This is Y Magazine 2012

This is

Back to the future Beautiful houses, castles and gardens bringing history to life Walk on the wild side Animal adventures to keep your little monkeys entertained High & mighty Magnificent settings for some top rock sports

A brush with Hockney DISCOVER THE YORKSHIRE LANDSCAPE THAT INSPIRED DAVID HOCKNEY, ONE OF BRITAIN’S GREATEST ARTISTS 1

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welcome to yorkshire

Front cover image: David Hockney painting “Winter Timber” in Bridlington, July 2009 (detail) © David Hockney Photo: Jean-Pierre Goncalves de Lima Published by: Welcome to Yorkshire Dry Sand Foundry Foundry Square Holbeck Leeds LS11 5DL © Welcome to Yorkshire 2012 Designed and produced by: Welcome to Yorkshire Printed by: St. Ives Direct, Leeds Whilst every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, Welcome to Yorkshire can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions Information throughout this magazine is compiled from details supplied by organisations or establishments concerned. No recommendation by Welcome to Yorkshire is implied by the inclusion of any information and Welcome to Yorkshire accepts no responsibility in the matter. Prices, dates, hours of opening etc. were correct at the time of going to press. Readers are reminded that these details are subject to change and they are advised to check when finalising any arrangements.

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Welcome Welcome to This is Y, the magazine for everything wonderful about Yorkshire.

With the help of some of the country’s finest travel writers we have created a magazine that celebrates the county’s quality, its quirkiness and of course, its enduring appeal to young and old alike.

So whether this is your year to treat yourself or surprise yourself, there’s no better place to do it than here in Yorkshire and This is Y will show you how. We’ve rock climbing with the world’s best, a guide to David Hockney’s Yorkshire, some time well spent exploring the county’s brewing heritage and a sprinkling of our celebrity friends telling us why Yorkshire is so special.

We hope you enjoy This is Y and look forward to giving you a warm Yorkshire welcome in our great county soon. For all the latest news, events and special offers don’t forget to log onto www.yorkshire.com.

Have a brilliant Yorkshire!

Gary Verity, Chief Executive Welcome to Yorkshire

Need to get in touch?

WORLD BEATING TOURISM Welcome to Yorkshire picked up a World Travel Award for the second year running.

Contact the Editor Andrew Denton adenton@yorkshire.com Become a member Liz Tattersley ltattersley@yorkshire.com Advertise with us Tracy Commons tcommons@yorkshire.com Marketing opportunities Vikki Harris vharris@yorkshire.com

Meet the Writers Rhiannon Batten

Nicholas Roe

Born and educated in Yorkshire, journalist and author Rhiannon Batten was struck by wanderlust at an early age. Specialising in green travel and community tourism she has written for The Guardian, The Independent, ELLE and National Geographic.

Communications Dee Marshall dmarshall@yorkshire.com

Nicholas Roe is a journalist and travelwriter. His travels have taken him from the mountains of Kyrgyzstan, to the rainforests of Madagascar but he is equally fascinated by Britain and has a particular affection for Yorkshire’s landscape and character.

DISCOVER BOOK SAVE Scan this code on your smart phone and go to yorkshire.com

Follow us: @welcome2yorks

Become a fan: facebook.com/welcometoyorkshire

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Will Hide

JOJO Will Hide has just left the travel desk of the Times after 12 years and now writes for a diverse number of publications in Britain, Australia and the Middle East including the Guardian, the Financial Times and British Airways High Life.

Stephen McClarence Stephen McClarence is an award winning travel writer. He specialises in India and off-the-beaten track Britain and his work appears in The Times, Daily Telegraph, Daily Express and Yorkshire Post. He would rather write about Bridlington than Barbados.

JoJo is a well known personality in Yorkshire and is currently one third of the county’s biggest breakfast show ‘Hirsty’s Daily Dose’ on Capital FM. Born and bred in Leeds, listeners love her for her straight-talking style and nuclear laugh.

DAVE LEE Dave Lee is a writer and award winning filmmaker who has worked all over the world and writes on food and drink for the Yorkshire Post. His perfect day out is a walk through the Wolds followed by a pint and a pie.

Sounds like a sensible bloke.

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Contents 5 YORKSHIRE HIGHLIGHTS The very best experiences, attractions and latest news across Yorkshire.

10 A BRUSH WITH HOCKNEY Stephen McClarence enjoys a weekend in the Yorkshire Wolds exploring the landscape that inspired David Hockney.

16 FULL STEAM AHEAD Join Will Hide on his journey back in time on one of Yorkshire’s heritage railways.

18 THE DEVONSHIRE ARMS COUNTRY HOUSE HOTEL & SPA 20 A PINT OF YORKSHIRE BEST Dave Lee works up a thirst with a review of one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated creations.

22 THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

Nicholas Roe celebrates a long weekend of White Rose Award winners.

26 LUCKY NUMBER 7EVEN

One county, seven cities, a world of choice.

30 ALOUD & PROUD We catch up with some of Yorkshire’s high profile patrons to find out what being from Yorkshire means to them.

34 SWING TIME Yorkshire’s golf is on a par with the best of the UK.

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37 ENGLISH HERITAGE 39 BACK TO THE FUTURE Rhiannon Batten meets the people behind some of Yorkshire’s most famous historic properties.

44 WALK ON THE WILD SIDE Keep the children entertained with... a wild weekend in Yorkshire.

46 DISH OF THE DAY Wensleydale is a delicious destination in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

48 SPA FROM A MADDING CROWD Yorkshire oozes calm and wellbeing, as Capital FM’s JoJo finds out during a spavellous weekend.

51 SURF’S UP Scarborough is riding the crest of a wave as it fast becomes the surfing capital of the North.

54 HIGH & MIGHTY Rock climber Steve McClure gives a masterclass in being vertically challenged.

59 POSTCARDS Discover some of the county’s more interesting viewpoints.

61 OUR FRIENDS ECLECTIC Unique festivals, made in Yorkshire.

64 4 NATURE WALKS FOR THE SEASONS Take to Yorkshire by foot and you might spot a red squirrel or a short-eared owl!

66 CAPITAL OF SCULPTURE Why everyone is talking about Yorkshire as a centre for modern and contemporary art.

70 IN THEIR OWN WRITE On the trail of Agatha Christie and Yorkshire’s blockbuster literary links.

72 NATIONAL TRUST 76 HIDDEN TREASURE Dramatic scenery, stunning walks and the tastiest fish and chips on the coast.

78 COOKING UP A STORM Some of Britain’s best chefs give an insight into their world.

82 GOLD, SILVER AND STEEL We uncover the business of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

84 GETTING HERE All the information you need to plan your next trip to Yorkshire.

87 yorkshire destinations 95 DISCOVER SKIPTON 97 yorkshire destinations

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Screen Yorkshire

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MALTON GETS DRAMATIC The Milton Rooms in Malton has persuaded one of the UK’s most celebrated playwrights to pen a new piece of work. Olivier award winning Jim Cartwright, the creator of Little Voice, among other critically acclaimed work, is writing a Christmas play for performance in 2012. Be one of the first to see it. www.themiltonrooms.com

EMMERDALE HITS 40 WITH A BANG

Two Dazzling Decades at Eureka!

Yorkshire’s favourite soap Emmerdale is following in the footsteps of Coronation Street and EastEnders by celebrating its 40th birthday with a dramatic storyline and a possible live episode. Emmerdale turns 40 on the 16th October 2012.

Eureka! The award winning national children’s museum in

YORK’S 5 STAR APPEAL

Halifax is celebrating its 20th birthday this year.

It was ranked the number 1 interactive museum in the UK by The Independent and with more than 400 hands-on exhibits, it certainly has enough to keep even the most active of minds occupied.

If you haven’t been already then now is a good time to visit as the museum will be in a celebratory mood after reaching its second decade dazzling young minds.

Eureka! has an amazing 11 galleries.

Follow the overhead blood vessel as you learn about how our bodies work, then discover a special habitat for under-5s.

You can experience the global garden which introduces children (and adults) to what jungle, ice, desert, ocean and country gardens sound and feel like.

On the outside the Eureka! Beach is quite possibly the largest sandpit in the North of England. It’s open all year round, kids never tire of the simple pleasure of building sandcastles while the Wonder Walk, Eureka!’s newest outdoor exhibition encourages children to interact with the trail by having plants and decorations planted at a child’s eye level. www.eureka.org.uk

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The Cedar Court Grand Hotel & Spa in York has joined a select group of hotels in the UK after it was bestowed an AA 5-star rating.

The former railway headquarters comes complete with a butler service for those who like to play Jeeves and Wooster.

Book today for a bit of luxury and relaxation.

Go to www.cedarcourtgrand.co.uk

COMING SOON

Experience Barnsley A new museum devoted to exploring the people, places and spirit of Barnsley.

Talbot Hotel, Malton

Re-opening following the significant renovation of this wonderful old building.

1871 Bar

Historic John T’s Bar, at the Marriott Leeds gets an exciting facelift in Spring 2012.

Living Seas Centre

Being developed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in Flamborough, opening Easter 2012.

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York Mystery Plays to make a return in the summer of 2012 The world famous York Mystery Plays are set to make a return to their original setting in the Museum Gardens, York, in the summer of 2012 where a 1,400 covered seat theatre will be constructed within the ancient walls of St Mary’s Abbey. The Passion Plays of England are some of the oldest pieces of English Literature and this year’s will be one of the biggest, most historic theatre productions in the country. The medieval cycle of York Mystery Plays has been performed by the people of York across the centuries and is a world-famous part of the city’s cultural heritage. From Creation to the Last Judgement, these plays form one of the greatest stories ever told. In summer 2012, the story of God, of man and woman and of the cosmic struggle between good and evil will be presented on an epic scale against the magnificent backdrop of the Abbey. www.yorkmysteryplays.co.uk

Get to grips with a Vulcan bomber Aviation enthusiasts are in for a treat in 2012 as the Vulcan Experience in Doncaster expands to include entry to the South Yorkshire Aviation Museum. Last year saw around 2,000 people enjoy the opportunity to get up close and personal with this very special aircraft, the XH558, the only airworthy example of the 134 Vulcan bombers operated by the Royal Air Force. This year the Aviation Enthusiast Package includes entry to the South Yorkshire Aviation Museum (Aeroventure), based at the former site of RAF Doncaster.

Bookings can be made by contacting tours@vulcantothesky.org

Mohammed Aslam MBE, Managing Director of Aagrah Restaurants

Passion Plays return

“ The diversity of communities and cultures help to make Yorkshire what it is today.”

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Some like it hot The world’s first fashionable bag of crisps.

Renowned for its delicious crinkle cut crisps, Seabrook Crisps took inspiration from Japan when it added tongue-tingling Wasabi Crisps to its mouth-watering Hot & Spicy range. With an increased demand for delights of the orient in recent years, like yoga, feng shui and sushi, wasabi is fast becoming, literally, the next hot new thing on everyone’s tongue. Seabrook has since been approached by two Japanese companies to export their Wasabi Crisps back to Japan.

Could this Yorkshire company be the most innovative crisp brand in the world? We think so. www.seabrookcrisps.com

Leeds ovation for Arena arrival

The best entertainers in the world are expected to head to Leeds in 2013 as the 13,500 capacity, purpose built Leeds Arena, opens its doors. The arena rewrites the rules on conventional concert venues with a unique ‘super theatre’ fan shape design, guaranteeing every seat in the house has perfect sightlines of the centre stage. The arena will bring fans closer to their idols by cutting the distance between the stage and the seats. The furthest anyone will be away from the action will be 68 metres as opposed to 90-110 metres at a conventional arena. The Leeds Arena will have one of the most striking and unique arena designs in Europe. The honeycomb design will act as a commanding gateway to Leeds city centre and come ‘alive’ at night.

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Blue flag beaches Experience fresh air and clean bathing at Hornsea, Withernsea, Scarborough North, Whitby and Filey. (awarded annually)

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Miles of track The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is the longest steam railway in the UK!

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Michelin Star Restaurants

More star restaurants than any other county outside of London.

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WARHOL POPS INTO HULL The Ferens Art Gallery in Hull will show works

by Andy Warhol, one of the most celebrated and controversial figures of 20th century art, as part of a national tour in 2012.

The works will be lent from ARTIST ROOMS, an inspirational collection of modern and contemporary art. www.hullcc.gov.uk/museums

Healthy holidays If your idea of a holiday includes packing trainers, then why not join one of the booming areas of tourism at the moment and book a fit-break.

A bridge built in the Yorkshire Dales National Park that is believed to be the longest of its kind in the world, has notched up its second national accolade in two months.

Far Moor Bridge, which crosses the River Ribble near Selside, has won a ‘Judges’ Special Award’ in the British Construction Industry 2011 awards. It was previously highly commended in the ‘structural’ category of the Wood Awards, which aim to recognise, encourage and promote outstanding design, craftsmanship and installation in wood. www.yorkshiredales.org.uk

Swing into action

Outdoor fitness breaks are enjoying a surge in popularity and look set to be one of the key tourism growth areas of the new decade. Two Yorkshire companies, which have already gained national coverage, are among the best in the business at what they offer.

With Jelley Legs you can run for the hills and enjoy some guided trail running in North Yorkshire, with bed and breakfast included. Your host, Dave Jelley, has been running marathons and ultra marathons for over 10 years and knows the best and most picturesque trails around Studley Royal.

He is also a qualified physiotherapist so he can help ease those aches and pains too.

Whilst at Natural Perspectives you can get a full personal training session as well as learning about the benefits of exercising outdoors rather than in a gym. The breaks, based at Natural Retreats, are all-inclusive and include professional fitness training, luxury accommodation and catering. They are limited to a maximum of eight guests to guarantee effective coaching and training, and are suitable for all levels from beginners to regular gym-goers and age ranges from 20 to over 50. www.jelleylegs.co.uk www.naturalretreats.co.uk

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Leeds Golf Centre is up there with the best in the North of England after installing two of the most advanced Swing Studios in Europe and redesigning its Wike Ridge 18-hole championship course. Wike Ridge Golf Course is situated in glorious heathland just north of Leeds. Budding Ryder Cup players should be queuing up to tee off. www.leedsgolfcentre.com

KITCHEN’S THE REAL DEAL Run by celebrity chef James Martin, The Leeds Kitchen is an exciting addition to Alea Casino based on Clarence Dock. James said “Being a Yorkshireman, it’s not hard to understand why the produce is so good in the area and we will certainly be using it to maximum effect on the menu.”

Alea Leeds also includes a 55 seater private cinema, events space for up to 500 and the Bird Restaurant. www.aleacasinos.com/leeds

LOGGED ON March 2012 sees the opening of the world’s first gallery to explore the social, technological and cultural impact of the internet at the National Media Museum in Bradford. It will trace the history of the internet and uncover how it has changed people’s lives. www.nationalmedia museum.org.uk

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ICE CREAM DREAMS

LIFE IS SWEET CHOCOLATE - York’s Sweet Story is a delicious new visitor attraction opening in York in spring 2012.

The attraction will take visitors on a mouth-watering journey through the story of chocolate and confectionery in York.

This taste of chocolate heaven in the heart of the city, in King’s Square, is sure to be a sweet treat for all. www.yorkssweetstory.com

This year is set to sweeten up with the launch of three exciting new Nestlé® ice creams with the help of Yorkshire based R&R Ice Cream.

Nestlé® has launched three new flavours to its popular Potz range, a collection of smaller serve ice cream tubs, with smooth ice cream, delicious sauce and chunks of confectionery throughout. www.rr-icecream.eu

Toasting the landlord Michael Ibbotson, the UK’s Publican of the Year, has added the West Park Hotel in Harrogate to his portfolio of proper pubs called Provenance Inns. Ibbotson, who was awarded his Publican title for the Durham Ox in Crayke, which he has run for more than 10 years, will refurb the hotel and have it back up and running later this year. In the meantime if you want first class local drink, food and a warm Yorkshire welcome, make a trip to Crayke or visit one of the other pubs Ibbotson and his business partner in Provenance help manage: The Oak Tree Inn in Helperby, The Carpenters Arms in Felixkirk and The Punch Bowl in Marton cum Grafton. www.thedurhamox.com

Stay natural Yorkshire will see some significant new places to stay opening in the next 12 months.

The Bivouac, part of the Swinton Park estate near Masham, will be a unique experience in the UK, with a combination of log cabins, yurts and a bunk barn to choose as your bed for the night. Guests can also book to take part in a number of activities in and around the Yorkshire Dales as well as a Forest School for children to learn more about their temporary surroundings. For those who prefer a less energetic break a masseur will be able to provide some hands on relief.

While for budding chefs the site will run foraging workshops. www.thebivouac.co.uk

Meanwhile The Hideaway at Baxby Manor will bring together a new eco-camping site where people can stay in cabins or tipis, or bring their own tent and pitch it by the stream to watch the kingfishers and the otters on the doorstep. The Hideaway is a little oasis with strong eco-credentials, tucked away in sheltered grounds of a 110 acre medieval Manor House. Solar panels and biomass boilers will be used to heat the water for showers, rainwater harvesting will be used for toilet flushing while reeds beds will make sure waste water is REALLY clean. www.thehideawayatbaxbymanor.co.uk

DIAMOND YEAR 2012 is the 60th anniversary of the North York Moors National Park. So the National Park and the Queen will both be celebrating their Diamond Jubilees this year. The Olympic Torch Relay passes through in June too as it is transported via the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. www.yorkshire.com/olympics

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PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING Does your granny make the best Yorkshire Puddings in the world? If so, why not persuade her to enter the third Yorkshire Pudding Cooking Championship? Anyone can win. A taxi driver took second place in 2011 behind a professional chef and the field of floury hopefuls is ever expanding. Regional rounds will take place across the county, before four cooks move to the heat of the kitchen for the final battle of the batter. The first stage of the 2012 competition will be held on Saturday 1st September 2012 at the Black Swan Inn in Peasholme Green, York. Go to www.yorkshirepud.com for more details and to register your secret recipe’s participation.

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National Parks Yorkshire has nearly a third of the total area of National Parks in England

Champion triathlete and Yorkshire native Alistair Brownlee

It’s official! Bridlington and Bradford are the best places in Britain for our favourite foods of fish and chips and curry. Separately, of course. The seaside town of Bridlington is home to Fish and Chips at 149 which scooped the flagship award for Best Independent Takeaway Fish & Chip Shop at the 2011 National Fish & Chip Awards. While across the other side of the county, Bradford was named as the Curry Capital of Britain, seeing off strong competition from Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester and last year’s winner, Glasgow.

“ Yorkshire is a true sporting county, full of passionate people and a landscape that is an inspiration to train in.”

Yorkshire batters the competition!

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Cocktails and Dreams in Yorkshire A competition to find Yorkshire’s first cocktail was won by bartender Dean Railton from the SkyLounge at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel. His Sage & Onion Gibson wowed the judges and now mixologists across the country can attempt to recreate his masterpiece.

Dean Railton’s Sage & Onion Gibson 15ml Womersley’s Lemon, Basil, Bay and Juniper Vinegar (available from James Market in Bradford) 15ml Noilly Prat Dry Vermouth 50ml Chase Potato Vodka 6 Sage Leaves 1 twist Red Onion Method Put vinegar and Vermouth into a Boston glass. Press the six sage leaves into the mixture. Fill the glass with ice.

Add the Potato Vodka. Stir until cold and delicious. Fine strain into a chilled Martini glass. Rim the lip of the glass with a sage leaf that has a drop of vinegar on it. Garnish with the red onion twist and pop a bay leaf in the middle.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, and Saltaire Village, plus the world’s first UNESCO City of Film, Bradford.

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Racecourses More top class courses than any other county in the UK.

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ARTISTIC

A BRUSH WITH HOCKNEY

Photo by Oli Scarff / Getty Images

Bradford-born David Hockney is synonymous with the swimming pools and sunshine of Los Angeles and California but his critically acclaimed works, inspired by the Yorkshire Wolds landscape, have helped reclaim him for the county of his birth. Stephen McClarence enjoys a weekend in the Yorkshire Wolds exploring the villages and landscape that has inspired one of Britain’s greatest artists.

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ARTISTIC

David Hockney with his painting ‘The Arrival of Spring in Woldgate, East Yorkshire in 2011 (twenty-eleven)’.

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ne hot afternoon after a pleasant lunch, I discovered the Yorkshire Wolds - long before David Hockney made them famous. It was about 20 years ago and a newspaper colleague was driving us to Cleethorpes to write about the Lincolnshire coast. Somewhere between Market Weighton and Driffield, I noticed something wrong. We’d misread the road signs and come the wrong way over the Humber Bridge; it’s easily done after a pleasant lunch.

We took a sharp right to Lincolnshire, but were actually reluctant to leave the Wolds, the gentle uplands that curve boomerang-like across the bottom right hand corner of Yorkshire. Here, in the East Riding, as I still call it, was an open landscape that was quite new to us: subtle, rolling, lyrical, unlike the more rugged, more obviously dramatic vistas of the West Riding’s Yorkshire Dales and the North Riding’s North York Moors.

Those are landscapes that take you by the scruff of the neck and bend your ear in the stereotypical outspoken Yorkshire way (I say this as a Yorkshireman). Here, though, the quiet East Riding insinuated its charms on us, just as it has on Hockney.

