North Yorkshire is the largest county in England and being covered by 40% of beautiful national park is arguably one of the most beautiful. The city of York is one of the most visited cities in the UK outside of London. But what do we know about the smaller suburbs of North Yorkshire? We wanted to provide an alternative guide to visiting the county and possible places to live.
Whitby
Did you now that Whitby was the inspiration behind Bram Stoker’s Dracula? That fact may conjure up images of mist and darkness, but that is certainly not the case for this setting.
Whitby has a wonderful combination of being a seaside setting but is in close proximity to the North York Moors National Park. It really is having the best of both worlds. There is plenty to do and see here, including the fantastic Abbey ruin which is the town’s oldest landmark.
Many have loved Whitby so much, they decide to stay. Although it seems a remote location, it is well connected to Middlesbrough and Scarborough by public transport. So don’t rule a long term move out!
Sowerby
One of the oldest UK villages, Sowerby is recoded on the Domesday book. The village has a great biking community.
If you are a keen cyclist, you should pay a visit to the Happydays Cycles workshop and Café. As well as providing bike works and a comfortable stop to eat, Happydays is a social enterprise supporting the homeless and vulnerable. Well worth a visit if you’re on the national cycle route 66.
Selby
Selby is an historic Viking town that was later popular for ship building. The town has plenty of attractions for everyone.
For food, the Olive Branch is one of the highest ranking restaurants according to TripAdvisor. Alternatively, you could enjoy something a bit more adventurous by visiting Summit Indoor Adventure with its ski simulators and indoor climbing walls.
Stokesley
Visit the historic and picturesque village of Stokesley for a unique market town experience. The town is well known for its weekly Farmer’s Market and historic high street.
It would be easy to bypass this little town but the beauty and history (as well as the local produce) are worth the stop.
Malton
The medieval town of Malton still has much mediaeval history and recorded visits from prolific historic figures. There is much to research for the historian in you. Seek out various Roman remains or simply pause to take the splendour in.
Malton regularly appears on ‘best places to live’ compilations. This may be in part to its recent rebranding as a ‘must visit’ for food lovers. Definitely stop here if you’re a foodie.
Plan your trip
Hopefully the above has helped you consider where you might like to consider going for your next stay in North Yorkshire. It’s all too easy to fall into the trap of visiting the larger towns of York or Harrogate which are always popular. Next time, perhaps consider a smaller location. Give it a try.
