VISIT RYEDALE, NORTH YORKSHIRE

Visit Ryedale North Yorkshire

Although this tiny corner of Yorkshire is smaller than the Cotswolds, Ryedale is like a little ‘kingdom’ all of its own, a totally self-contained, microcosmic pocket of unspoilt and real, rural England.

Ryedale’s been a rural retreat for centuries, the breathtaking beauty of its countryside captivating royalty and saints alike… but it’s never sleepy! In Ryedale, you’ll meet the country’s leading contemporary artists and craftspeople, chefs and food-makers; and enjoy mile upon mile of award-winning attractions – from stately homes to animal parks - and the North’s top restaurants, tea-rooms, art and antique galleries.

Ryedale’s Market Towns: For centuries, the region’s market towns – Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside, Pickering, Malton - have been the heart and soul of Ryedale, and that’s just as true today. Only a few miles away from each other, they form an extraordinarily vibrant 20-mile neighbourhood – a ‘country centre’ - of award-winning shops, attractions and eateries that’s unique in the UK.

The market towns are the places that friends and family gather to share the news, browse the stores and galleries, and eat and drink great food. They’re also the places where people gather to celebrate and be entertained - and Ryedale loves putting on a show, with major festivals all year-round attracting top names.

Helmsley has been home to the finest lords and ladies in the land for over 800 years, and not surprisingly has developed a taste for the finer things in life. Today, it’s recognised as one of Britain’s best market towns - a Great British High Street Awards champion, and a gateway to the north’s best restaurants, tea-rooms and attractions, award-winning independent shops and spas.

Kirkbymoorside is Ryedale’s smallest market town, but its weekly market is the liveliest – it’s been held in the cobbled market square for over 750 years. Kirkbymoorside is also a treasure trove for antique-hunters, attracting collectors from across the world to its showrooms.

Pickering is home to the world-famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway, so perhaps it’s not surprising that the town’s tea-rooms and shops revel in vintage and nostalgia. As the gateway to the North York Moors National Park and Dalby Forest, the town also has an unmistakable spirit of adventure, and this is one of the best places to get ready for the great outdoors.

Malton is Yorkshire’s Food Capital, famous for its year-round food festivals celebrating local produce - a magnet for the UK’s leading chefs – and also for its trailblazing town centre of independent food stores and award-winning artisans, where you can find anything your taste-buds desire, including taste tours, and cookery and gin schools.

To request your free Ryedale travel trade pack email tourism@ryedale.gov.uk