He’s a West Riding lad himself, of course, and his pictures are magnificently displayed at Salts Mill, the vibrant gallerycum-restaurant-cum-shops in Saltaire, the Victorian model village near Bradford, his home town. But it’s the Wolds that have inspired most of his Yorkshire landscapes, many of which feature in the major retrospective of his landscape held at the Royal Academy.

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He has known the Wolds since the early Fifties. As a schoolboy, he cycled round them in breaks from a summer farm job stooking corn. As an adult, he regularly spent family Christmases in Bridlington and after his mother settled there around 1990, he visited her every three months or so.

Since her death in 1999, he has famously made the resort his British base, going out on field trips to paint the hills and woods in what will probably come to be seen as his ‘late pastoral’ period.

His pictures, as bright as the boldest Matisse, are like a Wolds gazeteer: Garrowby Hill, Thixendale, Woldgate, Langtoft, Kilham, Boynton, Rudston.

He describes the area as “hidden, small, full of valleys...a lovely bit of England; not spoiled.”

Hockney spoke those words with real feeling, the Wolds does that to you.

Here’s what the late Major John FairfaxBlakeborough, one of the best and most prolific writers on Yorkshire, had to say about them in his book, The Spirit of Yorkshire: “East Yorkshire is less known to the tourist than the other two Ridings...

There are, however, a hundred cameos [there] which are almost ‘undiscovered’ by those who seek picturesqueness, peace and pastoral beauty off the beaten track.

It is always a mystery to me why the Wold villages and those of Holderness are rarely referred to by those who write of the beauties of Yorkshire, and those who claim to know the county from end to end.”

On a warm, sunny weekend in early autumn, my wife and I went in search of Hockney’s “hidden” Yorkshire. We skirt the

cranes and church spires of Goole and pass signs to Drain Lane, Sandholes and Duck Nest, signs that tell it like it is. Some of the names round here could have come straight out of Lewis Carroll: Bubwith, Fangfoss, Thwing, Fimber, Rotsea, Wetwang.

We marvel at the sweeping panorama from the top of the church hill at Holmeon-Spalding-Moor and head into Market Weighton, a quiet, redbrick-and-pantile, no-rush-we’ve-got-all-day little town, where tractors trundle up the main street with carts piled high with potatoes. At one end of the street is a statue of Market Weighton’s greatest claim to fame, William Bradley (1787–1820), England’s tallest-ever man. At 7 feet 9 inches, he was understandably known as Giant Bradley and toured in a freak show with a local dwarf and the Great Yorkshire Pig, bred in a village a few miles south. Market Weighton honours him with an annual Giant Bradley Day in late Spring, when giant things are done.

We buy not-quite-giant sandwiches and eat them in the churchyard at the nearby village of Goodmanham, which is on the 79-mile Yorkshire Wolds Way National Trail from Hessle to Filey. Here, in the shadow of a sturdy Norman church, we get our first real hint of the timeless magic of the Wolds. Copses of trees on top of broad and distant hills, birdsong, and a peace and quiet only momentarily broken by a party of men in riding breeches barking at their pack of beagles as they lead them through the streets. As in other Wolds’ churchyards, many of the gravestones here are carved with ploughs and tractors.

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“ I’m painting landscapes in Yorkshire because you can’t photograph them.

The camera can’t get the beauty.

It just can’t get the space, the thrilling space that I’m in.”

David Hockney describes the Yorkshire Wolds

Great days out

Discover more of the fabulous Yorkshire Wolds Walk the Wolds Purchase a Walk The Wolds pack from a local Tourist Information Centre. Full of handy tips, detailed maps and routes for 15 of the best walks, it’s a must. Each walk is graded for ease and accessibility to help you choose your perfect route.

Big Skies Bike Rides Eight OS-mapped circular day rides on quiet roads and country lanes. What better way to enjoy the beautiful Yorkshire Wolds and explore this hidden corner of England?

Pick up your Big Skies Bike Rides from a local Tourist Information Centre or print them at yorkshire.com/outdoors.

Left to right: An East Yorkshire poppy field; Great cycling routes; The Wolds are packed with wonderful churches; Skidby windmill and hay bales on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds.

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Pick up a Picnic Choose from three freshly prepared and locally produced picnics, select a family ticket to one of our great attractions and sample a slice of East Yorkshire countryside.

Each picnic comes in its own reusable Yorkshire Wolds cool bag. Go to yorkshire.com/thewolds to find out more.

“ Look at the incredible variety of grasses; look at the marvellous

Lulled by the steady pulse of rural life, we drive on, along narrow roads lined with hedgerows thick with hawthorn and bindweed, past frantic pheasants and an elderly couple in straw hats who have unfolded a picnic table next to their car and are drinking fluted glasses of white wine.

Our goal is Warter, a name now worldfamous thanks to Hockney’s wall-sized multi-panel canvases of its ‘Bigger Trees’.

It’s a spick-and-span estate village, a bit artsand-crafts, with a Victorian church stylishly converted into the Yorkshire Wolds Heritage Centre. Along with a plaque to an 18th century MP “unbiased by private interest or advantage” (cue wry comment), it has superb displays, a rack of postcards with delightful drawings by Warter C of E Primary School children that Hockney might not be ashamed of, and a range of walk leaflets. One of them guides us to the location of one of the ‘Bigger Trees’ pictures, a great controlled flourish of branches. Standing in front of it is like finding yourself on the edge of one of Monet’s poppy fields, nature imitating art.

We have tea in Pocklington, the most charming of the three Wolds towns. The third town, incidentally, is Driffield, which has a thriving, friendly High Street where you can buy tangy Yorkshire curd tarts at half-a-dozen bakers. We eventually get to Wold Newton, a duck-ponded village where we’re staying at The Wold Cottage.

Cottage? This is a cottage only if you class Castle Howard as a semi. Wold Cottage

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is an 18th century country house run by farmer Derek Gray and his wife Katrina.

It has the warm, friendly atmosphere of a family home and views of vast dark night skies scattered with stars.

We spot the occasional shooting star, which recalls the 56lb meteorite that “fell from the atmosphere” onto one of the farm’s fields in a 1795 thunderstorm.

An obelisk marks the spot where this “extraordinary stone” (3ft across) caused such a loud explosion that it “alarmed the surrounding countryside and created so distinctly the sensation that something very singular had happened”.

And the rest of our weekend? Crisscrossing the Wolds, meandering, as I say, but making sure we visit Bempton, the exhilarating cliffs where the hills hit the coast. They’re approached along a deadstraight road where the unmistakeable whiff of sea birds lingers on still days.

Not surprisingly, Bempton’s clifftop RSPB Reserve has 250,000 birds (in season), including puffins and England’s only mainland gannet colony. We watch the gannets wheeling on the wind, but sadly none honours us with their party piece – a missile-like plunge into the water, headfirst, in search of food.

Bempton is linked by rail to Hull and Scarborough by a genial line that takes in Beverley, Driffield, Filey and, a few minutes along from the cliffs, Bridlington. In the true spirit of arty anorkism, we stand and

gaze at the trees opposite Brid’s Morrisons supermarket that have inspired one of Hockney’s most recent panoramas.

At the close of our weekend, nothing encapsulates the Wolds magic more than our trip to Wharram Percy, England’s most famous deserted village. Famous it may be, but we have some trouble finding it.

“Are we on the right road?” we ask a young woman on a horse. “I know the route across country,” she says, “but not by road.” We do eventually find it – a clump of mounds that were houses in the 15th century, and a romantically ruined church. The place is still pretty deserted, apart from a couple of young men with rucksacks and a picnic.

Almost more striking than the village, however, is our approach to it, up a remote hillside completely covered with sunflowers – thousands of them – and poppies. We sit and gaze at this lovely scene and only later discover its name, Fairy Dale.

We haven’t time to visit Beverley, arguably the North’s most delightful small town. Nor to drive to Spurn, that great curving finger of land that stretches across the Humber Estuary, as though wanting to scratch a big itch in Cleethorpes on the other side.

Ah yes, Cleethorpes, where we were heading 20 years ago. We did finally get there and duly wrote about it. But, between thee, me and Giant Bradley, it was the Wolds we remembered, and still do. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/hockney

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leaves; look at that colour. Isn’t it beautiful...pure joy isn’t it?”

David Hockney describes the Yorkshire Wolds

Clockwise from top left: Beverley Minster; Rolling hills near Huggate on the Yorkshire Wolds Way, 79 miles of unbroken peace & quiet; Incredible Wolds woodlands near Warter; Autumn mist on the Wolds; Family cycling days out.

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Clockwise from top left: Driver on footplate of Steam Locomotive 45596, Bahamas; Old fire buckets at Keighley Station; Passengers prepare to board the train at Haworth Railway Station; Pullman car ‘Mary’ at Oxenhope Station.

“This is marvellous. You can have a hundred emails on your computer and absolutely none of it matters. I was sweaty and sooty.

Above all, I was totally exhilarated.”

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HERITAGE

There are few things as pleasurable in life as a drive through glorious Yorkshire countryside on a warm summer afternoon, knowing that a boyhood dream awaits at your destination.

Will Hide discovers Keighley and Worth Valley Railway.

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ast Harrogate, and on through the southern part of the Dales, with ominous thunder clouds bubbling up in the distance highlighting the rich green fields, towards Keighley, with its old mills and new mosques. A town where plump, Beryl Cook’esque, sun-ripened ladies were pausing to gossip on the high street and men in shalwar kameez were on their way back from Friday prayers. Onwards a few miles to the village of Oakworth and back to 1905.

It was here, at the station of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (KWVR), that the novel The Railway Children by Edith Nesbit was turned into a film in 1970. As well as just taking leisurely trips, it’s possible for the public to have a go at actually driving a steam train on the KWVR line, which meanders for five miles up the steep gradient from Keighley via Ingrow, Damems, Oakworth, the Brontë sisters home village of Haworth and onto Oxenhope.

Or, if your ambitions are not so lofty, you can spend an afternoon playing the role of Mr Perks himself, carrying out station duties on the authentically-Edwardian era platform. And if you fancy neither, just relax as you amble along for half an hour in one of the restored carriages with a pint of beer from the onboard bar or afternoon tea.

I started off at the station helping David Petyt, a retired tailor from Keighley, and one of 350 volunteers (and just six paid staff) who keep the whole operation running. He looked just the part in his uniform of guard’s cap, waistcoat, white shirt and dark trousers with a dapper, properly authentic air about him.

With a train heading up the track, anounced by a whistle from around the corner, my first task was to head to the end of the platform, past period advertising signs extolling the benefits of Virol (“aneamic girls need it”), and Shaws of James St, Harrogate (“specialists in wearing apparel for gentlewomen of taste. Dainty footwear.”), to open the level crossing gates – luckily not too heavy, although David warned me not to slam them on my ankles - and shift the points that would allow the train to enter.

Just in time, the locomotive chugged grandly onto the platform and I shouted “Oakworth! This is Oakworth” in a rather over-excited fashion. I raised my arm and blew the whistle once all passengers were safely off or aboard, the train guard waved his flag for the driver and

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with a satisfyingly resonant noise that could never be satisfactorily reproduced in words, the train chuffed serenely off towards Keighley.

I had two more go’s at this as the train went up and down the line, before it was my turn to hop onboard the footplate of the magnificent locomotive, an LMS Jinty tank engine built in 1925.

I swapped my flat cap for a blue boiler suit and gloves, with driver Nick Hellewell and fireman Graham Bloom on hand to make sure I didn’t muck everything up.

The heat from the glowing coal in the firebox hit me in the face and, almost as immediately, my brain was churning with information overload. The footplate was dirty and sweaty but magical - a fantasy world, with an onslaught of levers and handles and dials to baffle and daunt. I tried to take on board the process by which heat produced the steam that drove us forward. So that was the regulator, and here the steam brake and the vacuum break. There’s the whistle (very important), and the injector valve, and the boiler pressure gauge (also very important), and the front damper and… a shovel and lots of coal.

I was to have two go’s down the track – from Oxenhope as fireman, then on the return leg as driver. My main job on the first leg was to shovel and I soon discovered there was a right and a wrong way to do that – an uneven bed of coal means air is unable to flow properly, while a correct surface with no air holes means no belching black smoke and a more efficient combustion.

From Keighley back up the line I was in control, with Nick looking on in a fatherly fashion – his proud offspring being the locomotive, not me. When the guard had waved his flag and the whistle from the platform had blown, I let the regulator off and gave it a hefty shove to the left, jerking us forward.

“This is marvellous” said Nick as we sped on further down the track, some startled horses cantering up a field next to us before we disappeared into a tunnel. “You can have a hundred emails on your computer and absolutely none of it matters.” And he was right. By the time we arrived back at Oxenhope, I was sweaty and sooty, still nervous and feeling rather out of my depth. Above all, though, I was totally exhilarated. For more information on Yorkshire’s Heritage Railways go to www.yorkshire.com/railways

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advertorial

The Devonshire Fell.

A TASTE OF LUXURY IN BREATHTAKING COUNTRYSIDE The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel is relaxing and comfortable, with space to unwind plus excellent food and wines to enjoy. There are 80 miles of footpaths and hiking trails, 6 miles of river for fly fishing and the church and ruins of the 12th century Augustinian Priory - all this on the doorstep of one of England’s leading small hotels. Above all you will receive a genuinely warm welcome.

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The location and history...

The 30,000 acre Bolton Abbey estate straddles the banks of the River Wharfe at the southern entrance to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Owned by the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire the Estate is steeped in history and where the 12th century Priory, which partially survived the 1539 dissolution of the monasteries, and its striking ruins are a popular tourist attraction. The ancient Strid Wood is one of the largest areas of acidic oak woodland in the Yorkshire Dales renowned for its flora and fauna and home to Sites of Special Scientific Interest. The Barden Moor and Barden Fell access areas open up 15,000 acres of heather moorland, a habitat for rare species of bird such as Merlin and Lapwing.

This is what makes Bolton Abbey a wonderful base for a special day out or a longer relaxing break. The Estate is the Yorkshire home of Devonshire Hotels & Restaurants, an intimate collection of unique places including two hotels, a Michelin star restaurant, a riverside cafe and an Elemis Health Barn.

Sit awhile...

The Cavendish Pavilion is the perfect riverside venue for refreshments and a bite to eat; in the winter the tearoom serves heart-warming traditional dishes, whilst in the summer, localmade ice cream is the favourite – and all year round there is a wide selection of hot drinks homemade sandwiches and delicious cakes.

2012 is the start of an exciting time for the Cavendish Pavilion. The riverside café, which

Michelin starred food.

was originally opened in 1890, is undergoing a complete transformation to reopen in April with new facilities and a new menu. Whilst retaining the style of a Victorian railway station, new glazing will flood the interior with daylight bringing the countryside closer to diners.

Outside the canopy sheltered tables and chairs are popular with dog walkers and cyclists.

For a more intimate setting, The Devonshire Arms at Bolton Abbey serves a selection of afternoon teas in cosy lounges with roaring log fires and exemplary service.

Treat a loved one to a stroll around the romantic Priory returning for afternoon tea for the perfect end to a wonderful day out.

Stay longer...

With such a lot to see and do, one day isn’t always enough so why not stay in one of the two hotels on the Estate? One is a supreme country house hotel and the other a contemporary restaurant with rooms; guests of both enjoy complimentary use of The Devonshire Health Barn – a retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.

The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel boasts 40 luxury bedrooms, each with its own character and style; some in the affectionately named ‘Old Wing’ which dates back to the 1750s in which you’ll find elegance and charm, others in the newer Wharfedale Wing inspired by the then Duchess of Devonshire in 1982 and transformed again a couple of years ago.

On the northern edge of the Estate perched above the picturesque village of Burnsall, The Devonshire Fell offers tasty local food, great wine, cask ales and 12 supremely comfortable bedrooms where the Duchess of Devonshire has put her unique stamp on the decor. The location is simply stunning with panoramic views across the river and valley to the hills of the Yorkshire Dales beyond.

Food for thought...

The restaurants on the Estate are some of Yorkshire’s finest: Estate meat and game plus seasonal vegetables and herbs from the kitchen gardens are used ensuring that you know exactly how far your meal has travelled ‘from gate to plate’.

At The Devonshire Arms, The Burlington is the most highly regarded restaurant in Yorkshire with 4 AA Rosettes in addition to its Michelin star and a score of 6 in the Good Food Guide. Elegant pale aubergine walls dressed with paintings and architectural drawings from the Devonshire Collection, soft intimate lighting, and fine contemporary

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Luxury accommodation at The Devonshire Arms.

china and silverware set the scene. For those who are beginning their journey into Michelin dining, the Sunday Lunchtime Michelin Experience is just perfect: £35 including an amuse bouche and a pre-dessert in addition to your chosen three courses.

In contrast The Devonshire Brasserie & Bar at The Devonshire Arms offers a lively alternative. Head Chef, Dan Field serves time honoured classics with a contemporary twist cooked with passion and served with a smile.

Dine in the bar or in the smart restaurant, in both the influence of the Duchess of Devonshire is very apparent with dynamic colours and original contemporary art.

Outside, the views across to the Dales are fabulous, perfect for al fresco dining on the terrace in the summer months.

Relaxed dining at The Devonshire Fell delivers delicious food. The newly transformed conservatory is the perfect place to conclude your evening, with cosy seating and those spectacular views. It is also worth noting that this fantastic venue can be yours exclusively for a private party or wedding.

A haven of relaxation...

Opposite The Devonshire Arms in the unique setting of a historical barn, The Devonshire Health Barn is a haven for peace and tranquillity.

With pool, spa pool, sauna, steam room, small gym, and intimate relaxation room, as well as Elemis beauty therapy treatments you will not want to leave. From Fake Bake to Minx and gel nails there’s something for everyone, and it’s great value - facials start from just £26.

Next step Relax and unwind at Bolton Abbey www.devonshirehotels.co.uk email res@devonshirehotels.co.uk or call 01756 718111 to find out more.

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delicious

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Some of Britain’s finest pubs and local beers are to be found right here in Yorkshire. Pub and restaurant reviewer Dave Lee casts his expert eye over some of the county’s most celebrated creations. Cheers!

hink of Yorkshire beer and you probably think of Theakstons, John Smiths or Tetley, but working feverishly away in the county these days are also a dazzling array of micro-brewers, nano-brewers and brew pubs. The results are beers that delight the palate, are the envy of the world and are well worth seeking out.

Prolific and popular traditional brewers such as Sam Smiths, Timothy Taylor and Black Sheep now face healthy competition from ambitious start-ups like Leeds Brewery, which is fast taking over its home city and looking to spread like yeast to the rest of the UK. Comparable set ups can be found at Saltaire Brewery, Little Valley Brewery (near Hebden Bridge) and York and Wold Top breweries.

All experiment with varying blends to create intriguing flavours that feel both unique, and yet somehow familiar.

The number of artisan, short run beers has seen a phenomenal increase across the county in recent years too. Micro-brewers like Ilkley Brewery, Brown Cow Brewery in Selby or the Kelham Brewery in Sheffield rely on skilful, dedicated workers to turn out a few hundred pints of distinctive beer per week, most of which are only available in pubs within a twenty or thirty mile radius.

Even smaller are the nano-brewers like Sheffield’s Steel City Brewing or the recently-created Brass Castle in Pocklington who brew their award winning vegan ales in the garage of a terraced house. Sometimes the distance from mash tub to glass is only a few feet, as an increasing amount of brew-pubs create ales on-site. Try the Nook Brewhouse in Holmfirth or Leeds’ only premium brew-pub, The Brewery Tap, which is found at the cellar door of Leeds Brewery.

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Many dedicated real ale pubs pride themselves on seeking out and offering the best and most obscure local beers they can find.

You should try the Fat Cat in Sheffield, the Maltings in York or any of the railway station pubs along the Transpennine Real Ale Trail (have a pint, take a train, have another – marvellous), to find the pick of the current crop of the county’s output. What about those who want something other than a pint of beer? Well, Yorkshire boasts some of the friendliest, cosiest and most hospitable pubs in the world.

The paragon of picturesque country pubs is South Dalton’s Pipe & Glass, which knocked one of Heston Blumenthal’s pubs off the top of Michelin’s Pub of the Year list 2012. Of similar stature is the outstanding Durham Ox in Crayke and the Star Inn at Harome.

Both serve sensational locally-sourced food and drink of the sort that should delight even the most discerning gastronaut.

Throughout the county you’ll also find heritage pubs of every hue. Pubs, like the Wombwell Arms in Wass and The Foresters Arms in Carlton in Coverdale which both serve and define the communities in which they stand. A swift half in any of them is as likely to turn into a history lesson as a bantering session. You should also seek out the Fighting Cock in Bradford, the living museum that is Nellies of Beverley, the Roos Arms in Holderness or the Yard in Malton (a good place, incidentally, to sample Cropton Brewery’s Yorkshire Lager).

Special mention should go to the 350 year old Shibden Mill Inn near Halifax which was voted Yorkshire’s favourite pub – as good as a knighthood for a Yorkshire publican!

So, welcome visitor; come on in, take off your coat, warm yourself by the fire and let Yorkshire pull you a proper pint. To find out more about our delicious Ale Trail go to www.yorkshire.com/delicious

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“Come on in, take off your coat, warm yourself by the fire and let Yorkshire pull you a proper pint.”

