaside holiday venue for people of all ages, with safe beaches and numerous other attractions. Scarborough is divided into two bays - North Bay and South Bay - by the Castle Headland. The North Bay contains holiday chalets and fun parks, with attractions like the Sea Life Centre, Atlantis Water park, Kinderland and Indoor and Outdoor swimming pools. Scarborough provides the perfect seaside holiday venue for people of all ages, with safe beaches and numerous other attractions. Scarborough is divided into two bays - North Bay and South Bay by the Castle Headland. Scarborough's South Bay is the home of the ITV Network Series "The Royal" which is filmed on the South Cliff

Filey

Filey has a population of around 7000 and is situated on the east coast of England between Scarborough, about 8 miles to the north, and Bridlington, about 12 miles to the south. The greater part of the town stands high above the sea on a cliff with a superb outlook over a magnificent bay with a 5 mile stretch of clean hard tide-washed sand. The bay has a semi-circular sweep that runs from Filey Brigg in the north to the 400 feet high chalk cliffs of  Speeton and Bempton in the south, extending to the headland at Flamborough in East Yorkshire. The town itself has two natural boundaries, Church Ravine to the north and Martins Ravine to the south. It is still rail connected with a station showing a fine example of early Victorian railway architecture, and is on the Hull to Scarborough line.

Cleveland Hills

Overlooking the Tees Valley and Teeside arevthe Cleveland Hills which run along the northern edge of the North York Moors, and include distinctive landmarks such as the cone shaped peak of Roseberry Topping, near the village of Great Ayton, this of course was the childhood home of Captain Cook.