Yorkshire resident, outdoors enthusiast and travel writer Mike Bagshaw
has thoroughly updated this new third edition of Bradt's North York
Moors & Yorkshire Wolds, part of Bradt's award-winning series of Slow
travel series of guides to UK regions. It remains the only standalone
guide to this region of contrasts. Walkers, cyclists, wildlife-lovers,
families, foodies and culture vultures will find everything they need to
plan and enjoy time here. From magnificent cliffs and beaches along
Yorkshire's Heritage Coast and rolling hills in the North York Moors
(one of the original nine National Parks of England and Wales) to the
Wolds' tranquil chalk grasslands, this region offers remarkable variety.
Nestled at its heart is York, probably Britain's best-preserved medieval
city, with its stunning Minster, northern Europe's largest Gothic
cathedral. The region is increasingly popular for outdoors pursuits,
which feature strongly in this guide. The Tour de Yorkshire cycle race
has helped establish the region as a cycling Mecca. Walkers can explore
along ten long-distance footpaths. Sandy beaches, rocky coves, stunning
woodlands and heather-clad moors make the destination ideal for families
keen to immerse children in nature. Whitby has become a nationally
acclaimed centre for whale- and dolphin-watching tours, while
wildlife-lovers can also delight in otters and adders, or gawp at
'seabird skyscrapers' at Bempton Cliffs, including England's only
breeding colony of gannets, Europe's largest seabird). This culturally
resonant region harbours treats as diverse as steam train journeys
across remote moorland (as featured in the Harry Potter and Mission
Impossible films), local food and drink (from seafood, meats and cheeses
to independent breweries and gastropubs), the Georgian opulence of
Castle Howard (of Brideshead Revisited fame), the Goth Weekend festival
at Whitby (where Count Dracula made landfall in Bram Stoker's novel),
Britain's oldest seaside resort (Scarborough), the country's tallest
standing stone (Rudston) and even the purported burial site of Beowulf
(Boulby Cliffs). With coverage of places not featured in other
guidebooks and extensive practical detail conveyed in an informative yet
laidback style, plus an emphasis on car-free travel, Bradt's North York
Moors & Yorkshire Wolds is the optimal guide to this fascinating region.