Top 10 Yorkshire beers (and a cider)

iIn no particular order, my pick iof the county’s home-grown brews

iWOLD TOP BITTERi

www.woldtopbrewery.co.uk

iLeeds palei

www.leedsbrewery.co.uk

ilandlordi

www.timothytaylor.co.uk

iRavenscroft Pale Alei

www.revolutionsbrewing.co.uk

iBlack Sheep Riggwelteri www.blacksheepbrewery.com iRoosters Wild Mulei www.roosters.co.uk iBad Kittyi

www.brasscastlebrewery.co.uk Clockwise from top left: Pulling a pint of Black Sheep; Black Sheep Brewery; Traditional barrel at Theakston’s Brewery; Enjoying a pint at Wold Top Brewery on the Yorkshire Coast.

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iBlanco Blondei

www.sheffieldbrewery.com

iCheeky Krieki

www.saltairebrewery.co.uk

iAmpleforth Abbey Cideri www.ampleforth.org.uk

awards

the winner takes it all

The White Rose Awards have celebrated the cream of Yorkshire tourism for over 20 years.

Nicholas Roe enjoys an award winning weekend sampling some of the best in the business.

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lazing a trail round some of the most stunning tourist attractions in Yorkshire is a beautifully quirky experience, and it begins right here, right now with a new-born donkey and a plastic cow. The cow? Well, it’s been set up at Cannon Hall Farm near Barnsley to let visiting children test their milking skills through the giggly joy of rubber udders – a little girl shrieking with pleasure as I watch. As for the sweet little donkey, he draws an equally enthralled crowd to the barn next door just by flapping his ears. In these glimpses you discover the spirit of a prize-winning tourist experience, which is, quite simply, an imaginative masterpiece.

Voted Best Tourism Experience in Welcome to Yorkshire’s annual White Rose Awards, celebrating the county’s best tourism businesses, Cannon Hall’s trick is to mix the fascination of a working farm with the anarchic fun of an adventure playground and the comfort of good food. Children clamber through a forest of slides, ropes and tubes, while families feed grain to waiting cattle, individuals marvel at the birth of sheep, cows, llamas, exotic pigs and… donkeys. The surrounding shops and café are full of locallysourced fare providing evidence that Yorkshire farms produce some of the finest pies, meat, cakes and ice-cream in the world.

Jump in the car, motor a few miles north and you arrive at a strange contrast – a tranquil landscape peopled by frozen ghosts.

Here in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park outside Wakefield, 60 vast

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sculptures by artists such as Henry Moore and Barbara Hepworth populate 500-acres of English-parkland offering peace, surprise, awe, even humour. Gigantic heads made of lacy metalwork peer into dark woods; carved trees stand curiously bedecked with loos and dustbins; headless torsos twenty feet high perch eerily on iron chairs above rising uplands. You walk; you see; you gasp.

Winners of the White Rose Business Tourism Award, the Park offers indoor galleries and a café too, but it is the outdoor experience that provides the emotional focus. Its staff say that this all-year attraction is perhaps at its most touching after snowfall, but as I watch children doing roly-poly slides down grassy hills between artworks of world-importance, I’m gripped by my fair-weather viewing.

I recall the Sculpture Park later as I settle for the night at Rudding Park Hotel near Harrogate, another White Rose winner (Best Large Hotel). Like the Park, the sense here is of formal construction (a wonderful Grade 1 listed Regency building) contained within natural countryside – in this case, with a golfcourse, too. And there are distinctly unusual touches. For instance, the hotel boasts a 19th century church which you may visit in quiet moments but also a tiny private cinema – which is where I spend my evening, watching good guys triumph over evil.

Next day, I pop round the corner to visit the aptly-named Fodder, a food-shop that lies within the Great Yorkshire Showground selling Yorkshire produced food in a fashion that

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Clockwise from top: Kids are happy to make their own entertainment at Cannon Hall Farm; Antony Gormley: One & Other at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park; Best Large Hotel Rudding Park.

Need to know

Clockwise from top left: There’s more to Cannon Hall than meets the eye; Food for thought at Fodder; Savour the tranquility of East Riddlesden Hall.

makes a joy out of the weekly grocery run.

The building itself is an eye-catching mix of stone, wood, vast glass sheets and brilliant interior design, but the produce is what keeps the tills busy and led to the recent Taste of Yorkshire White Rose Award.

A stunning variety of over 2,000 kinds of food are sold here, 85 percent produced within Yorkshire. Wine, cheese, meat, fruit, bread, cakes, sweets, biscuits, vegetables… the spread is enormous, the sense of locality overpowering. Talking to Heather Parry, Fodder’s Managing Director, I hear stories of food passion and Yorkshire character finding twin focus on the shelves.

It’s uplifting, but better still, it makes sense.

Some of this food has travelled only a couple of miles to reach this shop, and it looks and tastes gorgeous.

So to my last stop on this trail of Yorkshire charms. Heading west, I reach the National Trust property East Riddlesden Hall, on the edge of Keighley. If you imagine an

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oasis of rural charm trapped in the middle of urban sprawl, you have the idea. There’s a pond, ducks, swans, trees, seclusion, with a beautiful stone hall at the heart, built between the 11th and the 17th centuries in a style that can only be described as miniaturised grandeur. Hence its recent award: Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.

Families can easily spend a day here, because the charms are intensely varied, the atmosphere friendly and the attractions subtly mixed. The house is furnished in 17th century style and is riddled with intriguing artefacts (the booby-trapped treasure-casket is a thrill), but if the kids need exercise, the gardens and landscape are filled with human-scale fun – a mud-pie factory; a field-maze; a playground.

Movies such as Wuthering Heights have been shot at East Riddlesden and you can see why the place feels authentic and atmospheric. It is a great place to end a treasure-trail. A lovely memory of Yorkshire.

East Coast and Grand Central trains Provide direct links from London to many of Yorkshire’s attractions, including Wakefield for the Yorkshire Sculpture Park and Keighley for East Riddlesden Hall. East Coast have recently launched a direct service to Harrogate – ideal for weekend breaks in this beautiful spa town. www.eastcoast.co.uk www.grandcentralrail.com Cannon Hall Farm An award winning working farm set in the rolling Pennine hills. www.cannonhallfarm.co.uk Yorkshire Sculpture Park Exhibitions in 500 acres of glorious 18th century landscaped grounds and three indoor galleries. www.ysp.co.uk Rudding Park Hotel Luxury hotel, spa and golf course set in beautiful parkland. www.ruddingpark.co.uk Fodder The very best food and drink from Yorkshire run by the Yorkshire Agricultural Society www.fodderweb.co.uk East Riddlesden Hall A stunning 17th century manor house with award winning gardens. www.nationaltrust.org.uk White Rose Awards Take a look at all the winners at the White Rose Awards 2011. www.whiteroseawards.com

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LUCKY NUMBER 7EVEN

Yorkshire’s seven fine cities of York, Leeds, Bradford, Sheffield, Hull, Ripon and Wakefield deliver a fabulous mix of fashion, fun, culture, clubs, music and mouth-watering food.

One county, seven cities, a world of choice.

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CITY LIFE

“ Forget Bermuda, it’s all about the Rhubarb Triangle. Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb now has protected name status like champagne. Look out for rhubarb sausages and curry – yum.”

Bradford Unrivalled for its curry cuisine, the city has been crowned the Curry Capital of Great Britain 2011. There are hundreds of great places to choose from including Prashad, which shot to fame on Gordon Ramsay’s TV show. Always popular.

Bradford was crowned the world’s first UNESCO City of Film and now it will be home to another world first as the National Media Museum opens LifeOnline – the world’s first dedicated internet gallery.

Be sure to visit City Park, right in the heart of Bradford, complete with it’s mirrorpool, the largest man made water feature in any UK city. And for history, culture and quality cake, head for Salts Mill, Saltaire – home to one of the biggest collections of David Hockney’s artwork in the world.

Hull Home of the world’s only submarium, The Deep, set alongside the River Humber, houses an incredible 3,500 fish, sharks and rays. Feeding time is immense!

Sport is at the heart of Hull and the city proudly boasts two leading Super League sides as well as Hull City FC, whose recent Premier League exploits helped boost the city’s reputation.

Head across the Humber Bridge to the tranquil Hull Marina and enjoy some great food and drink while watching the yachts roll in. Sea monsters, Romans and life-size woolly mammoths are all in a days exploring through Hull’s Museums Quarter – all free entry – in the city’s historic Old Town.

Leeds Leeds leads when it comes to nightlife with some of the UK’s best bars. Try Call Lane, Greek Street, Millennium Square or Northgate. Unique favourites include Skylounge, with 13th floor views of the city’s skyscape and Mojo, popular with locals and celebrities alike.

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Leeds is the ultimate fix for shopaholics too. It is home to the beautiful Victoria Quarter, the huge pedestrian-friendly Briggate and Kirkgate Market – the largest undercover market in the country. It also has its own Harvey Nichols, which helped turn the city into the Knightsbridge of the North.

Saddle up and head for the Royal Armouries, the UK’s national museum of arms and armour, which sits next to the River Aire and just a short walk from fine dining at James Martin’s Leeds Kitchen.

Leeds’ extensive food menu has global influences, so loosen your belts and explore more fine dining at Brasserie Blanc, critically acclaimed Gujarati at Hansa’s, Brazil’s best at Fazenda or a taste of Italy – Yorkshire style – at Salvo’s in Headingley.

Ripon Stunning views, history and a gateway to The Dales – it can mean only one thing, Ripon.

Enjoy one of the city’s arresting attractions, with a visit to the Prison and Police Museum. Hang tight at Lightwater Valley family theme park, home to Europe’s longest rollercoaster – The Ultimate. No better name for it really!

Time travel back some 700 years with a visit to the historic Ripley Castle or explore Yorkshire’s first World Heritage site at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal. Take the time to visit Ripon Cathedral, thought by many to have helped inspire Lewis Carroll to pen classics, Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass.

Sheffield Music steals the show in the steel city with the Motorpoint Arena regularly hosting superstars like Katy Perry, Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Rhianna, not to mention Sheffield’s own Arctic Monkeys whose music is known throughout the world.

Follow in the footsteps of Katy Perry and visit Silversmiths restaurant in the city centre or head for the multi-award winning gastro pub, The Milestone. For fans of fine

Clockwise from top left: The multi-award winning Castleford Bridge in Castleford, Wakefield; History and heritage at Ripon Cathedral; Sheffield’s award winning iconic ‘Cheesegrater’ Charles Street car park; Gothic York Minster; The Alhambra Theatre in Bradford contains some unusual and attractive spaces; Hull’s The Deep is one of the most spectacular aquariums in the world; Leeds Corn Exchange is one of Britain’s finest Victorian buildings.

dining, take a taxi out to The Old Vicarage, Sheffield’s Michelin Star restaurant.

Jump aboard the city’s Super Tram and head for some footy action at Sheffield’s United and Wednesday, not to be confused with the world’s oldest club, Sheffield FC.

Wakefield Witness the breathtaking Yorkshire Sculpture Park with its indoor Underground Gallery and rolling landscapes which play host to awe-inspiring, outdoor sculptures.

Head to Glasshoughton and sample real snow at the indoor ski slope Xscape or bag some bargains at Junction 32 outlet village.

Go 140m underground at the National Coal Mining Museum for England or for above ground experiences visit The Hepworth Wakefield and Diggerland - where children can ride and drive real construction machines.

Forget Bermuda, it’s all about the Rhubarb Triangle. Right at its heart is the Merrie City of Wakefield and it’s Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb every February.

Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb now has protected name status like champagne. Look out for rhubarb sausages and curry – yum.

York The ghost walks around the city after dark are some of the best on the planet, genuinely scary and very entertaining. Lose yourself at York Maze, as exciting by day as it is by night, especially over Halloween. Weave your way around arguably the best preserved medieval street in the world, The Shambles. Get dressed up for the horse racing at York Racecourse.

Any meet is great fun but try and experience the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival – the racecourse’s oldest, richest and fastest festival.

Better make that long weekend even longer with so many museums and sights to see, not least the National Railway Museum, JORVIK Viking Centre, Yorkshire Air Museum and the iconic York Minster.

To find out more about cities in Yorkshire go to www.yorkshire.com/destinations

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Kimberley Walsh opens the Leeds Breast Cancer Haven Centre at the Gateway Development.

ALOUD & PROUD Bradford’s own Kimberley Walsh is one of Yorkshire’s high profile patrons blazing a trail across the world but keeping her feet firmly on the ground in Yorkshire.

yorkshire patrons

YORKSHIRE PATRONS ON THE YORKSHIRE SCENE Yorkshiremen are renowned for being very friendly. But why are they so happy? We’ve asked a few famous faces why Yorkshire makes them tick and why everyone should experience it.

Kimberley had her first taste of fame appearing as a child with her sister Sally, in a George at ASDA advert. She also attended the Bradford based theatre school Stage 84 for many years and was also, briefly, a teacher there.

However it is singing that truly made her famous and this year marks a decade of success for the phenomenally successful

“ Yorkshire will always be home to me and it is always fantastic to come back to a warm Yorkshire welcome.”

Girls Aloud. Not only have Kimberley and her bandmates entered the Guinness Book of Records for the girl group with the most consecutive top 10 singles, they have achieved critical acclaim within the industry too by having fellow Yorkshire megastars, the Arctic Monkeys, cover one of their songs (‘Love Machine’) as well as the likes of Coldplay’s Chris Martin and Metronomy’s Joseph Mount publicly stating they want to work with them. The clamour for Kimberley is global and yet she stays very much a local girl.

When her former dance teacher Deana Morgan was diagnosed with breast cancer, she helped open The Yorkshire Haven in Leeds which provides a range of therapies free of charge to help people deal with the physical and emotional side effects of breast cancer. Despite her hectic workload, Kimberley still finds time to visit The Haven and lend it her high profile support.

As Kimberley says herself “Being a Yorkshire girl myself, it has been a real honour to help The Haven, supporting both women and men going through breast cancer in the region.”

Yorkshire Patrons are a select group of some of the county’s famous sons and daughters who, despite their fame, never lose sight of their roots and like to remind the world that the best place on the planet remains Yorkshire. We caught up with some of Yorkshire’s finest to find out what being from our glorious county means to them.

Cue the patriotic music...

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Alan Hinkes on outdoors

Matthew Lewis on film

“Yorkshire means real fresh air to me.

It’s an adventure playground for outdoor pursuits such as rock climbing, caving and potholing, canoeing and biking. You know when you are in Yorkshire; it is a special place with a distinctive feel and unique sights.”

“Yorkshire provides some of the most stunning backdrops for film and television and the beauty is that many of these landscapes, towns and cities can be explored and enjoyed by visitors. The landscape translated spectacularly on to the big screen in the Harry Potter films.”

Michael Parkinson on people

Jonny Bairstow on sport

“Yorkshire, the county, is beautiful and grand in an epic sense. Its people are stubborn, bloody minded, generous, loyal and best of all funny.

There is a curiosity about Yorkshire people, that sense in which outsiders believe we are a special tribe. Why? Look around you.”

“In Yorkshire it is engrained in you from an early age to be respectful and appreciative of others.

I feel these ethics have stood me in good stead for my career. I have been fortunate enough to have a taste of international cricket. It has made me hungry to experience more.”

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SPORT

Left: Rudding Park’s stunning 18 hole par 72 course runs through the heart of 19th century parkland.

olf is as much about history as it is about the present, so let’s start by going back, five years in fact, to a pub quiz in Leeds on a wintery Sunday evening.

I’m new to the city and keen to impress.

It’s the sports round and a golf question is asked. “Which course held the first Ryder Cup match on European soil?” I should know this. I play. Often erratically, but always obsessively and I have built myself up as an authority on sport amongst my team. I should know this, but I don’t. When the answers are read out, I am shocked.

Not only did my girlfriend know the answer, but so did every team in the pub, or that’s how it felt. Golf does that to you. Just when you think you have it mastered, it surprises you. Having said that, I soon found out why everyone in the pub knew the answer except me, because the course was just two miles up the road.

Surprisingly, for a county known for its confidence, Yorkshire golf seems to have adopted the uncharacteristically reserved nature of the game’s Victorian forefathers.

Yorkshire’s golfing pedigree is rich, but rarely celebrated outside the county. The game flourished in Yorkshire in the early part of the last century as the contours of the land inspired designers to sculpt a series of outstanding courses that can still be played today. Yorkshire has played such a significant role in the history of the game that if it was north of the border, it would be world renowned. One of the world’s best known course designers began and honed his craft in Leeds; three courses have hosted the Ryder Cup; Fulford and Moor Allerton have staged championship golf and many others still hold prestigious amateur tournaments. Yorkshire has a depth and variety of courses few other counties can compete with, providing a bountiful mix of links, inland, moorland and heathland courses to rival anywhere in the country.

Who would have thought one wrong answer in a pub quiz would lead to such fervent investigation.

In fact, since my double bogey performance in the pub quiz, I have taken it upon myself to do some extensive research of Yorkshire’s golf courses.

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SWING TIME Yorkshire golf deserves a much higher world ranking with over 200 courses celebrating our passion for the game. Andrew Denton explores the county’s historic courses and must play holes.

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FRONT9 Some of Yorkshire’s must play courses 01

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Ryder Cup Hosts 1949

Beverley est. 1889

Ganton est. 1891

Reputed to be the oldest golf course in Yorkshire.

Ganton ranks among the very best of Britain’s inland courses. Hosted the 1949 Ryder Cup.

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Bradford est. 1891 The par 3, 12th protected by four bunkers is a test of skill as well as nerve.

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Ilkley est. 1890 Where Colin Montgomerie learned to play golf. In addition to its breathtaking beauty, the course is a wonderful test, whatever your ability.

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Dewsbury est. 1891 The course was originally designed by Old Tom Morris and redesigned by Peter Alliss.

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Fixby est. 1909

Ryder Cup Hosts 1957

Lindrick est. 1891 Hosted the 1957 Ryder Cup. Offers an excellent test for all golfers. The 210 yard par 3, 18th is one of golf’s best finishing holes.

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The home of Yorkshire Golf, a course graced by Gary Player.

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Ryder Cup Hosts 1929

Moortown est. 1909

Fulford est. 1906 Hosted no fewer than 23 consecutive European Tour events.

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Hosted the 1929 Ryder Cup. The par 3 10th, Gibraltar, is one of golf’s historic holes. The inspiration of Moortown’s finish, will stay with you forever.

You never forget a round in good or bad weather on the Yorkshire coast Take Beverley Golf Club’s Westwood course. It is a wonderful example of Yorkshire’s variety, experienced in just 18 holes.

Founded in 1889, Beverley has a wild, undulating naturalness with fairways fringed by high cuts of rough on commonland grazed by cows. It’s an outstanding test for any golfer combining the best elements of parkland, heathland and links golf on a beautiful course set against the backdrop of Beverley Minster.

Moortown, just outside Leeds, is 175 acres of moorland and woodland sculpted by the doyen of golf course design, and the man behind the Augusta National which hosts the US Masters every April, Dr Alister MacKenzie. Its signature hole is MacKenzie’s infamous par 3 10th, Gibraltar. MacKenzie was convinced that he could design one hole that people would travel the country to play and that hole would pay for the rest of the golf course.

He was proved right and because of 158 yards of teasing and tempting Yorkshire terrain, the rest of Moortown Golf Club became a reality. It can still be played today, and is the highlight of any scorecard back at the 19th.

MacKenzie’s influence stretches just up the road to Alwoodley, which is also known as his home course as it was his first golf design project. The heathland course carries all the hallmarks of his design principles, working with the landscape, not against it, something that can still be felt across the club’s 27 holes, in three exquisite loops of nine. Further south, Low Laithes in Ossett is a parkland MacKenzie course too.

Further east on the coast, Scarborough’s North Cliff, Flamborough Head, Filey, Bridlington and Hornsea provide links challenges with the sights and sounds of coastal golf accompanied by testing sea breezes that change the friendliness of fairways daily, if not hourly. You never forget a round in good or bad weather on the Yorkshire coast.

Multiple major winners such as the late Seve Ballesteros, Bernard Langer – who famously took a shot up a tree at Fulford – Sandy Lyle, Tony Jacklin, Gary Player and Greg Norman have played in Yorkshire, as well as European Order of Merit and Ryder Cup star Colin Montgomerie and recent world number one Lee Westwood, who has an academy at the golfing hotel and resort, at Rudding Park just outside Harrogate.

Yorkshire has the history, the pedigree, the passion and also the endorsement of some of the world’s most famous players. It is very un-golf like but it really should be punching the air and shouting more about its standing in the game, it certainly deserves a much higher world ranking.

And the answer to the pub quiz question, which course was the first in Europe to host the Ryder Cup? Moortown in 1929.

Yorkshire golf got off to a winning start with Great Britain winning 7 points to 5. It’s a match I am never likely to forget, ever again.

But don’t just take my word for it, invest some weekends away discovering Yorkshire’s wild and wonderful golf courses, brushing up on their history as you go, just in case you ever get tested. There is so much to enjoy and explore. Call it research, I still do. To find out more about golf in Yorkshire go to www.yorkshire.com/golf

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advertorial

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Whitby Abbey.

Rievaulx Abbey.

