Why I love the North York Moors
There is an overwhelming justification to relate the North York Moors to England’s very own Garden of Eden. Where all of the splendour of creation can be found in this English treasure that dominates 553 sq. miles nestled in the north eastern corner of Yorkshire.
The North York Moors dominate and command a major influence within the entire Yorkshire region, boasting amongst many other things the largest unbroken expanse of heather moorland in the UK. This is an area where the ancient and the contemporary collide to attract those curious enough to probe the past while engaging the present. Gliders take to the air from Roulston Scar where 4000 years ago Bronze Age tribesman dominated the skyline from this strategic defensive position. Visit this incredible viewpoint before making your way down to Lake Gormire, a survivor of the last ice age a mere 10,000 years ago. Both these unique physical features along with the White Horse of Kilburn create Walk Yorkshire’s trail walk aptly titled, The White Horse - A walk of Myths, Legend and Folklore.
It is by no coincidence that the North York Moors National Park contains what is probably the largest collection of standing stones in England. The ancient stone crosses and boundary markers are a common feature across the national park, some marked the way for travellers, some bear a religious significance, some are boundary markers and some well we still aren’t really sure. Many are enshrined in their own unique history, Lilla Cross, Mauley Cross, Malo Cross and Ana Cross just a select few with a story to tell. If you feel captured by their presence, and with an abundance of history to explore, follow Walk Yorkshire’s Crosses Walk, covering 55 miles of this incredible landscape and visiting 14 moorland crosses.
During the 12th Century the area was dominated by a cluster of Abbeys no less than eighteen scattered across the national park and surrounding area, the most famous, Rievaulx Abbey, dating back to 1131 became the largest and richest Cistercian house in England. Rievaulx was suppressed in 1538, but the magnificent abbey ruins can still be visited to this day under the watchful eye of English Heritage. So come and join Walk Yorkshire for one of our iconic circular walks through the grounds of Duncombe Park and then along the Cleveland Way as it descends slowly down into Rievaulx.
Good things grow in Yorkshire and nowhere is the truth of this little ditty more relevant than in the county’s North York Moors National Park. It is here where quaint little villages snooze contentedly in the warm summer sun or winter snow. Street stalls and pick your own farms invite on the spot sampling of nature’s bounty.
Engage with local people many of whom will have a tale to tell and anecdotes to share bringing this walking heartland to life adding colour and character to your trail walking experience.