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Discover more With English Heritage annual membership you can explore over 400 historic sites in England, plus free or discounted entry to hundreds of events all year round. www.english-heritage.org.uk/membership or call 0870 333 1182

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HERITAGE

BACK TO THE FUTURE Across the country heritage tourism is on the rise.

Rhiannon Batten meets the people behind some of Yorkshire’s most famous houses, castles and gardens to see how they make the past the perfect present for the future.

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pproaching York Minster along Stonegate’s worn stone slabs on a mist-wrapped morning there was a sense of industry in the air as the street’s clothes and gift shops rolled up their shutters, turned on their lights and welcomed the day’s first customers. It would be easy to believe that not much has changed here for hundreds of years. But a lot has, as I discovered on a tour of the cathedral with head verger, Alex Carberry.

This vast church, built in 1472, is known today as a centre of excellence for traditional trades such as stonemasonry. Yet Alex was keen to stress that the Minster is “not just a heritage site but a living church.” Going to great lengths to attract visitors, the church plays host to concerts, activities and exhibitions as well as services.

This extra-curricular activity will be cranked up a few levels with “York Minster Revealed”. An exhibition of new interactive galleries, funded by a £10.5million Heritage Lottery Fund grant, the first opens in October, enabling visitors to explore the newly restored Great East Window up-close before it returns to its lofty home. In 2013, further interactive galleries will open in the Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt.

Such reinvention is crucial if the Minster is to continue being a living building rather than a monument to its past. Heritage tourism may be a growing trend but, for the attractions involved, it is a case of architectural survival of the fittest. Since WWII the majority of the country’s historic houses, churches and heritage sites have had to find increasingly inventive means to pay their way, an undertaking that has got no easier in recent years.

So it was heartening to spend a couple of days following my visit to York Minster touring some of Yorkshire’s best-known heritage sites, and to witness first-hand how each one has risen to the challenge of 20th and 21st century reinvention in its own, distinctive, way.

My first stop was Castle Howard, reached via a long avenue of beech trees and a couple of breath-gaspingly narrow stone archways, 15 miles northeast of York. Built between 1699 and 1712 for the third Earl of Carlisle, the fairytale dome and soaring pillars

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of this spectacular Baroque whimsy look out over a carefully choreographed prospect of lakes, temples and follies.

Home to the Howard family for over 300 years, the castle has long been a popular day trip destination. Not least because of its role as a film location. The castle was famously used as the backdrop to Granada TV’s 1981 serialisation of Evelyn Waugh’s ‘Brideshead Revisited’ – as well as to Andrew Davies’ 2008 remake.

Viewers fell for the house as hard as they did the story and visitor numbers have been as profligate as Sebastian Flyte’s alcohol consumption ever since the first adaptation aired.

The house has benefited from its screen cameo in some very tangible ways. On my tour I was shown to a small Bridesheadthemed exhibition on the upper floor of the castle’s south wing.

Gutted by fire in the 1940s and largely lying in disrepair since then, parts – but only parts – of the wing were refurbished by the producers of the 2008 Brideshead film; drag your eyes up from the velvet-draped four-poster in the centre of the room and you notice a tangle of exposed rafters in place of a smoothly plastered ceiling.

Of course there are downsides to such attention, too.

The castle’s current châtelaine, Rebecca Howard, has previously admitted how slowly it can take to adjust to “the endless hordes of paying guests” passing through.

It’s a situation the owner of Ripley Castle, Sir Thomas Ingilby, has obviously come to terms with. “Frankly, I’m more worried if I look out and I don’t see anyone wandering around,” he said, meeting me for a tour. “We’re only too aware of how important our visitors are to us. Besides, it adds something extra to their visit if they catch sight of us scurrying inside with our bags of shopping.”

Aristocratic chores aside, weddings, parties and events are the big draw at Ripley. Three miles north of Harrogate, this diminutive tower house looks out over Thornton Beck to a deer park beyond.

Belonging to the Ingilby family, it has passed from father to son for 704 years and includes such quirks as a priest’s hole, hidden away in the castle’s Tudor tower. The castle is a must-see for visiting history buffs but it is an even bigger hit with local brides.

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Clockwise from top left: Castle Howard is one of England’s grandest Baroque mansions; Fantastic vaulted ceilings in The Cellarium at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal; The Walled Garden at Scampston was designed

by Piet Oudolf; Over 100 acres of gardens at Harewood House; Chapter House ceiling at York Minster; Ripley Castle has been home to the Ingilby family for over 700 years.

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Above: Monumental hallways at Castle Howard. Left: Family fun at Ripley Castle.

“Many of our contracts are signed in there,” joked Sir Thomas, pointing to the banqueting suites’ female toilets. It’s lined with fabulous Zoffany wallpaper and one toilet cubicle has been built slightly wider than normal to cater for visitors wearing meringue-like wedding dresses important considerations for would-be brides, apparently.

From here, it was a short drive to Harewood House. Rumour has it that Julian Fellowes based much of his research for the ITV series, Downton Abbey, on Harewood and it certainly ticks boxes for fans of period drama, with sweeping grounds, soaring ceilings, manicured terraces, gilt-fringed state rooms and a popular ‘below stairs’ exhibition.

More unique attractions include archaeological excavations, a Himalayan garden and exhibitions focusing on its former royal resident Princess Mary.

For many, the big draw here is cultural.

The 7th Earl of Harewood, a cousin of the Queen, was director of the Royal Opera House, chairman of the board of English National Opera and managing director of Opera North and the estate has played host to some impressive concerts over the years. Visual art is another family passion.

Harewood’s Terrace Gallery was the first truly contemporary gallery to open in a country house and, in the two decades since

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then, it has played host to works by Andy Goldsworthy, David Hockney, Andy Warhol, Elizabeth Frink and Antony Gormley.

This juxtaposition of ancient and modern was even more remarkable at my final stop, Scampston Walled Garden. Around 25 miles northeast of York this four-and-a-half acre garden was originally built in the 18th century as the kitchen garden for adjacent Scampston Hall but fell into disrepair after the Second World War. In the intervening years it was used as a market garden, a Christmas tree plantation and even, at one point, a giant sheep pen. But, by 1994, it had become “an absolute tip,” according to its owner, Lady Caroline Legard.

In 1999, Caroline and her husband, Charles, decided to tackle it head-on.

Instead of simply restoring the space to its previous glory as a kitchen garden, however, they saw an opportunity to produce something Scampston’s head gardener, Paul Smith, describes as “marmite” planting – “people either love it or hate it”. Or, as Lady Caroline put it, showing me around, “having such a blank slate gave us the chance to do something contemporary and different”.

Designed by Dutch “New Perennial” pioneer Piet Oudolf, the man behind the planting of New York’s High Line project, at Scampston, structure is as much a part of proceedings as colour. Like a series of living sculptures, the garden’s herbaceous plants

and grasses appear to transform according to the setting, whether being gently tugged by the wind, iced with frost or illuminated by sudden bursts of sun. In summer seats are put out amid the plants so that visitors can sit and contemplate the mass of different, delicate textures in surround sound, vision and smell, disturbed only by the odd bird or butterfly. And, as the plants aren’t cut back until March, the feathery grasses and sculptural seed heads offer plenty of interest well into autumn.

“Piet’s philosophy is to only have a plant in the garden if it lives and dies beautifully,” explained Lady Caroline.

With so few gardeners on staff these days low maintenance is paramount. “We can’t be spending hours spraying and deadheading,” she added.

What they do want to spend their time doing is developing the space into a teaching garden. Plants are already carefully numbered and listed and the garden runs a programme of events and courses. Add in a row of disused gardeners’ bothies and a huge but crumbling conservatory that the garden plans to restore for this purpose if it wins a hopedfor Heritage Lottery Fund grant and the stage will be set for Scampston’s latest reinvention.

It was Yorkshireman Harold Wilson who said that “he who rejects change is the architect of decay.” After my tour of some of the county’s most dynamic heritage sites, I’d say their guardians wholeheartedly echo his sentiments. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/heritage Factfile Places visited York Minster www.yorkminster.org Castle Howard www.castlehoward.co.uk Ripley Castle www.ripleycastle.co.uk Harewood House www.harewood.org Scampston Walled Garden www.scampston.co.uk Also recommended Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal www.fountainsabbey.org.uk RHS Garden Harlow Carr www.rhs.org.uk Newby Hall & Gardens www.newbyhall.co.uk Travel Rhiannon Batten travelled from London to York with East Coast Trains. Return fares start at £26.

08457 225225 www.eastcoast.co.uk.

Friday to Monday car hire starts from £42 with Avis in York.

0844 581 0147 www.avis.co.uk Double rooms at the Cedar Court Grand Hotel start from £139, room only.

0845 409 6430 www.cedarcourtgrand.co.uk

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Flamingo Land is home to well over 120 species of bird, mammal, amphibian, reptile and fish.

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FAMILY FUN

Essential experiences

WALK ON THE

More wild weekends

WILD

SIDE

Family holidays are the annual tug-of-war between value and va-va-voom, a walk on Yorkshire’s wild side provides the perfect combination, as David Helliwell discovered.

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n these inflationary times, there are often hard decisions to be made about how to spend the all too rare family time – and where offers the best value for money.

One young voice that wants to see the animals at the zoo is quickly drowned out by an equally insistent voice that reckons zoos are boring and we need an adventure.

Personally, I fancied a quiet weekend break away from it all, with essential mobile phone coverage only – and with a team of children’s entertainers on 24-hour standby.

My requests were quickly dismissed as nothing more than a never-to-be lived out fantasy. But how about a trip to somewhere that ticks off at least two of the must-haves?

Flamingo Land, near Malton in North Yorkshire, combines a theme park with white knuckle and family rides, and a well-stocked zoo. And as well as on-site camping and caravan facilities, it now offers log cabins, for those who fancy spending their away days in something a little more luxurious.

Our trip hit the mark all round. The park has grown organically over the last 40 years and now has over 50 rides of all sizes. It was the first site in Europe where you could visit a theme park and zoo in one place and where some of the inhabitants, the lions in particular, are actually within the theme park and can be seen from the rides.

To my untrained eyes they all looked happy, relaxed and unfazed by what was going on around them. Plus, threatening to chuck a disruptive seven-year-old to a pride of man

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eaters lurking near the swinging cable car was an excellent way to calm fraying nerves.

The lions wouldn’t have stood a chance.

For thrill seekers, there are seven extreme rides, including Mumbo Jumbo, one of the world’s steepest rollercoasters boasting a 112 degree vertical drop. For those wanting something a little more sedate, there are excellent family rides, children’s and scenic rides, including the Lost River Ride which is, in turn, relaxing and pulsating.

For animal lovers, there’s a plentiful supply of favourites from penguins, to giraffes, gibbons, magnificent Siberian tigers and the new chimps on the box, meerkats.

Oh, not forgetting the flamingos of course.

Our log cabin was the perfect homefrom-home, with a double bedroom and en-suite boosted by two twin rooms and a family bathroom. The well fitted kitchen and comfortable lounge with freeview TV added nice touches to the relaxing feel.

Whilst there’s a wealth of eating options inside the park from breakfast to evening meal, there are also plenty of options in the surrounding North Yorkshire villages, as well as Pickering and Malton being just a short drive away.

Back at base, we still had another day of exploring, which allowed us to take in the 4D cinema show, the daily sea lion acts and cram in a few more rides. After that, our travelling party retired happy and temporarily tamed for the two and a half hour journey home. www.flamingoland.co.uk

Yorkshire Wildlife Park, nr Doncaster Yorkshire’s newest wildlife park provides a walkthrough experience that is unique in the UK. Visitors to its Lion Country reserve enjoy an on foot safari in safety along its 800m of pathway into the reserve that is home to 13 lions rescued from a Romanian zoo. Land of the Tiger is home to the largest big cat in the world, the Amur Tiger, which visitors can see via a 150m walkway, while in Endangered Africa, the rarest carnivore in Africa, the painted hunting dog, can be seen. Other reserves feature the African Plains, the Lemur Woods and birds of prey. Yorkshire Wildlife Park is accredited to Europe’s most elite wildlife protection body, promoting conservation, education and managing Europe-wide breeding programmes for endangered species. www.yorkshirewildlifepark.com

Lightwater Valley, nr Ripon The ultimate family theme park experience, Lightwater Valley has something for everyone. If you prefer to keep your knuckles white and your rides at great heights, then take on some of their more extreme offerings. The Ultimate lives up to its name and is the longest rollercoaster in Europe – making it a 2.4km thrill ride. Raptor Attack is a subterranean thriller in every sense of the word. The park’s 175 acres cater for the younger visitors too – 2011 saw the launch of Skeleton Cove, which features exciting rides like the Flying Cutlass and The Black Pearl.

Fun ahoy! Shoppers are also well catered for with the idyllically set shopping village. A family day out with fun, fashion and frights. www.lightwatervalley.co.uk

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DELICIOUS

Dish of the day Wensleydale is earning a reputation for being home to some of the most tempting foodie places in the county. Never one to turn down a culinary challenge, Andrew Denton, explores the dishiest dale in the county.

TRY A MOUTHFUL OF WENSLEYDALE Jervaulx Abbey Tea Rooms Home-baked cakes and snacks in the tea rooms of an enchanting 12th century Cistercian Abbey.

The Sandpiper Inn The 17th century, ivy-clad inn offers a tranquil and enjoyable experience in the heart of Leyburn.

Bread Actually Bedale Community Bakery are volunteers who decided to make bread, like granny used to make it.

The Blue Lion, East Witton A stunning setting in which to enjoy a gourmet meal in this historic country inn.

The Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton

Askrigg, Wensleydale.

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hen the Garden of England uprooted a few years ago and replanted itself in Yorkshire, it was definitely onto something. The tastebud tickling title was bestowed on Kent by Henry VIII, based on a plate of cherries that particularly satisfied him. In the ensuing 400 years however, it is Yorkshire’s produce that has ripened to the point that it now sits unchallenged at the head of the table as the culinary capital of the UK. One part of the county gaining a reputation for making stomachs rumble at the mere mention of its name is Wensleydale. The Nigella Lawson of Yorkshire, Wensleydale has buxom hills and twisty, curvy lanes that weave out a mile in a wonderfully slow fashion, leaving you dizzy with desire for its picture book villages and ever captivating views.

Wensleydale is the perfect place to holiday, if you don’t mind leaving a little piece of your heart behind in exchange for a few extra centimetres round your middle.

Imagine a rural paradise made of cheese, ice cream, locally brewed beer and hand reared meat. Acres of space in which to walk it off, plenty of award winning pubs in which to refuel and refresh, and some big

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beds to sink into when the day is done and you’ve drifted off to Wensleydale.

Of its many charms, the darling of the dale has to be the world famous Wensleydale Creamery. For food lovers the world over, the Creamery needs to be visited at least once in a lifetime. So tempting is its fare that I guarantee you’ll want to buy or sample everything in the shop and, a tip, if you time it right, the café does some of the best cream teas in the county. Sorry, make that country.

The Creamery is going from strength to strength and can call on celebrity backers in the form of cartoon superstars Wallace and Gromit who, obviously, wouldn’t be the Oscar winners they are today without a little piece of Wensleydale. The plasticine pair even have their own branded cheese and cracker range.

As they might say themselves, a trip to the Creamery makes for a Grand Day Out. So get to the front of the queue and make plans for a weekend in Wensleydale.

Just come armed with a loose belt and plenty of space in your suitcase to take home a few samples. Chances are you’ll be booking to come back for more soon enough and taking orders for friends. Wensleydale, as you’ll discover, has food fit for a King and any number of his Queens. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/delicious

17th Century inn with award winning restaurant in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

The White Swan, Middleham Overlooking the town’s picturesque market square, boasting lovely rural views.

Herriot’s Kitchen, Hawes 300-year old foodie heaven comprising of Herriot’s Guest House and Kitchen and The Herriot Gallery.

Askrigg Village Kitchen Honest, fresh, and satisfying fayre prepared by cooks not chefs in their village kitchen, for guests to enjoy at home.

The Dales Festival of Food & Drink The May festival is a must for food lovers everywhere.

Wensleydale Brewery Produces a range of real ales in both casks and bottles, all hand crafted by an award winning brewer.

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Sample some of the delicious cheeses on offer at Wensleydale Creamery.

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Left: Relax at York’s only 5 star hotel, the Cedar Court Grand. This image: La Stone Therapy at Swinton Park.

Left: Alleviate stress, ease aching muscles at Feversham Arms Hotel and Verbena Spa. This image: Relax and catch up at The Devonshire Country House Hotel & Spa.

Treat yourself to a bit of luxury following some yoga at the Titanic Spa in Linthwaite.

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INDULGENCE

SPA FROM A MADDING CROWD

Essential oils, cleansed pores, fine dining and long lazy lie-ins are just some of the ingredients that make the perfect weekend away. Andrew Denton finds a county that oozes calm and wellbeing, Welcome to Yorksh-ahhhhhhhh!

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hen I was a journalist in London I visited spas.

Proper man spas if that helps with the imagery.

Spas that called you a gentleman and served energy boosting smoothies on arrival. For an hour or two we’d relax in dimly lit rooms and enjoy the tranquillity. Then, fully buffed and kneaded, we’d emerge into the blinking daylight of London on a weekend and the magic would be lost. Just the thought of tackling the tube tightened your newly smoothed muscles. A spa experience, it seemed to me, should linger longer.

Thankfully, since moving to Yorkshire, my faith has been restored. The after-glow from a morning or day in one of the county’s spas really can last a weekend and not be smudged by the return of real life. This is how spas should be and luckily for me (but probably more importantly, my wife), Yorkshire is blessed with getaways that guarantee to leave you feeling good about yourself.

One of the great things about them too is that their locations enhance your experience. These aren’t buildings tucked behind busy shopping streets, squeezed into their surroundings, these are architecturally soothing sights that use the historic fabric of the county to complement their range of treatments.

The award winning Titanic Spa near Huddersfield is a fine example. Housed in one of the impressive former textile mills, it now weaves history together with holistic wellbeing. Its ecocredentials are also some of the best in the UK with water coming from its own bore hole and heating by solar panels. It was recently voted one of the Sunday Times Travel magazine’s best UK spas and recommendations don’t come much higher than that.

At Harrogate’s Turkish Baths, the history washes over you from the minute you descend the stairs and enter the vaulted rooms.

Built in 1877, the mosaic floors, tiled walls and heavy old wooden doors all combine to make it feel like you’ve entered the private heat chambers of the town’s Victorian forefathers. Likewise, former regulars of The Glossop Road Baths in Sheffield would no doubt

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approve of it’s stunning conversion into Spa 1877, just as, at the Sessions Spa in Beverley, which is housed in a beautiful former court house, the only verdicts you hear these days are positive.

On the cusp of the North York Moors is the Feversham Hotel’s Verbena Spa, a sumptuous offering in one of Yorkshire’s most sought after locations. Like Follifoot’s Rudding Park, York’s Middlethorpe Hall and Leeds’ Oulton Hall, grand country house hotels with high ceilings and old fashioned service that offer a modern menu of treatments onsite, the Feversham transports you back to a time when you were so relaxed, you forgot you even had a mobile phone.

“ I’d rather spend my time floating in Yorkshire than being brought back to earth with a bump in London.”

The darlings of the Dales, the Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel & Spa and Swinton Park, have a similar affect too, an experience amplified by the iconic landscape in which they are found.

While in Mirfield, you will find not only one of Yorkshire’s most celebrated spas, but also one of the best anywhere in the country, the family run Eastthorpe Hall, winner of a World Luxury Spa Award 2011 for best UK luxury day spa.

You see, Yorkshire does spas and relaxing weekends away the way you imagine them to be – a rejuvenating break for your mind, body and soul that gently nudges you back into the real world when you’re finished, still floating from the experience. I’d rather spend my time floating in Yorkshire than being brought back to earth with a bump in London. So for an experience that massages your mind as well as your body, give me a spa from the madding crowd any day.

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GETTING INTO HOT WATER The Queen of the county’s radio, Capital FM’s breakfast show presenter JoJo, finally gets the break she deserves and enjoys a weekend at Yorkshire’s latest luxury retreat.

“I’ve been broadcasting in Yorkshire for 15 years now so I am definitely due some rest and relaxation, which is why when I heard about the brand new Raithwaite Hall Hotel and Spa I jumped at the chance to check in, and check it out. The hotel boasts 45 rooms but it doesn’t upstage its surroundings, which I feel is the real star here. Set in 80 acres of National Park on the edge of the North York Moors and within walking distance of Whitby - its position is enviable.

The first thing to hit you in the reception is the lovely aroma of essential oils creeping up from the spa and treatment rooms. I had a facial booked for early evening and couldn’t wait to be pampered.

We were escorted to our deluxe room, which was big enough for me and my husband to do star jumps and forward rolls. We would have ballroom danced if we knew how! Every enormous room needs an enormous bed and it did not disappoint. To be honest I couldn’t wait to get in it. I do love my sleep! The room offered pure comfort and luxury with all the little touches you’d expect: Molton Brown products including nail file - check! Fluffy white dressing gowns and slippers check! iPod docking station – check!

With life’s little luxuries accounted for I ventured down to the spa, ready for my well over due date with de-stressing.

I was ushered into the relaxation room but not before having a quick nosey at the facilities. Very neat changing area, mini gym, pool, jacuzzi, sauna and my favourite, a steam room. Back in the relaxation room, I was offered a herbal tea, then moments later my therapist escorted me into a private treatment room. We casually chatted whilst she applied my skin with varying oils, mud and potions and after an hour or so, I left with a bright radiant complexion ahead of my hot date with my hubby in the hotel’s Brace Restaurant and Grill.

We booked an early table but by 8pm the restaurant was pretty full and understandably too as the food was

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spot on. My better half ordered the hand dived scallops with cauliflower and mild curry oil, whilst I had the Moorland venison carpaccio. In between the first and main course, a surprise pallet cleansing apple sorbet arrived with popping candy.

Suitably impressed so far, we then had the hard task of choosing a main course. Thankfully our waiter solved the problem for us, the daily special – chargrilled turbot, line caught that day - decision made. This fabulous flat fish was a dish for two and was expertly filleted at our table served with roasted tomato, winter veg, hollandaise sauce and triple cooked chips.

It was possibly the nicest fish I have ever eaten and reminded me of being on holiday in Portugal. Delicious!

Now I don’t normally eat pudding, but we decided to treat ourselves to a dessert of Raithwaite orchard apple crumble with English custard and two spoons.

That night we slept so well, full of sea air and seafood!

“ The first thing to hit you in the reception is the lovely aroma of essential oils creeping up from the spa and treatment rooms.”

The next morning I had a full body massage booked using the spa’s favoured Aromatherapy Associates products so I decided to get myself into this relaxing malarkey and head to the pool for a swim. I mainly chilled in the jacuzzi and steam room but before I knew it, it was time for my massage. There are lots of treatments on offer from enriching algae wraps to pregnancy perk me-ups, packages for couples and also men, like a gentleman’s tonic, a deep cleansing facial and even a ramblers retreat.

Unfortunately, all good things come to an end and before we knew it, we were packing our bags and waving goodbye to Raithwaite Hall.

I would definitely recommend it to anyone. It offers fantastic accommodation, a fabulous little spa and a tasty restaurant all in one hell of a stunning location.

What more can a girl ask for? More time there perhaps?”

To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/indulgence

Above: JoJo enjoys some bubbly in the spa and chills out at Raithwaite Hall’s treatment rooms.

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COAST

Surf’s Up Scarborough is peeling off its bathing suit and pulling on neoprene as it rapidly becomes a favourite with surf dudes. Jo Francisco took to the UK’s first seaside resort to find out more.

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t was love at first sight for Steve Crawford. The 42-year-old surfer was riding the wave of the century and it was about to crash onto the shore.

This wasn’t Bondi Beach, Barbados or even Newquay. Steve was just a few miles from Scarborough; a town better known for its Victorian roots and family fun. “I saw this fantastic wave, the perfect wave, the sort that you would find abroad. I saw it, rode it and thought that will do me!”

Steve, who was born in Scarborough but moved down south as a teenager, was hooked. He relocated back to Scarborough in 1987 and has never looked back.

Now owner of Fluid Concept surf shop in The Spa, South Bay, Steve lives and breathes the lifestyle – selling the gear, teaching the techniques and riding the waves himself. “Eight years ago there were not enough people coming to Scarborough to surf – I couldn’t have taught back then.

“Now people travel from all over the UK and on a good weekend you can find between 200 and 300 surfers between Scarborough and Cayton Bay.” Joss Wescombe, kitted out by Hotline Wetsuits, takes on the Scarborough surf.

Steve is also the area representative for Surfer’s Against Sewage, a national campaign group working to raise awareness and protect people from sewage polluted water. Cleanliness is high on Yorkshire’s agenda as the county, in conjunction with Yorkshire Water, rolls out a multi-million pound project to make the water off its 50-mile coastline the best in Europe – rivalling the likes of Portugal.

“Surfing has been here since the 1960s. Scarborough is a mirror image of Newquay and they work in exactly the same way in terms of winds, the bay and the swell directions,” said Crawford. “When you are out there at sea, you look back at Scarborough and it’s beautiful. Here you can also park right next to the sea and it’s so much more accessible than most places.

You can change and get in the water in five or ten minutes.”

In fact the grand old lady of UK seaside resorts is already attracting national attention. The prestigious UK Pro Surf Tour hopes to return to Scarborough in 2012, bringing with it more than 100 surfers.

Steve Parrott, one of the event organisers, said “Scarborough is great as it’s a natural theatre for watching sea performances, as well as acts on the promenade. I don’t think there’s a better location in the UK where all those elements come together.”

As campervans start to rival coaches in this quintessential English resort and surf dudes mix with donkeys on the beach, Scarborough is riding the crest of a wave of popularity as it fast becomes the surfing capital of the North. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/coast Next step

Experience the great outdoors on Yorkshire’s coast Rock and roll Rock Steady Adventure combines sea kayaking with coasteering - now available in Yorkshire. Abseil down cliffs, traverse the coastline and leap into rockpools!

On offer from Ruswarp to Whitby on the River Esk from spring until late autumn. www.rocksteadyadventure.co.uk Wind power Try power kiting - Blue Frog Adventure in Whitby can teach buggy and board based power kiting. www.bluefrogadventure.co.uk Blast from the past Explore a coastline so rich in fossil history that new specimens are washed up every day. Staithes is a particularly good place to go hunting.

Cruise control Take an evening sunset cruise on Whitby Coastal Cruises into the bay or along the coast towards the village of Sandsend. www.whitbycoastalcruises.co.uk

© Sheffield Hallam University

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OUTDOORS

& HIGH MIGHTY A walk in Yorkshire’s great outdoors need not be horizontal as Andrew Denton found out when he met world famous rock climber Steve McClure for a masterclass in being vertically challenged.

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’m standing at Rivelin Crag, just outside Sheffield in South Yorkshire, in pools of dappled sunlight protected from the wind by a beautiful forest of silver birches. It’s an idyllic spot in the scenic Peak District and yet, amidst this natural beauty, I feel a sense of nervousness. Not in a Blair Witch lost in the woods kind of way but in a bloodpumping, life changing kind of way. I’m spending the morning with Steve McClure, a modern day Spiderman (with ropes), my walk in the Peaks starts here, and it’s vertical.

Rock climbing is enjoying a surge in popularity in the UK helped by advances in technology, safety and the range of climbs available. I’d previously viewed rock climbing from a distance, as a danger sport for risk takers and eccentrics alike. I conveniently forget to tell Steve this. For the record he doesn’t fit either description. He’s a professional climber, having given up his day job as an engineer to pursue his passion, and professionals don’t take risks. Or at least I hope they don’t as I approach a wall of gritstone with all the enthusiasm of one of the Peak District’s sheep queuing for castration.

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“Climbing is going through the roof right now,” says Steve, without a hint of irony.

“Advances in equipment and an increased number of styles have opened up the sport to everyone from grandparents to young children. Everyone can enjoy the sport in a different way and in a different environment.

“We have indoor bouldering without a rope, where climbs are only about four metres high above a crash pad and there are 70 metre routes at Gordale requiring a very bold approach where a fall could be fatal.”

I ignore his last comment and prefer to picture my Nanna expertly eyeing a slab, spotting ribs and cracks and planning her route. Those terms might sound like a vegetarian’s worst nightmare but they are in fact climbing talk for the task ahead, an abbreviated A-Z that get you from A-B. Every sport has a distinctive dialect and rock climbing is no different, it reminds me of surfing in that respect, a tribal sport that has gone global. Outsiders are welcomed but using the correct terms at the appropriate time fosters confidence and mutual respect. Catching on quickly

Clockwise from top left: Stunning climbs at Rivelin Crag; About to commit to the climb with carabinas; Don’t lose your grip; McClure making his way to the climb through a beautiful silver birch forest.

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beauty OF MALHAM

“ THE NEVER FAILS TO AMAZE ME. yorkshire stands out as one of my favourit e places in the world to climb.”

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Clockwise from top: Steve McClure tackling the tricky climb at Gordale Scar, Malham; Scanning a crag and spotting the route; Checking the kit to avoid accidents.

ON THE ROCKS It might be unintentionally overlooked by international climbers but Yorkshire is not short of training centres for those wanting to stretch themselves before heading into nature’s adventure playground.

The capital of climbing in the UK, Sheffield, has plenty of indoor climbing centres and as McClure is involved with setting the routes at many of the Yorkshire walls, you know you’re in good hands.

The Leeds Wall and Harrogate Climbing Centre offer beginner taster sessions and indoor bouldering experiences while the Foundry Climbing Centre in Sheffield can cater for those wanting to learn together in group sessions. The Edge Climbing Centre in Sheffield has routes that change regularly to keep challenging its more experienced

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customers. The Climbing Works in Sheffield has the world’s biggest bouldering wall and the ROKT Climbing Gym in Brighouse has just opened a state of the art facility making Yorkshire a haven for bat-hanging holiday makers, whatever level they are at.

GETTI N G A FOOTHOLD So with the safety talk out of the way, anxiety and adrenaline surging in equal measure, I watch Steve ascend the crag in front of me. It’s an impressive climb in what, to me, look like walking boots. You know when someone is impressive in their own sport when their peers pause in admiration.

McClure brings Rivelin to a standstill and I join seven or eight teams of weekend climbers united in stunned silence by McClure’s speedy ascent.

Without a ounce of arrogance McClure says afterwards “Route reading is important, from the ground I can spot the route, work out where my hands and feet need to be and where I need twist and turn in one or two seconds.”

He descends via another route, on ropes, before heading back up to hang tight for our photographer. Much of his work is route setting at indoor walls, though this is not great training for the outdoor world.

He likens his route setting work to that of running a marathon and real rock climbing to the 400 metres, different disciplines requiring different levels of fitness and stamina. You can see he is happier running the 400 metres, instantly at ease on the rock face, turning his hands inside and out to fashion a different route to the top, all heads below are craned backwards to watch him at work.

And then suddenly, all too soon, it’s my turn. The dread in my stomach returns.

Steve leads me round the corner to the equivalent of a boulder shadowed by the crag he has just conquered. Beginners start small. He talks me through the hand-holds, the foot positions and steps back. I trace Steve’s recommended line with my eyes one more time and then, feeling like a toddler on ice, I take my first unsteady steps... upwards.

Steve probably climbed higher and faster as a three year old but he was polite enough not to say it and I’m sure I could

have jumped to the ground from where I stopped and still not hurt myself, but that aside I felt on top of the world, even though I wasn’t a long way from terra firma.

JOURNEY OF DI S COVERY Climbers can spend years obsessing over routes and failed attempts, rerunning their ascent with a knee twist here, a missed clip and a little finger there and after a morning with Mr McClure I can see why. The thrill of a climb, however small, is addictive.

Driving home through the retail parks of Sheffield I had a smug sense of freedom. Yorkshire seems more three dimensional these days and, if this makes me an eccentric, I don’t mind admitting it.

My tip for the year ahead? To make it one for being vertically challenged. I can thoroughly recommend it. To find out more about climbing in Yorkshire go to www.yorkshire.com/outdoors Don’t miss out

Three feet high and rising Malham Cove The best sport cliff in the UK without doubt, a world class venue. There is also a good deal of very high quality traditional climbing.

Kilnsey A huge expanse of overhanging limestone.

Absolutely not for beginners and maybe an even harder crag than Malham. Gets popular in the summer.

Gordale Third of the ‘Big Three’ sites in Yorkshire, perhaps the most atmospheric with some intimidating climbing above a narrow gorge.

All the climbs here are a real adventure.

Take your first steps with an instructor: Above & Below, Clapham Live For Today, Harrogate Lost Earth Adventures, York North Country Guides, Richmond Rock Steady Adventure, York Yorkshire Dales Guides, Settle

Top image © Keith Sharples

in rock climbing is not just about instinct, it also helps form a bond of belonging.

All this is, of course, natural to Steve, who learned to climb on the North York Moors with his parents when he was just three years old. His first extreme climb was at the age of 11, his first E3 was at 13 and first E5 onsight, which is climbing a route with no prior knowledge, at 16. Talking to a rock climber feels a bit like a conversation with an excitable chemist quoting the periodic table. In simple terms, Steve is recognised as one of the best rock climbers in the world. In other sports he would be a global celebrity, a Beckham of the boulders or a Cavendish of the climbs. McClure has climbed numerous new routes at the grade of 9a and onsighted up to 8b+. He has travelled the world conquering peaks in countries such as Mexico, America, India, Thailand, Australia and China. Yorkshire though, remains a special place.

“Yorkshire still stands out as one of my favourite places in the world to climb,” he says.

“The scenery and the crisp air in the spring time, the rolling green hills and white limestone crags. Malham Cove, Kilnsey and Gordale are all brilliant, with Malham standing out as the finest. The beauty of that place never fails to amaze me. It’s a privilege to be able to climb there. Yorkshire is still a little secret to the climbing world.

But I like it like that!”

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POSTCARDS

Tom Riordan in Leeds City Centre Leeds beat off competition from New York, Dubai and Singapore when it won the World’s Best Tall Building Award for Broadcasting Place which houses Leeds Metropolitan University’s Faculty of Arts, Environment and Technology.

This is such a striking

design. It’s great to see Leeds beating the best in the world. The innovative design is inspired by some of Yorkshire’s dramatic landscapes like Brimham Rocks. I like to see it as a symbol of how you get the “best of both worlds” in Yorkshire of buzzing city life and great quality of life.

Tom Riordan is Chief Executive of Leeds City Council.

In 2010 he was named the county’s ‘green champion’.

Jim Wight at Sutton Bank Is this the best view in the country? James Herriot certainly thought so. The famous author described Sutton Bank as “the best view in England” and who are we to argue.

James Herriot

always stole a few precious moments away from his daily rounds, walking his dogs in the fresh Yorkshire air. My father’s and my favourite stroll, was along the top of Sutton Bank. From here, the countryside around Thirsk, his veterinary practice for fifty years, can be seen reaching across to the distant Yorkshire Dales, the setting for television’s All Creatures Great and Small.

Jim Wight is son of author Alf Wight, who was better known by his pen name - James Herriot.

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Do you know a better view of Yorkshire? If so, send it to us and it might just appear on these pages in the next edition of This is Y. Send your view of Yorkshire to info@yorkshire.com

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EVENTS

Where in the world can you find liquorice festivals, Goth weekends and bed races just miles apart?

Only in Yorkshire of course. Jo Francisco looks at the myriad of cool and quirky festivals that make the UK’s biggest county so unique.

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From left to right: Whitby Goth Weekend, one of the world’s premier Goth festivals; The colourful Bradford Mela Festival; Jorvik Viking Festival in York.

“ We’ve got everything from giant music events such as Leeds Festival, sporting fixtures like the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, right down to the more quirky, unique events.” he ancient cobbled streets of Knaresborough are the unlikely setting for one of the UK’s best loved festivals of speed, endurance and of course, fancy dress. If there was a Formula One of bed races, this would be Silverstone, the British Grand Prix, a fixture in every bed racer’s calendar and the one not to miss!

For the last 35 years, the streets of this genteel North Yorkshire market town prepare for a party unlike any other in England. 25,000 spectators fill the pavements to cheer the teams through every bone-bouncing, ear cracking echo, as beds hurtle at surprising speed along its medieval racetrack... with a river crossing included.

“People in the area are probably the fittest in the country,” chuckles Nigel Perry, one of the organisers of June’s Great Knaresborough Bed Race. “They practise months before the event, going out with the beds in January and February, then practising through the river in March and April. It’s amazing the efforts people go to, decorating their beds and wearing fancy dress. It’s really good fun but also very competitive - it gets very dramatic!”

The 90 teams, each consisting of six runners, a passenger and a speciallymade bed, tear through the town before dropping the bed into the river which they have to swim across in a bid to complete the two-and-a-half mile course in the quickest time possible.

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The Great Knaresborough Bed Race is one of many brilliantly random events at the heart of communities across Yorkshire.

Whitby, for example, has many sides to its traditional seaside persona. Time your visit right and on individual weekends, the town can appear to be taken over by its Victorian ancestors, swarming with many able seamen or legions of land girls and dapper officers performing roaring renditions of “There’ll be blue sky over the white cliffs of Dover.”

Whitby you see, isn’t just fish, chips and sticks of rock. Scratch its surface and it offers so much more for an adventurous weekend away. Twice a year it hosts the hugely popular and visually evocative Whitby Goth Weekend. Black, as you might expect, is prevalent, as are bowler hats, white faces and the occasional cobweb. In August, it celebrates the oldest sea regatta in England as well as the internationallyacclaimed Whitby Folk Week, sea shanties a speciality in many of the town’s old pubs.

Then in October, it turns the clock back to 1943 to play host to the “Railway in Wartime” weekend, organised by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

If you can’t wait until the autumn to become Vera Lynn the Haworth 1940’s weekend happens in May. The quaint cobbled streets and steam railway are crammed with wartime nostalgia as the village goes vintage to salute an RAF flypast and greet a morale boosting visit from ‘Sir Winston Churchill.’ Swing jive dancing is optional. And if you prefer your music

more in tune with present day rather than our patriotic past then the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival is perfect for you. The 10-day November festival is the best in Europe for new and experimental music and, having been pushing the boundaries for over 30 years, it attracts world renowned artists to premier their pieces. Extending the theme of festivals that celebrate their uniqueness is Cliffhanger.

The tag line of climb it, bike it, run it, do it sums it up spectacularly. For two days in July Sheffield is home to the UK’s largest celebration of everything outdoor for adrenaline enthusiasts everywhere.

These events are worth their weight in gold, not only for bringing a diversity of visitors into Yorkshire but also for keeping the tills ringing across the county.

Mark Fielding, Head of Events and Festivals at Welcome to Yorkshire said “We’ve got everything from the traditional food, drink and country shows to giant music events such as Leeds Festival, sporting fixtures like the Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York Racecourse, right down to the more quirky, unique events. We have something to offer everyone, whatever their taste. Where else can you find people tearing through a town holding beds, Vikings fighting a bloody battle to celebrate a city’s heritage or scarecrows taking over villages like Muston?

That’s why we love Yorkshire, it’s like nowhere else.” To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/festivals

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OUTDOORS

Winter

Langsett Reservoir and Midhope Moor The route This 3-5 mile walk is a fairly sedate affair most of the year, and come winter it offers a manageable way to experience Yorkshire moorland at its most stark and beautiful. The walk starts and ends in coniferous woods at the north end of the reservoir but then it skirts the edge of Midhope Moor, allowing you uninterrupted views of the moors and back toward the reservoir. If you’re lucky enough to catch some snow, the moors become startlingly beautiful landscapes.

What look like standing stones are in fact the ruins of an old farmhouse used for target practice by US troops in the Second World War. You can expect to see grouse, treecreepers, woodpeckers and owls braving the winter weather.

Start: Langsett Barn Car Park www.yorkshirewater.com (walks section)

Spring

Hardcastle Crags and Calderdale The route A fairly easy 5-mile walk around the best of the Calderdale countryside. This circular trail will take you along unspoilt riversides and tumbling streams, through lush green woods, past mills and other remnants of the area’s industrial past. The geology, too, is fascinating, with the pretty lined pattern of the millstone grit which gives Hardcastle Crags its name and disused quarries offering up fossils, particularly along the river banks.

Expect to see dippers, herons, woodpecker, jay and nuthatch. You should spot dragon flies hovering above the ponds and in late spring you’ll find carpets of bluebells and wild garlic under the huge beech trees.

All the sights, sounds and smells of the English countryside - a true sensorial delight.

Start: Hardcastle Crags, nr Hebden Bridge www.nationaltrust.org.uk (places to visit)

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nature walks for the seasons On foot is one of the best ways to explore Yorkshire’s varied landscapes, stunning scenery, historical sites and legendary landmarks. Whether you’re out for a stroll, a hike or picking up the pace with a fell run or adventure race, here are four fantastic walks to get you started.

Looking out from the gritstone stacks atop Back Tor, Derwent Moors, South Yorkshire.

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OUTDOORS

Bempton Cliffs and Buckton The route This cliff top walk along the East Yorkshire coast is one of the best in the country, shared with England’s largest seabird colony.

In summer, the cliffs are home to over 200,000 indigenous and visiting birds including kittiwakes, razorbills, fulmars and short-eared owls but the real stars are the puffins.

This is a relatively gentle 4-mile circular walk from the car park at the RSPB reserve in Bempton. It skirts the chalk cliffs that run for four miles along the Yorkshire coast just north of Bridlington. From the cliffs you move inland, over stiles, gates, paths and fields to the small, unspoilt neighbouring villages of Bempton and Buckton for a refuel before turning back towards the cliffs and heading for home.

Start: RSPB Bempton Cliffs www.rspb.org.uk (reserves section)

Autumn

Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail The route A slightly tougher 9-mile linear walk through moorland, woods and a conifer plantation, south-west of Hawes in Wensleydale, but well worth the effort.

Why? Because it leads to a colony of red squirrels, one of only 16 areas in the UK dedicated to preserving the red squirrel in its natural habitat. You’ll be able to see the squirrel all year round but autumn is when they are at their most active as they gather nuts and prepare their drays for winter.

There is a specially created viewing area, which gives you the best opportunity to spot the squirrels and take photos, but be aware that elsewhere, this route can be difficult to traverse in wet conditions.

Start: Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes www.yorkshiredales.org.uk (click on Snaizeholme within Things To Do section)

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hree world-famous National Parks, three Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, dramatic moors, rolling hills, rugged coastline and stunning views around every turn. Yorkshire is made for walking.

We’re lucky to have four of Britain’s finest National Trails here in Yorkshire too.

So take your pick. The Cleveland Way roller-coasts around the North York Moors from Helmsley to the coast. The Yorkshire Wolds Way rambles through peaceful fields and over gentle chalk-hills. Or for something more strenuous, The Pennine Way strides through the Yorkshire Dales on its mammoth journey from the Peak District to Scotland. Or maybe the purpose built Pennine Bridleway is your kind of walk?

One of the best things about these trails, apart from the amazing scenery, is how easy it is to sample them.

The Yorkshire Dales also offers a bounty of fantastic walks for everyone. Some of the best family routes are at Aysgarth Falls that takes in a series of breathtaking waterfalls and the gem of a walk to Mill Gill Force and Whitfield Gill Force from Askrigg.

Those looking for something a little more bracing are spoilt for choice too. Crummack Dale and Norber Erratics starting from Austwick village is a must do walk. As is Great Shunner Fell. One of the few summits traversed by the Pennine Way, the views from the top are well worth the effort.

The Six Dales Trail starts in Otley, and winds across the entire length of the superb Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty to end at Middleham, in Wensleydale. Along its 38 mile length is everything from steep pastures to high heather moorland, and stretches alongside fastflowing rivers to paths through beautiful 18th century parkland.

Or how about trying one of Yorkshire Water’s walking routes? The trail around Digley Reservoir, near Holmfirth, is an invigorating 4.9 mile walk a long lanes, fields and over open moorland. While in nearby Hebden Bridge, the country’s first Walkers are Welcome (WaW) town, visitors can enjoy several WaW waymarked routes. Yorkshire is home to many WaW towns. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/outdoors

Main image by Nick Hallissey

Summer

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ARTISTIC

capital of sculpture With the opening of the award winning Hepworth Wakefield, suddenly the world is talking about Yorkshire as a centre for modern and contemporary art.

Yorkshire Sculpture Park is a pioneering place that aims to challenge, inspire, inform and delight with an ever changing programme of exhibits.

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Š Andrea Pistolesi www.padplaces.com

Top images: Enjoy open air displays by some of the world’s finest artists at YSP.

anywhere in the world. The Henry Moore Institute, The Hepworth Wakefield and the rolling landscape of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) are an art lover’s paradise.

Complementing those special sites is Harewood House, which has exhibited Antony Gormley and Jacob Epstein’s ‘Adam’ and has previously shown the likes of Bill Viola, Mark Wallinger, Anya Gallaccio, Andy Goldsworthy and Laura Ford.

With an ever changing programme of events and exhibitors involving some of the most exciting and established artists working today, Yorkshire is fast becoming Europe’s ultimate cultural city break. To find out more go to www.yorkshire.com/artistic

Bottom images © Hepworth Wakefield. Photo: Hannah Webster

he county has provided the backdrop and inspiration to Britain’s best known artists over many centuries and never more so than in the world of modern art where the county is blessed to have direct lineage to some of Britain’s finest artists and sculptors.

Henry Moore was born in Castleford, Barbara Hepworth was born in Wakefield and Damien Hirst studied at Leeds College of Art and Design. With those celebrated ties, the county is the undisputed home of modern British sculpture.

In particular, the golden triangle of Leeds, Wakefield and West Bretton contains some of the finest examples of international sculpture

Bottom images: The Hepworth Wakefield is Yorkshire’s inspiring new art gallery, celebrating the area’s unique artistic legacy.

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ARTISTIC

In their own write O

n our way to Harrogate for a criminal weekend, we call in at a favourite bookshop in another Yorkshire town. As I browse the travel section, a man’s voice drifts across from Crime Fiction. It gets more and more animated until he lets rip with “I said to her: ‘If you want six-footfour of seething anger descending on you, Julia, I’m up for it!’”

My wife Clare and I jot down plenty more potentially incriminating conversations once we get to Harrogate, the smart Yorkshire spa town that’s the North’s answer to Bath. We’re on the trail of Agatha Christie, who was discovered staying here in 1926 after famously ‘disappearing’.

She had checked into the Old Swan Hotel under the name of her husband’s mistress after leaving her Berkshire home and abandoning her car near a Surrey lake. Inside the car, in a scenario worthy of her novels, police found her fur coat, three dresses and two pairs of shoes. They launched a massive ‘manhunt’ but more than a week passed before – a nice detail, this - a banjo player in the hotel band recognised her.

Publicity stunt? Memory loss? Genuine breakdown? It could be a popular after-dinner debate this July when the town’s annual Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary. Named after a celebrated Yorkshire beer, it has become Europe’s biggest crime-writing festival and will be based at the Old Swan, a location for the 1979 film Agatha, starring Vanessa Redgrave.

This grand ivy-clad Victorian hotel capitalises on its past by staging regular Murder Mystery dinners and weekends (“It can be murder at the Old Swan,” say the adverts). Comfortably refurbished, it has long creaky-floored corridors, a vast glass-roofed restaurant, and a spacious lounge where Miss Marple would enjoy knitting bed-socks and beadily watching intrigues unfold. In the foyer is a curious display case of crocodile-skin handbags, just waiting to be Exhibit A. Clare and I are staying in the very room where Agatha – as her fans call her - is reputed to have stayed. “Actually, there’s a bit of a mystery on that one,” general manager David Ritson admits.

“During World War II, a bomb hit the house where we kept our archives, so we’re not 100 per cent sure that was the room.”

Clare pretends not to hear. She is, I must reveal, your honour, an obsessive collector of vintage editions of Christie novels. They

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occupy an appalling eleven feet of shelves in our spare bedroom, enough to accommodate two medium-length bodies end-to-end.

Many have covers showing Hercule Poirot in various stages of bald Belgian rotundity. Strangely, Miss Marple rarely features on covers.

A mystery, n’est-ce pas, mes amis?

We base our stay on Agatha’s own. She spent her time in Harrogate shopping and visiting tea shops. The most famous of them, Bettys Café Tea Rooms, was founded seven years before her stay, but no-one knows whether she sampled its discriminating Anglo-Swiss menu.

With its corner verandah and potted palms, its beautiful surroundings are the perfect place for coffee, lunch and afternoon tea (with First Flush Darjeeling, and a Swiss Chocolate and Raspberry Torte). The biggest treat, however, is dinner at a window table with the pianist playing As Time Goes By and parkland stretching far into the distance.

Away from tea rooms, Agatha would have felt very much at home at Sissy Jupe, a stylish vintage clothes and memorabilia shop near the town’s theatre. Clare sifts through Festival of Britain headscarves and handkerchiefs and a rail of Fifties and Sixties dresses.

“These are the kind of frocks that Cherry, Miss Marple’s home help, would have worn,” she confides.

More vintage memories at Pomp and Circumstance, an independent record shop specialising in classical and jazz CDs but also stocking 78s, those notoriously breakable relics of another era of listening, the Agatha era.

Harrogate, we quickly realise, is full of murderous potential.

The Victorian Turkish Baths, with their Moroccan arches and richly-coloured tiles, look just the place for Poirot to lurk in a monogrammed white bathrobe, perspiring fastidiously and exercising only his little grey cells. And the Royal Pump Room Museum, in its trim pavilion in the ‘select’ Montpellier Quarter, serves medicinal ‘sulphur water’ from a natural spring that tastes so vile, it will not easily be forgotten.

Back at the hotel, we notice an old lady in a cosy cardigan dining alone and taking in everything that’s going on around her.

Could it be Miss Marple, here to investigate those great Yorkshire crime mysteries, Death on the Humber and Murder on the Huddersfield Express?

“No,” says Clare impatiently. “Those were Poirot cases, not Miss Marple.” Nom d’un nom d’un nom.*

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* Story first published in The Daily Express.

Yorkshire is a blockbuster location for literary festival fans as Stephen McClarence found out during the perfect getaway, with murder.

Need to know

Other literary lines of inquiry Beverley Literature Festival Brings you the best in writing, whatever the subject.

More authors than ever are taking part, offering a diverse and entertaining range of events. www.beverley-literature-festival.org Richmond Walking and Book Festival Promises 10 excellent days of fabulous scenery, enjoyable exercise and a variety of entertainment. www.booksandboots.org Ilkley Literature Festival Something for every member of the family. Headline events with household names and the latest contemporary novels. www.ilkleyliteraturefestival.org.uk Off the Shelf, Sheffield A dynamic, distinctive and diverse festival of words.

200 events including readings, debates and workshops. www.offtheshelf.org.uk

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Clockwise from top left: Royal Pump Room Museum; Bettys began in Harrogate in 1919; Unwind at the Turkish Baths; Harrogate’s best kept secret, the Montpellier Quarter; The Old Swan Hotel is set in 5 acres of beautiful gardens; Tasty Bettys treats.

A breath of fresh air Get outdoors and explore Yorkshire’s well loved places and hidden gems. With glorious gardens, abbey ruins and breathtaking views, there’s always something to inspire your day out.

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Registered charity No. 205846 Photography this page: Brimham Rocks ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris; Photography opposite top to bottom: Beningbrough Hall & Gardens ©National Trust Images/John Millar; Malham Cove ©National Trust Images/Paul Harris; Nostell Priory ©National Trust Images/John Millar.

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Wild about nature

Wherever you spend your time outdoors, there’s plenty of nature to look out for all year round.

Malham Tarn is a popular Dales beauty spot with limestone pavements, upland hill farms and flower-rich hay meadows. This National Nature Reserve is home to a unique community of rare plants and animals and is well worth a visit.

With a history of nearly 900 years, Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal is a World Heritage Site bursting with wildlife, from birds in the ruins to dragonflies in the water gardens. The surrounding parkland is home to over 500 wild deer, with three different species to look out for and if you stay until dusk you may see bats in the Abbey cellarium.

Nunnington Hall, a beautiful Yorkshire manor house nestled on the quiet banks of the River Rye, boasts a picturesque garden with meadows. Resident peacocks parade the grounds and if you are lucky you might be able to catch a glimpse of an otter in the river.

From wood ants and fungi to woodpeckers and bats - when strolling through the woodland at Hardcastle Crags to the visitor centre, Gibson Mill, you’re always sure to see, hear or smell evidence of nature in action.

Have an outdoor adventure

Outdoors places are a chance to let out your inner child and explore places in new ways.

Let your imagination run wild and discover the amazing collection of weird and wonderful formations at Brimham Rocks. Whether you want a family day out, a challenging climb or simply a breath of fresh air you’re sure to

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find inspiration in natures playground with its magnificent views over Nidderdale.

A day of discovery waits at Beningbrough Hall & Gardens as there’s so much to explore, including acres of gardens, hidden woods and labyrinth paths. With a wilderness play area and a geocaching trail everyone has a chance to let their hair down and discover something new.

After exploring the beech woods or completing the children’s trail, Rievaulx Terrace is the perfect spot for a picnic with its stunning views down over Rievaulx Abbey.

Walk this way

From a jolly amble to a challenging ramble, walking is a great way to take in the outdoors.

With a variety of gardens and over 300 acres of parkland, Nostell Priory & Parkland offers walks at whatever pace you fancy. Go for a stroll around the formal rose garden and the recently planted orchard and vegetable garden. Discover more with a lakeside trail or guided tour. Or step up the pace with a ramble through Joiners wood.

The ever-changing, award winning gardens at East Riddlesden Hall make it a perfect place to enjoy a walk in all seasons. Choose to meander through the fruit trees, wild garden and herb border or take a gentle stroll on the recently opened Riverside Walk.

Treasurer’s House, nestled in the city centre of York is the ideal location to begin or end a walk. Begin with a tour of the Roman ghost cellar in the house and then stride in the footsteps of the Roman army through www.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshireoutdoors the city or walk along the historic city walls www.facebook.com/NTYorkshire and finish it with a well earned break in www.twitter.com/NTYorkshire Treasurer’s tea room.

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Clockwise from top: Everything appears to cling to the steep hillside at Runswick Bay; Children enjoying crabbing in Whitby; The famous 199 steps from Whitby Abbey.

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COAST

Hidden treasures A weekend away on the Yorkshire coast is full of dramatic scenery, stunning walks and the tastiest fish and chips.

No wonder Wayne Ankers found that some people want to keep it to themselves.

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the direction of Whitby, which from the Cliffemount is approximately 12 miles.

The walk starts with a visual feast along the beach, then up into the countryside, which is quite challenging at times, but the scenery is splendid and the approach to Whitby, with the Abbey set at the top of the hill, is a fantastic climax to the walk.

Before completing the hike with the 199 steps up to the Abbey – which inspired Bram Stoker to write his novel Dracula – we stopped off to sample another of Whitby’s famous landmarks – the Magpie Café.

It is an institution renowned for its fish and chips and as we approached, I was staggered to see the queue of people waiting to be served at the takeaway and snaking out of the restaurant door. Its reputation most definitely precedes it.

Fish, chips and Whitby go hand in hand. It is one of the best places on the coast to sample this staple food of British holidays and the Magpie does not let you down. They serve up huge portions, the batter is crispy, the fish melts in the mouth and the chips are chunky and tasty. Small flocks of seagulls swooped above us showing their appreciation.

Having refuelled the Whitby way, we wandered through the old town, taking our time among the traditional pubs, quaint cafés, market stalls and boutique jewellers.

We weighed up the walk back but instead, with a belly full of batter, we jumped in a taxi back to the Cliffemount, to freshen up, recharge and plan our next visit.

The Yorkshire Coast and surrounding moors make a superb short break destination... I can now see why my new American friend and family wanted to keep it to themselves.

To find out more about the Yorkshire Coast go to www.yorkshire.com/coast

Essential experience

Reinventing the wheel “Racing down a blue run we suddenly came to a stop and looked out across the breathtaking scenery. Then we sped off again and attempted a short section of red route.

I know this sounds like an everyday activity in the Pyrenees or the Alps, but we were not on skis or snowboards, instead we were mountain biking through Dalby Forest, near Pickering in the North York Moors.

The forest has over 50 miles of manmade tracks catering for mountain bike enthusiasts of all abilities and is home to England’s latest World Cup track, a cross country affair, which the public are free to ride. It also has Dixon’s Hollow Pace Bike Park where riders can test their skills on table tops, rhythm bumps and a corkscrew bridge.

Being only occasional riders, our trek through the forest meant we mainly stuck to the blue track with our guide Mike, who runs Gone Mountain Biking and Eleven Westgate B&B in Pickering with his wife Amanda.

Gone Mountain Biking specialise in mountain biking holidays based at their four-star B&B. They offer guided rides and skills packages, as well as providing the perfect place to stay to explore Pickering and its surrounding area.

Pickering is a little quaint town and is known as the official gateway to the North York Moors National Park. In fact, because the sun shone throughout our stay, it made me realise that what Pickering and North Yorkshire has to offer beats any foreign resort. The countryside is incredible, the folk are so friendly and welcoming, the restaurants and pubs are unbeatable and there are activities galore to choose from.

All this makes me wonder if I will ever travel abroad again.”

Main image by Chris Maguire - www.chrismaguirephotography.co.uk

“I

hope you’re gonna keep this place a secret” said the American on the table next to us at the hotel. The Californian chap, his wife and daughter went on to tell us how they discovered Runswick Bay, near Whitby, three years ago and have been coming back ever since.

So they all looked distraught when I explained that I was a journalist writing a feature about the area.

My partner Debbie and I were staying at the picturesque Cliffemount Hotel, which is set at the top of Runswick Bay looking out to sea, with a spectacular view of the beach and coastline. Our room had its own private balcony, Queen-size bed and huge bathroom making it the perfect place to wind down after a day trekking the coastal walks.

Runswick Bay is right at the top of the North Yorkshire coast and is an ideal base for exploring the surrounding small towns and villages. As well as Whitby, there are hidden gems such as Grosmont and Goathland, with the latter being the birthplace of ITV soap Heartbeat. On any day you will find 1960s cars parked up and you can enjoy a pint in the Aidensfield Arms. There was definitely no Blaketon or Greengrass in town during our visit though.

One of the best ways to experience all of these small villages is on board a steam train that chugs its way along the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. The train stops off at Whitby, Grosmont, Goathland, Levisham and Pickering, all of which have a nostalgic feel to them, with the original stations having been preserved, dating back to between 1912 and 1952. The journey also takes you through exceptional scenery, deep in the heart of the North York Moors National Park.

We decided to be more energetic and so on our first day we joined a stunning stretch of the 110-mile Cleveland Way in

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DELICIOUS

COOKING UP A STORM Yorkshire has produced and attracted some of Britain’s best chefs. Jo Francisco speaks to some of them about their lives, loves and links to rock ‘n’ roll and royalty.

TESSA BRAMLEY Sheffield’s Tessa has retained her Michelin Star for 14 years in a row making her Yorkshire’s most consistently celebrated chef. She is one of only 11 chefs in Britain to have held a Michelin Star for so long, along with the likes of Raymond Blanc and Alain Roux.

Tessa’s restaurant, The Old Vicarage in Ridgeway village has been part of the prestigious Michelin Guide to Great Britain and Ireland since 1998 and Tessa is also a long-standing fellow of the Master Chefs of Great Britain. After being named Newcomer of the Year by The Good Food Guide on opening in 1987, The Old Vicarage has been a fixture in the Guide’s top 40 restaurants in the UK ever since.

She is an inspirational country cook, rooted in tradition with a firm grasp of what is seasonal and what tastes right.

“Our aim is to surprise and delight.

My favourite Yorkshire restaurants are (apart from own) all the other starred restaurants in Yorkshire of course, but for zingingly fresh fish, I love Green’s of Whitby.

My most famous customer? Wow, I have to be very careful here because one of the reasons they come is our absolute discretion. Let’s just say several major stars in the music business, both pop and classical, TV presenters and comedians and several low key Royals.”

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“ York is a very special place. I was invited to York Food Festival a few years ago and will never forget the view of the Minster and the lovely historic streets.”

Raymond Blanc OBE

STEVE SMITH Steve, who lives in Otley, has held a Michelin Star for over 10 years at each hotel he has worked at and has continued this unblemished record at The Burlington Restaurant where he is head chef.

Steve travelled the world as a chef before being appointed in 2008 at The Burlington, which also boasts 4 AA rosettes and is set within The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel & Spa on the Duke of Devonshire’s 30,000 acre Bolton Abbey Estate in the Yorkshire Dales.

“I cooked for Oasis when I worked at Seaham Hall and Arcade Fire dined in the Burlington last year.

I love to cook and eat scrambled eggs on toast with a couple of pieces of bacon on the side – you can’t beat it! A few people are surprised when I tell them what my favourite dish is and they think that I must have a secret recipe but I really don’t – just three eggs, a tablespoon of cream, a tablespoon of butter and a pinch of salt.”

RAYMOND BLANC Born in France in 1949, Raymond is known as one of the world’s finest chefs. His restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons has held two Michelin stars for the last 28 years, one of only two in the UK to do so.

At Le Manoir, he has trained some of the UK’s leading culinary talent including Marco Pierre White, Michael Caines and Eric Chavot. In 2007 Raymond was awarded an OBE, in the same year he opened Brasserie Blanc in Leeds.

“I do have a soft spot for Leeds. My son was at university there and of course I love visiting my Brasserie. York is also a very special place. I was invited to York Food Festival a few years ago and will never forget the view of the Minster and the lovely historic streets – I must return again soon.

There are many beautiful places in Yorkshire but for me, it’s the people. I love the warm welcome, honesty and sense of humour. My very great friend of 23 years and executive chef, Clive Fretwell is from Bradford and he’s one in a million.

The one customer who really stands out in my mind is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. I cooked for her a number of times and it was a great honour.

On one occasion, a glorious summer’s day at Le Manoir, she insisted in thanking all the staff – all 80 of them. She walked along the line, shaking their hands and took the time to have a word with each and every one of them. I was very impressed.”

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“ My favourite dish to cook is grouse with vegetables from my garden.”

Frances Atkins, The Yorke Arms in Ramsgill

“ Budding chefs should get their head down, work hard and not watch too many TV chefs.”

Simon Gueller, Box Tree in Ilkley

“ I love to visit Whitby and to drive there across the moors, then through the Esk Valley.”

Andrew Pern, The Star at Harome

“ The Royal Family at St James’s Palace are my most famous customers.” yorkshire.com Rosemary Shrager, Swinton Park, near Masham

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JAMES MACKENZIE

ADAM JACKSON Adam Jackson is head chef at The Black Swan at Oldstead – the newest restaurant in the county to have been awarded a Michelin star. Adam heads a team of talented and enthusiastic chefs in the kitchen.

Once a rundown pub, owners Anne and Tom Banks have transformed the venue into a highly acclaimed pub and restaurant set in a stunning rural location. Oldstead is an ideal place to stop for a break while visiting the nearby Kilburn White Horse, Byland Abbey, Shandy Hall and Ampleforth College. The area around Oldstead provides a spectacular landscape that is steeped in history.

“I love to cook with lots of local produce.

People are much more aware of what they are eating now. They want to know where it comes from, and they don’t want to eat food that has travelled miles and miles to reach their plate.

My most famous customer? A few years ago, AA Gill ate at The Rose and Crown in Sutton and actually liked it!

I enjoy eating at Little Tokyo in Leeds because it is so completely different to our style. My favourite place to visit in Yorkshire is Monk Park Farm near Bagby is a terrific place to take the children.”

Filey-born James is the chef and owner of the 15th century Pipe & Glass Inn in South Dalton near Beverley. James and wife Kate took over the site in March 2006 before carrying out a full refurbishment and now live next door with their two children.

The Pipe & Glass Inn was awarded East Yorkshire’s first and only Michelin star in 2010, retaining it in 2011 as well as being named Michelin’s Pub of the Year beating off more than 530 pubs across the UK. James released his debut cookbook in December 2011 called ‘On the Menu’ which features 70 of his recipes.

“My favourite ingredient to cook with is game. The game season is fantastic, with such a wide array of great produce appearing all the way through the winter months and all from Yorkshire. From the grouse off the moors, estate shot venison to local partridge and pheasant. You don’t get that on the doorstep in London.

There have been quite a few famous customers here, from Michael Caine to Andrew Lloyd Webber, but the most recent famous people to visit The Pipe & Glass have been David Hockney and Jason Donovan.”

“ My favourite ingredient to cook with is game.

The game season is fantastic, with such a wide array of great produce appearing all the way through the winter months and all from Yorkshire. From the grouse off the moors, estate shot venison to local partridge and pheasant. You don’t get that on the doorstep in London.”

BRIAN TURNER Born in Halifax in 1946, Brian’s inspiration came from his army chef father and his cooking teacher at school. Brian lived in Morley and trained at Leeds College of Food Technology before making his fortune in London where he has lived since the age of 17. Brian has worked in some of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Europe and regularly appears on Ready Steady Cook, Master Chef and the Alan Titchmarsh Show to name a few.

“I always eat at the Mermaid Fish & Chip restaurant in Morley. No one can do fish and chips like they can in Yorkshire.

I go to the Magpie in Whitby if I’m in that part of the world. I also like Baldwin’s Omega in Sheffield, The Star at Harome, The Angel at Hetton, Bettys and I do like Rudding Park’s Clocktower.

I have cooked for the Queen before (at a wedding for Scandinavian Royalty) and I cooked for Princess Diana in my restaurant Turner’s, in Walton Street, Knightsbridge before it was sold in 2001.”

James Mackenzie, The Pipe & Glass Inn

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Photo by Michael Steele / Getty Images

sport

Gold, silver and steel The 2012 Olympics might be in London but they are very much home-grown in Yorkshire. Andrew Denton goes behind the podium and uncovers the business of the world’s biggest sporting event and identifies some of the county’s key athletes going for Yorkshire Gold.

Olympic hopeful Jessica Ennis at Sheffield Forgemasters

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The Olympic Stadium.

The business of the Olympic Games is a £6billion industry and one in which Yorkshire has played a leading role. Without the expertise and the world-leading products of the companies based in our county, the experience of the competitors, from the Olympic Stadium to the athletes village, and the vision beamed to billions of people worldwide would be very different.

If there were a medal table for companies contributing towards the construction and delivery of the Olympics, then Yorkshire would be highly ranked, behind runaway leader London. Team Yorkshire has over 220 companies participating in the Games having won contracts to work on everything from the construction of the Olympic Park, Gamesrelated merchandise and even designing the Park’s wild flower meadows.

The Yorkshire based Severfield-Rowen Group manufactured, delivered and installed the majority of the structural steelwork used on the Olympic site. Without SeverfieldRowen’s steel and Prestons of Potto’s fleet of steel lorry loads – which if parked back to back would literally form a ring of steel around the East London site – the Olympic Games would be a very much flatter affair, as their steel forms the framework of the main stadium, the velodrome, the basketball arena, the media centre and other key venues.

Along with Huddersfield-based Marshalls, which supplied the Delta bloc used in the site’s temporary roads and York-based Lytag, which supplied almost 2,000 tonnes of lightweight aggregate for use in the Aquatics Centre, it’s not an exaggeration to say the foundations for the success of the 2012 Olympics have been firmly laid in Yorkshire.

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Yorkshire’s leading lights hoping to be on top of the world in 2012

Jessica Ennis Sheffield World Heptathlon Champion 2009.

World Indoor Pentathlon Champion 2010. European Champion with 6823 points and World Heptathlon Silver medallist in 2011.

Alistair Brownlee Leeds 2010 and 2011 European Triathlon Champion. 2009 and 2011 World Triathlon Champion. Alistair has a physiology and sport degree from the University of Leeds.

Similarly at the velodrome, where great things are expected from British Cycling’s track team, Yorkshire played a lead role.

In consultation with four time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy, Sheffield company Arnold Laver, has helped build the most exciting velodrome in the world. It provided over 50% of the timber for the Olympic Park and alongside Bespoke Precast from Barnsley, which has provided the seating structures for the spectators in the velodrome, it has played a key part in one of the Games’ golden sites.

A legacy of helping build the Games is that winning Olympic contracts has helped Yorkshire businesses to secure additional work.

TRU Group, based in Gilberdyke, East Yorkshire, produced 2,500 plastic monitoring tags for a nursery of birch trees destined for the Olympic Park.

TRU Group director Maryann Mell said: “All our staff have a positive attitude and never lose focus because every order is important to us and you never know where it may lead. The London 2012 contract has helped raise our profile, and led to more business too which is good.”

That Company Called If, based in the North Yorkshire market town of Pickering, has been awarded a licence to make London 2012 bookmarks in plastic, paper and metal.

Olympic Velodrome.

Hannah Cockcroft Halifax World record holder in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 800m distances in the T34 wheelchair racing category and holds two World Championship gold medals.

Jonathan Brownlee Leeds Two time World Sprint Triathlon Champion and former Under 23 Triathlon World Champion (2010).

Second in the Triathlon ITU World Championship Series 2011.

See the Olympic Torch Relay route www.yorkshire.com/olympics

As a result the company’s media exposure has increased significantly which has led to more interest from higher calibre future employees.

Add to that the tourism impact of the county hosting the Olympic Torch Relay for just one day less than London and suddenly London’s Games feels more like an Olympics Yorkshire can be proud of too. When the Games begin, the focus will, of course be on our talented team of athletes and the likes of local heroes Jessica Ennis, Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee, Jack Laugher and Hannah Cockcroft. They will be grabbing the headlines, getting people out of their seats and hopefully bringing home a clutch of golds.

Their Games are yet to start, but for some of Yorkshire’s finest companies, the Games are well underway and already proving a huge success.

Jessica Ennis courtesy of Marketing Sheffield. © David Short

T

his summer, despite the red, white and blue patriotism of the country, three colours will dominate; gold, silver and bronze.

There will be no grey areas. The medal tables for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will rank the winners and losers in order of their collection of precious metals, but the wider success of the Games can also be ranked in terms of more everyday materials.

Ones to Watch

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GETTING HERE

Whichever part of Britain you’re coming from, getting to Yorkshire by rail, road, sea or air couldn’t be easier – and the journey takes you through some of our most stunning scenery on the way.

Yorkshire by Rail You can get to Yorkshire by high-speed train from London or Edinburgh in less than two hours. The Midlands is even nearer to Yorkshire’s cities, and trans-Pennine services offer direct links from the North West and North East.

For timetables and reservations contact: East Coast (www.eastcoast.co.uk) Grand Central (www.grandcentralrail.co.uk) National Rail Enquiries (tel 08457 484950 www.nationalrail.co.uk) East Midlands Trains (www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk) Hull Trains (www.hulltrains.co.uk) Northern Rail (www.northernrail.org) Supertram Sheffield (www.supertram.com) Transpennine Express (www.tpexpress.co.uk) And you can explore Yorkshire’s hills, moors and valleys on some of Britain’s best loved and most spectacular leisure trains, with lovingly preserved vintage rolling stock and historic steam locomotives. These include the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, Middleton Railway, Wensleydale Railway, Fellsman (for the Settle-Carlisle Railway) and Kirklees Light Railway. Discover more about these super train trips at www.yorkshire.com/railways

Yorkshire by Road Britain’s biggest and fastest highways cross Yorkshire from north to south and east to west, making getting here with your own car or by coach very simple indeed.

The A1 and M1 connect from the north and south, while the M6 and M62 link Yorkshire with the Midlands and the North West and the M18/M180 gives easy access to the coast and countryside of northern Lincolnshire.

For details of the quickest (or the most scenic) driving routes see the AA or RAC websites www.theaa.com and www.rac.co.uk Coach companies with services to (and within) Yorkshire include: Arriva (www.arrivabus.co.uk/yorkshire) Dalesbus (www.dalesbus.org) East Yorkshire Motor Services (www.eyms.co.uk/) First (www.firstgroup.com) Moorsbus (www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/moorsbus) Transdev Blazefield (www.transdevplc.co.uk) Find further information on regional and local bus and train services from Traveline Yorkshire (www.yorkshiretravel.net).

You can also hire a vehicle from Arrow Self Drive at amazing rates. With branches in Harrogate, Huddersfield, Leeds, Barnsley, Wakefield and Hull, it has never been easier to find the perfect hire vehicle to explore Yorkshire. (www.arrowselfdrive.com)

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Yorkshire by bike and on foot There are walks, hikes and cycle trails all over Yorkshire.

For walkers, enjoy easy strolls in towns and cities, nature walks in superb wildlife reserves, long rambles along cross-country canal towpaths, and energetic treks across the open moors and along the magnificent coast. For cyclists, the choice is equally wide, from challenging trail rides to easy-going, traffic-free routes along canals, cliffs and riversides.

Find a wide choice of guide books and maps with lots of dedicated walking and cycling routes at Tourist Information Centres across the county, or more ideas from Welcome to Yorkshire at www.yorkshire.com/outdoors.

Yorkshire by Air and Sea The Yorkshire county is served by a number of airports, providing daily flights to and from many destinations. With excellent transport links, Yorkshire is also easily accessible from many other airports throughout the UK, through high speed train links and an extensive motorway network.

Leeds Bradford International Airport (tel 0871 2882288 www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk) Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (tel 0871 2202210 www.robinhoodairport.com) Humberside Airport (tel 0844 8877747 www.humbersideairport.com) Manchester Airport (tel 08712 710711 www.manchesterairport.co.uk) Don’t forget P&O Ferries operate direct overnight links into Yorkshire from Rotterdam, Holland and Zeebrugge, Belgium.

For more information visit www.poferries.com

Tourist Information Centres Tourist Information Centres in cities, towns, villages and other locations throughout Yorkshire can offer plenty of great ideas to inspire you and help you make the most of your visit. They can also help with practical information on accommodation, great places to eat and drink, local events and transport, escorted walks and tours, and where to hire bicycles, boats and lots more.

For a full list of Tourist Information Centres in Yorkshire; www.yorkshire.com/tourist-information

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WHITBY GUISBOROUGH DANBY

YORKSHIRE DALES

RICHMOND

REETH

NORTHALLERTON

A1

LEYBURN

HAWES

HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE

SETTLE

THIRSK

MASHAM

RIPON

GRASSINGTON

PICKERING

A64

A629

YORK

HARROGATE

A65

WETHERBY

A658

KEIGHLEY

A614 HORNSEA

A19 SELBY

A63

HEBDEN BRIDGE

A164 A63

HULL

HUMBER BRIDGE

HALIFAX TODMORDEN

A166

BEVERLEY

A64

LEEDS

BRADFORD

FILEY

MALTON

A1079

OTLEY

SALTAIRE

SEAMER

BRIDLINGTON

KNARESBOROUGH

A59

HAWORTH

SCARBOROUGH

A170

A19

PATELEY BRIDGE

ILKLEY

A169

A165

MALHAM

SKIPTON

ROBIN HOOD’S BAY

HELMSLEY

SUTTON BANK

A684

INGLETON

NORTH YORK MOORS

MIRFIELD HUDDERSFIELD HOLMFIRTH

PONTEFRACT

WAKEFIELD

SCUNTHORPE

A1

BARNSLEY

A15

DONCASTER

WITHERNSEA

A180 GRIMSBY CLEETHORPES

BRIGG

A18

PEAK ROTHERHAM DISTRICT A57

SHEFFIELD

N

KEY

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Motorways

Heritage Coasts

A Roads

Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Rail Routes

National Parks

Airports

Ferryport

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York

CHOC-FULL OF HISTORY 2012 sees York celebrate its 800th year as a free and independent city, so they’re planning a series of special events to mark the occasion. As if there wasn’t already enough to see and do!

In 1212 King Henry I granted York its Royal Charter, this meant that it could elect its own leader, collect taxes and trade with whosoever it fancied. As a result, York became a medieval boomtown and since then the city has never looked back – except, of course, it has. It must be virtually impossible to find a city in the world that celebrates its own past as vibrantly as York.

There are a host of impressive museums dedicated to the history of the city and the county that bears its name – try JORVIK Viking Centre, the Yorkshire Museum, Micklegate Bar Museum, York Castle Museum or the Bar Convent for starters – but York itself is actually a living museum. Every street or vista is a monument to the past and you can’t walk more than a few feet without finding a building, wall or crack in the pavement with a fascinating story to tell.

Not that the past is all there is to York, the future looks pretty rosy too. The city has recently been voted Best Family Day Out, The Place Most People Would Like to Live, Best for Rest and Relaxation, Britain’s Favourite Small City, the Best Gastro Destination in the UK and shortlisted for Best Shopping Street in the country.

One of the most eagerly anticipated new developments in the city will be Chocolate! - a specially-created celebration of York’s sweet story and most famous export. Chocolate is central to the city’s trading and manufacturing past and the festival will include tastings, demonstrations and all manner of choc-tastic happenings.

Take this destination guide with you. Cut page along dotted line.

York Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe.

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It takes place in early April to tie in with the opening of Chocolate York’s Sweet Story, an exciting new chocolate-based attraction in King’s Square.

From Spring until the end of the year, the Yorkshire Museum will house 1212 – The Making of a City, an exhibition examining the city’s medieval past and the ever-wonderful National Railway Museum will be holding Rail Fest for nine days in June, which will feature some of the most iconic trains ever made (before you ask yes, it will include the Flying Scotsman.

And the Mallard. And the Rocket).

The official Charter Day, on 9th July, will celebrate the actual date of the 800th anniversary and is immediately preceded by the Ebor Vox Choir Festival (7th & 8th July), when a profusion of choirs and singing groups will appear

Essential experiences

throughout the city – some of them in unexpected places.

All of these and many more constitute York 800, a year-long celebration, which will include theatre, music, literary, science, history and community events.

Accommodation in York is as varied and eclectic as every other aspect of the city so there’s bound to be a room that suits you but they are always in great demand so ensure that you book early. Also, to help you make the most of the year ahead, you may wish to consider purchasing a York Pass.

This will enable you to easily access over 25 York attractions and take advantage of many shopping, drink and dining offers.

Something else you may also want to consider during your trip to York is a visit to the neighbouring Howardian Hills. The hills cover an 80-square mile area of stunning

countryside just to the north east of the city. It’s an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty made up of quiet woodland, rolling hills and picturesque farmland. Of particular note is the abundance of stately homes in the area, with Castle Howard, Newburgh Priory, Nunnington Hall and Ampleforth Abbey dotting and defining the landscape.

All offer a unique and fascinating visitor experience and each one has grounds and gardens as remarkable as the houses they surround.

To complement the Howardian countryside are many beautiful towns and villages; Malton, Crayke, Terrington, Gilling East and Husthwaite are all picture-perfect villages featuring stone-built, red-tiled houses and a gentle country character. To fully appreciate the area, take a walk, breath the air, find a pub or just enjoy the views.

National Railway Museum.

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York Minster is a world-famous artistic and architectural masterpiece offering people of all ages a wealth of things to see and memories to treasure.

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Jorvik The remains of 1,000 year old houses are revealed beneath your feet, objects taken from the excavations are waiting to be explored and Viking-age timbers are brought before your eyes.

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Yorkshire Museum Home to some of the finest collections of archaeological and geological finds in Europe.

Recently had a £2 million refurbishment.

Cliffords Tower.

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St Nicholas Fayre One of the most popular events in York’s Christmas calendar, St Nicholas Fayre sees the city come alive with Victorian costumed traders, carol singers and delicious festive smells.

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National Railway Museum With over 100 locomotives and nearly 200 other items of rolling stock the NRM tells the railway story from the early 19th century.

The Shambles are York’s medieval streets.

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Hull & East Yorkshire

FEAST FOR THE SENSES For the adventurous and easy going Hull, East Yorkshire, the coast and the Wolds provide a chance to breathe deep and fill your senses.

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Flamborough Head offers year round dramatic landscapes and fun for all the family.

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You’ll find a unique beauty in East Yorkshire’s rolling hills and heritage coast. It’s a land of big skies and subtle majesty that has inspired master artist David Hockney. The unspoilt and ever changing nature of this area of countryside has been documented by Hockney in watercolour, oils, photo montage and video to worldwide acclaim.

You can try to find the exact places and sights that inspired his Royal Academy of Arts exhibition David Hockney RA: A Bigger Picture while following a walking trail or - if you’re feeling a bit more energetic - on one of the county’s newly created cycle routes.

Hockney paints the region all year round, so whichever season you visit, you’ll be able to see what inspires him and be inspired yourself.

The picturesque topography of the Wolds is also responsible for East Yorkshire’s relatively mild climate. With average temperatures higher than everywhere else in the county, it makes sense to extend your stay and take in the varied delights of the East Yorkshire Heritage Coast. Together, Bempton Cliffs – named the best place in the UK to view seabirds by the RSPB - and the eerily beautiful Spurn Point peninsula annually attract over 250,000 visiting birds.

You can observe seabirds like puffins, kittiwakes, gannets or see smaller, uncommon species as they arrive from as far away as North America and the southern oceans.

The coast also offers plenty of fun places for your family to explore. Enjoy a walk on the beach followed by fish and chips at

the archetypal seaside resort of Bridlington; or take in a concert at the town’s newly refurbished Spa Theatre. Beach sports abound with kite surfing and shore angling both being hugely popular at various coastal locations. Charter boats in Bridlington also take adventurous anglers reef or even shark fishing.

If you want something more urbane, Hull’s annual festival, Freedom, has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting and eclectic events on the county’s cultural calendar. It’s a long weekend of music, comedy, arts and dance held in September, is largely free and provides a marvellous mix of entertainment that cannot be experienced anywhere else in the world! Whilst in the city, take in a fascinating slice of history with a trip to the Museums Quarter – with eight free museums and

Essential experiences

galleries - or wend your merry way around the refreshingly fun Ale Trail.

East Yorkshire has some of the prettiest market towns in the country and a few hours whiled away in Pocklington, Driffield, Market Weighton and the gem of the Riding, Beverley, are never misspent.

Beverley Minster is considered one of the finest medieval churches in the UK and the town itself is a treat for history fans and savvy shoppers alike. Boutique shops and high street favourites can be found side by side in the handsome town centre.

Elsewhere, lovingly maintained stately homes such as Burton Agnes, Burnby Hall and Sewerby Hall offer the chance to experience how the other half lived in centuries past. Most feature evocative accompanying gardens and all are within walking distance of the 80-mile National

Hull Marina.

Trail, the Yorkshire Wolds Way; perfect for a cultural and physical work out!

East Yorkshire also has a rapidly growing culinary reputation, led by Michelin-starred Pub of the Year, the Pipe and Glass Inn. East Yorkshire’s artisan food producers are at the vanguard of the real food revolution: cheese, honey, pork, beer, cider and oils are available. Fish, crab and lobster are all locally caught, reared or created not to mention the many enticing restaurants, bistros, cafés and farm shops to choose from. With every type of accommodation - from quaint country guesthouses to modern city centre hotels - easily accessible and available in East Yorkshire, you’ll find you’re never more than a drive, ride or walk away from a unique sensorial delight. More importantly, in every street, field or Wold, you’re assured of a welcome as warm as the weather.

Hull Freedom Festival.

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The Deep One of the most spectacular aquariums in the world is home to over 3,500 fish including spectacular sharks and rays, making it the perfect family day out.

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The Old Town, Hull Named one of the nation’s best-preserved urban areas thanks to its historic pubs, museums and cafés. The impressive medieval street patterns are still intact.

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Bempton Cliffs A family favourite, and easily the best place in England to see, hear and smell seabirds! During April to August, the cliffs become the largest seabird colony in the country.

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Burton Agnes Hall & Gardens An Elizabethan stately home filled with treasures, from magnificent carvings to contemporary furniture and modern artwork.

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Market Weighton Meander A 7 mile circular walk from a market town, on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds between York and Beverley.

Find out more at: yorkshire.com/walks.

Modern artwork at Burton Agnes Hall.

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Yorkshire Coast

BIG SKIES, OPEN SEAS Winding 50 miles along the Eastern edge of Yorkshire is some of the most picturesque, accessible and event-filled coastline in the whole of the UK.

With its dramatic cliffs, award winning beaches, picturesque harbours, towns and villages the North Yorkshire Coast, from Filey in the south to Staithes in the north, is an enchanting location.

Explore the celebrated seaside towns of Scarborough and Whitby; charming hamlets like Ravenscar and Sandsend and the extraordinarily pretty villages of Staithes and Robin Hood’s Bay and the dramatic Cleveland Way National Trail.

The small town of Filey is bustling with colourful souvenir shops and fish and chip cafés, yet the real gem here is the beautiful Edwardian architecture, so roll up your trousers, grab your fishing net, head for the deep rock pools the 9 miles of sweeping sandy beach.

Festivals abound, with specialist events throughout the year for lovers of jazz, folk, dance, literature, cricket, cars and motor bikes.

Coastival in Scarborough offers a varied cultural and arts programme, Whitby Regatta hosts an array of activities around the town, as well as the traditional water-borne events. The same town’s streets also stage the hugely-popular, twice-yearly Goth Weekends.

When it comes to art and culture the Yorkshire Coast has it all, including Scarborough’s renowned Stephen Joseph Theatre and recently relaunched Open Air Theatre. Similarly, the Whitby Museum, Robin Hood’s Bay Museum, Filey Museum, Captain Cook Museum and Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum welcome knowledge-hungry visitors while heritage hunters can enjoy 2,500 years of history at Scarborough Castle.

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Sunrise at Staithes.

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Cycle the Cinder Track If you love being active and enjoy a trip to the coast, you can tick both boxes by cycling on this off-road route running along the former Whitby to Scarborough railway line.

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Scarborough Castle.

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Beside the sea Do some serious crabbing from the old stone harbour walls, then head to the beach for an afternoon of kite-flying, fossil hunting and exploring the rock pools.

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The best fish & chips The Yorkshire Coast has some of the finest fish & chip restaurants and takeaways in the world, including Golden Grid in Scarborough and Quayside in Whitby.

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Whitby Abbey With its gaunt, imposing remains, the recently named Britain’s Most Romantic Ruin is set high on a cliff above the Yorkshire seaside town of Whitby.

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Peasholm Park An oriental themed park offering a beautiful system of streams and waterfalls, mini bridges and mystical gardens.

Something for everyone.

Yorkshire Dales & Herriot Country

HIDDEN TREASURES No matter which way you choose to explore the wide open spaces and beautiful landscape of the Yorkshire Dales & Herriot Country, you’re guaranteed an experience that you’ll remember forever.

Think of the Yorkshire Dales and images of peaceful rolling hills, grazing animals, dry stone walls, fluffy white clouds and cosy country pubs come to mind, a holiday heaven for both active and passive holidaymakers. As well as the miles of walks, bridleways and biking routes criss-crossing this iconic scenery, the Dales offer some wonderful days out ideas too.

Visit Skipton’s Craven Gallery and Museum to see a copy of Shakespeare’s First Folio, one of only four on display in the world and the only one in the UK. Then take a trip to the Yorkshire Dales Ice Cream company for a snack then onto Bolton Abbey before finishing the day at The Devonshire Arms Country House Hotel and Spa. Or instead, how about a Jacobean-style stroll around Kiplin Hall followed by a fine food spending spree at Campbell’s of Leyburn, before a picnic by the stunning Aysgarth Falls and a night at Yorebridge House, recently voted ‘The Most Romantic Hotel in the UK’.

Find out about furniture making at the Mouseman Visitor Centre at Kilburn or if you are a fan of the TV series ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ then a visit to The World of James Herriot should go to the top of your list, before relaxing overnight in Thirsk, the heart of Herriot Country.

Swaledale and Wharfedale will appeal to outdoor enthusiasts or spend an agriculture-themed day at the Wensleydale Show or the Kilnsey Show? Whichever way you decide to fill your days, it will always be in the company of the Dales’ unsurpassable beauty.

The magnificent ruins of Bolton Abbey.

Gunnerside, Swaledale.

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White Scar Cave, Ingleborough Cave and Stump Cross Caverns Want to try caving, but not sure where to begin? Try a show cave, offering guided underground adventures.

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Malham Cove A natural limestone formation near Malham, North Yorkshire, with an 80 metre high curved limestone cliff and a limestone pavement at the top.

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Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes Wensleydale Cheese has made this delightful corner of Yorkshire world famous! See this tasty export being made as well as enjoying a delicious slice!

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Forbidden Corner, Leyburn A unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created in a 4-acre garden in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

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Via Ferrata at How Stean Gorge Challenge yourself on the Via Ferrata course – an aerial network of beams, ladders and cables – one of only two in England.

South Yorkshire

VARIETY SHOW The smallest part of the county it may be, but South Yorkshire more than pulls its weight when it comes to contemporary, creative and diverse activities.

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The Fire Tornado at Magna.

The names Sheffield, Barnsley and Rotherham instantly conjure up images of mining, steel and a proud industrial past.

These are the places that fired the industrial revolution and helped Britain forge its empire. Places like Rotherham’s Magna, Sheffield’s Kelham Island Museum and Barnsley’s Elsecar Heritage Centre use South Yorkshire’s industrial heritage as inspiration for their exciting, innovative exhibits. Doncaster can boast a rich roman heritage being built on the site of a Roman fort from AD71, at a crossing of the River Don. The history of the area is reflected in the many museums, country houses, heritage exhibitions and faith heritage venues.

The great wealth that industry brought is reflected in the area’s galleries, art collections, grand homes, grounds and gardens.

Industrialist Samuel Joshua Cooper gathered the art works on his trips around Europe that now fill Barnsley’s Cooper Gallery; Rotherham has an ‘open air art gallery’ where you can see reproductions of works by local artists alongside those of Van Gogh, Da Vinci, Cezanne and Henry Moore; and the Millennium and Graves galleries in Sheffield are crammed full of old masters and modern artworks alike.

Barnsley’s Cannon Hall Museum, Park and Gardens, Wentworth Castle Gardens in Stainborough, Cusworth Hall, Conisbrough Castle and Brodsworth Hall in Doncaster and Sheffield’s Botanical Gardens offer fascinating glimpses of architectural and design styles adopted from around the globe. More recently-created, but just as impressive, is Sheffield’s Winter Garden – a huge glass, steel and wood-built

temperate glasshouse bang in the heart of the city. It’s a must-visit for anyone with an interest in horticulture, architecture or just looking for an unusual place to have a drink.

If cosmopolitan experiences are your thing then you’ll find more than enough to keep you satisfied. Try the trendy boutiques in Sheffield city centre, cruise the malls of nearby Meadowhall, Doncaster’s Frenchgate Centre or visit the attractive market town of Bawtry.

More traditional shopping options are Barnsley and Rotherham Markets and Doncaster Market, just along from the Mansion House and voted Best Market in Britain in 2011.

Diversity is also the order of the day when it comes to your culinary options.

Town centres have an array of bistros, cafés and fine dining options while Sheffield’s London Road offers options from all of Asia, Ecclesall Road gathers the best European

cuisine and the eclectic suburb of Sharrow Vale has a little bit of everything. You’ll find genteel tea rooms in Doncaster while September sees the Penistone Agricultural show and Barnsley’s Pear Festival, just two of the many real ale and food events that allow you to sample local produce.

The events calendar of the area includes the famous St. Leger race meeting at Doncaster (the world’s oldest classic horse race), the Real Ale Festival at Magna as well as year round football, rugby league and ice hockey. There are consistently high-profile theatrical productions at the Sheffield Theatres and the music scene, too, is well served by many well-known venues from whose stages sprang some of the most distinctive bands and artists of the past half century. In the birthplace of Arctic Monkeys and Pulp you don’t have to look far to find

top nightclub or festival action in Sheffield.

Some call it a music lover’s mecca, others say its live comedy rocks. This is the city that plays centre stage to dazzling venues and events that include the O2 Academy and Grin Up North Festival.

The area boasts some dramatic landscape; outdoor types will note that South Yorkshire encompasses some of the beautiful Peak District National Park, has the Trans Pennine Trail running through it and houses the wildlife reserves Potteric Carr and Dearne’s Valley’s Old Moor. Together they offer the chance to see birds, butterflies and the best of Britain’s wild plants and they can be explored on foot, bike or even horseback.

To encounter the natural world at even closer range try the Tropical Butterfly House or see the lions, meerkats and lemurs at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.

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Magna The UK’s first science adventure centre, set in the gigantic and awe-inspiring former steelworks. Explore the incredible interactive pavilions of Fire, Water, Earth and Air.

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Peak District National Park The perfect place to flex your muscles - offering climbing, mountain biking, hiking and horse riding for the whole family to enjoy.

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Tropical Butterfly House Discover a wild family day out! Meet the residents of Meerkat Mansion, get close to free-flying butterflies and birds and meet some amazing creatures.

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The Cistercian monastery of Roche Abbey, Rotherham.

Racing at Doncaster.

Brodsworth Hall.

Brodsworth Hall & Gardens Take a stroll in the labyrinthine ‘grand gardens in miniature’ now restored to their Victorian heyday. Enjoy the beautiful garden vistas and discover enchanting features.

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Meadowhall, Sheffield Just off junction 34 of the M1, Meadowhall is one of the UK’s leading shopping and leisure destinations, with over 270 retail outlets.

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Photograph courtesy of the Craven Herald & Pioneer www.cravenherald.co.uk

advertorial

DISCOVER SKIPTON A magnificent medieval castle, a canal way full of life, an award winning high street, lively markets and wonderful woodland walks… the gateway to the Dales has it all. You’ll love Skipton.

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Its great location makes it a prime destination for any visitor planning their next break in Yorkshire, with high quality accommodation to suit everyone. Skipton is the gateway to the Yorkshire Dales and the ideal base for magnificent walking, riding and cycling holidays.

Voted Best High Street of the Year in 2009, beating off the likes of Portobello Road and Kensington High Street, Skipton is the shopper’s choice for the perfect day out. On cobblestones from a bygone age, market stalls run the full length of the High Street every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The shops are an enviable mix of unique independents and famous brand names. The beautiful Victorian indoor arcade Craven Court, Victoria Square and the historic High Corn Mill with its home-style shopping and restored waterwheel and traditional Mill Shop, are just some of the examples of the unique shopping waiting to be explored.

Washington DC, Stratford-upon-Avon, London and now Skipton. Shakespeare’s First Folio, was recently confirmed as one of only 49 surviving first folios in Britain, and it’s on public display at Craven Museum.

With exhibitions, events and workshops all year round, it is a perfect place to rediscover part of Skipton’s history.

At the top of the High Street stands Skipton Castle, set amidst beautiful grounds it is one of the best preserved and complete castles in the country, and is open daily for

tours all year round. From the battlements you can enjoy sweeping views overlooking Skipton and throughout the year a great programme of events. Take a walk down the alleyways leading off the High Street and you will find Skipton’s colourful canal basin where visitors can take a narrow boat trip on the Leeds & Liverpool canal. Boats are available to hire for the day or a short break, or you can enjoy a simple hour’s trip with refreshments served while you relax and enjoy the wildlife on the water.

The town offers a wide selection of dining options from acclaimed restaurants to award winning fish and chips. Whether you prefer an intimate bistro or a busy pub with real ale and home-cooked food, there is plenty to choose from every night of the week.

Skipton is everything you could wish from a lively Yorkshire town; cobbled streets, a bustling market, welcoming pubs and restaurants, intriguing museums, traditional festivals, boutique shopping, country walks and friendly folk. Rightly known as ‘The Gateway to the Dales’, Skipton could just as easily become your introduction to the best of Yorkshire life.

Next step A largely undiscovered gem, Skipton has all the ingredients for a memorable visit. www.yorkshire.com/skipton or call 01756 792809 for a free guide

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Leeds & West Yorkshire

CITY & COUNTRY The most vibrant, cultured and fast-moving part of the county, West Yorkshire also finds room for those that like to take it easy in quiet countryside.

For a vibrant city rich in culture and heritage look no further. Leeds offers unrivalled visitor attractions and experiences, from jousting at the Royal Armouries, to the stunning surroundings of Harewood House, and the outstanding collections on display at the city’s many galleries and museums.

Style-seeking shoppers should head to the Victoria Quarter, Harvey Nichols or the Corn Exchange for the finest and funkiest the city has to offer. Culture vultures should check out the Leeds City Museum, West Yorkshire Playhouse, Northern Ballet, the Grand Theatre and Opera House, the Leeds Art Gallery or any one of the amazing music venues in the city, such as the O2 Academy, to see the best of the country’s exhibitions and musicians.

Gourmands will delight in the world food on offer in the eateries at Granary Wharf, James Martin’s new offering at the Alea Casino, the latest cocktails at Call Lane’s The Maven or you could head to The Midnight Bell for exciting new ales from the amazing Leeds Brewery.

Over in Bradford, it’s all very UNESCO. First there is Saltaire, a UNESCO world heritage site featuring Salts Mill, which houses a permanent David Hockney collection. Bradford’s National Media Museum, IMAX cinema and 3 film festivals all contributed to it being crowned the world’s first UNESCO City of Film.

Other cultural offerings include Cartwright Hall Art Gallery, Impressions Gallery and Haworth which, along with the rest of

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Leeds Victoria Quarter is justifiably reknowned as one of the countrys finest shopping destinations.

Brontë Country, is irresistible to anyone with an interest in the famous literary sisters.

And of course there are plenty of places to sample Bradford’s greatest culinary offering – curry. The city was named UK Curry Capital in 2011, a title that should, by rights, be awarded on a permanent basis!

Sculpture is the order of the day around Wakefield. The sublime and magnificent Yorkshire Sculpture Park (500 acres of historic landscape housing work by some of the world’s most important artists) has recently been joined by the superb gallery, The Hepworth Wakefield, both are absolute world-beaters.

Medieval castles at Pontefract and Sandal and the handsome 18th century Nostell Priory are also on the doorstep as well as a more modern museum experiencing pitlife at the National Coal Mining Museum for England.

There is the chance to celebrate two very great, very Yorkshire foods at the Wakefield Festival of Food, Drink and Rhubarb and the Pontefract Liquorice Festival.

Food and drink are also high on the list of must-do’s in neighbouring Holmfirth. They hold the very popular Holmfirth Food & Drink Festival in September, while you can work off your indulgences with a walk across some of the beautiful surrounding countryside. Visit the quaint village of Marsden to take a trip on a canal boat at Standedge Tunnel - the longest, highest and deepest canal in the country.

Holmfirth is probably best known as the home of TV show Last of the Summer Wine and the landscape painter Ashley Jackson, a modern day JMW Turner. The town itself has a vibrant arts and craft community, with many of the shops dedicated to painting, glassware, metalwork, sculpture and textiles

as well as festivals of Folk and Dance, Film, Art and an Art Week.

Like so much of West Yorkshire, the borough of Calderdale is a fascinating mix of old, new and natural. There are local nature reserves, fascinating canal systems and grand industrial buildings. You’ll want to visit Halifax’s Georgian masterpiece the Piece Hall, Hardcastle Crags, 15 miles of footpaths through spectacular National Trust woodland and the striking 15th century hall and gardens of the Shibden Estate.

The more adventurous could try ROKT, a new climbing gym in Brighouse. There’s the Sowerby Bridge Rushbearing Festival, a full weekend of traditional countryside celebrations. Not to mention nearby Hebden Bridge, a pilgrimage for literary fans for its links to former poet laureate Ted Hughes and Sylvia Plath.

Walk to Top Withens, Brontë Country.

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Cow & Calf Rocks Ilkley Moor is the perfect place for walking, hiking and admiring the view, and the famous Cow & Calf Rocks are the ideal place to scramble or rock climb.

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National Media Museum A fabulous free museum in the centre of Bradford devoted to film, photography, TV, radio, gaming and the web.

Standedge Tunnel.

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Top Withens photograph by Stephen Gillis, HD9 Imaging

Yorkshire Sculpture Park An international centre for art that aims to challenge, inspire, inform and delight, with indoor galleries and 500 acres of 18th century parkland.

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The Hepworth Wakefield This stunning, award winning building shows a unique collection of sculptures by Barbara Hepworth, the city’s most famous daughter.

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West Yorkshire Playhouse One of Britain’s most exciting producing theatres, winning awards for everything from its productions to its customer service. WYP stages over 1000 performances a year.

Centenary Square, Bradford.

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North York Moors

FIND YOUR OWN SPACE

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Wide sweeping heather moorland to an abundance of forest and woodland.

Now in its 60th year, the North York Moors National Park are as spectacular and diverse as they are unspoilt.

The AMAZING North York Moors NATIONAL PARK coverS 554 square miles of ancient woodland, green dales, fascinating wildlife, long walks, cycle tracks, bridleways, picturesque villages, cosy pubs, deep breaths, tired legs and unforgettable scenery.

It’s not all stunning moorland, there are bustling market towns, charming villages, historic houses and abbeys. Places like Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale, Grosmont, Hutton-le-Hole, Kirkbymoorside, Helmsley and Goathland are all picture perfect and waiting to be slowly sauntered around. Majestic coastal cliffs and sheltered harbours offer a contrast from the distinctive moorland.

Perhaps the most relaxing way to travel across the Moors is on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. A couple of hours spent aboard the marvellous steam engines between sensitively restored stations through unspoilt landscapes will convince you, you’re travelling in another age.

After all your exertions you might want to put your feet up in front of the fire and enjoy a pint. There are plenty of food and drink options and, in particular, the Moors are home to some of the finest traditional pubs in the UK. There are two National Park Centres at Danby and Sutton Bank with plenty of visitor information. From April 2012 there is a completely new exhibition at Sutton Bank with exciting interactive elements taking you on a journey through time to discover how this iconic landscape was created.

The charmingly authentic North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

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Gillies Jones Glass, Rosedale A unique contemporary glass studio in the beautiful village of Rosedale Abbey.

Internationally acclaimed blown art glass and exclusive studio production.

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Walking in Dalby Forest Get away from it all and discover 18 miles of walking trails around Dalby Forest, near Pickering.

The forest offers over 8,000 acres of woodland to explore.

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Rievaulx Abbey Escape the crowds and experience the serene beauty of this impressive monastic site, in the middle of the North York Moors National Park.

Dalby Forest.

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Helmsley Walled Garden See the restored glasshouses, plant nursery and Vinery Café and the wonderful five acre restoration that has been undertaken.

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The Black Swan at Oldstead The only new Michelin Star restaurant in the North of England for 2012. Relaxed and friendly whilst serving seriously good food.

Harrogate & Surrounding Market Towns

HISTORY, HEALTH & HAPPY SHOPPERS History, artistry and indulgence are all available in the heart of Yorkshire at Harrogate and its neighbouring market towns.

Harrogate is all about indulgence; you can treat yourself to everything from a session at the Turkish Baths, a day at a flower show, afternoon tea in the legendary Bettys tearoom and a concert in the evening, not to mention the elegant shopping arcades, antique quarter and fabulous places to eat and drink.

For cultural connoisseurs there is the Royal Pump Room Museum and shows at the Royal Hall and Harrogate Theatre as well as a number of festivals with the renowned Harrogate International Festival.

The town is also home to the agricultural event of the year, the Great Yorkshire Show and two spectacular flower shows. In fact, holidaying horticulturalists are in heaven in Harrogate with Valley Gardens and the award winning Valley Gardens and RHS Garden Harlow Carr.

Right next door to Harrogate, you’ll find beautiful old Knaresborough with its spectacular viaduct and Mother Shipton’s Cave & Petrifying Well, the oldest tourist attraction in the UK. Moving north, is the the cathedral city of Ripon and World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden.

Nearby Newby Hall & Gardens and Markenfield Hall offer glimpses of country house life in centuries past while further up the A1 is the village of Masham, home of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries.

Pateley Bridge, north of Harrogate sits in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that is hugely popular with walkers and bird watchers, while one of the most extraordinary and amazing sculptures in the UK, The Coldstone’s Cut, is situated just to the west of the town.

The spectacular rock formations of Brimham Rocks.

The Royal Hall, Harrogate.

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Bettys The story of Bettys began in Harrogate in 1919 and they have been welcoming guests to their tearooms ever since, with mouth-watering cakes, chocolates and 50 different teas and coffees.

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Turkish Baths Choose from an array of luxury treatments or just spend time unwinding in the beautiful steam rooms and feel the stresses and strains of life just melt away.

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RHS Garden Harlow Carr A garden very much part of the surrounding Yorkshire landscape seeking to push the boundaries of design and planting styles, creating beautiful displays.

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Fodder Selling the very best food and drink from Yorkshire, with a fully stocked butchery counter and a deli laden with fresh pies, pasties and amazing cheese.

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Ripon Cathedral Enjoy special music, explore the ancient crypt, light a candle or simply enjoy the atmosphere of this holy building; you are most welcome.

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Explore More

If you’re inspired by our magazine, why not go online and download a PDF of our other exciting publications.

COMING SOON Make sure that you keep up to date with Yorkshire’s latest brochures and be sure to find out more about our Coastal Guide, Discovery Map, Family Guide and our City Life and Indulgence Guide.

To download your FREE brochures go to: www.yorkshire.com/magazines

Yorkshire’s Great Outdoors yorkshire.com/outdoors

Yorkshire Gardens Guide yorkshire.com/gardens

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UNESCO World Heritage sites yorkshire.com/heritage

Yorkshire Festivals Guide yorkshire.com/festivals

Turner Trails yorkshire.com/turner

Film, TV & Literature yorkshire.com/film

Railways of Yorkshire yorkshire.com/railways

Delicious Trails yorkshire.com/delicious

Arts of Yorkshire yorkshire.com/artistic

Yorkshire Golf Guide yorkshire.com/golf

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