Yorkshire is a enticing county with open moors, dales and mountainous landscapes divided by valleys and ancient places. York is the region's capital, in Roman times second only in eminence to London and is still very much the heart of Yorkshire. It has survived the Romans, the Saxons and the Normans and carries numerous mysteries and secrets in its walls and tunnels.
Castle Howard is positioned 15 miles north east of York, just off the A64. The magnificent house has a charming 18th century Walled Garden and 1,000 acres of gardens offering breathtaking views towards the North York Moors and Yorkshire Wolds. Free guided outdoor tours take location daily between March and October revealing the secrets of the gardens and the architecture. Castle Howard also offers six unique shops - an award-winning farm shop, chocolate shop, plant centre, a bookshop and two gift shops - as well as a restaurant and cafe.
In the Yorkshire Moors and Coast you may bring past to life by visiting castles, tiny country churches, fascinating museums and magnificent stately homes. If it's adventure you're after, there is no greater hole to locate it than Go Ape! High Wire Forest Adventure in Dalby Forest. Take to the trees and experience an exhilarating course of rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides up to 60 feet above the forest floor. For a more relaxing experience, Doodlepots Paint Your Own Pottery Studio in Whitby provides entertainment for all ages. Tourists can select a pot and paint it with no time limit and the studio will then glaze and fire the pot.
Desire free parking, late night shopping and an immense selection of popular High Street stores? Monks Cross Shopping Park just a some minutes from the town centre for a hassle-free shopping experience! Stores such as Marks & Spencer, Boots, Clarks, Top Shop, New Look, Next, River Island, W H Smith, BHS, Argos, Monsoon, Clinton Cards, PC World, Laura Ashley, Accessorize and Mamas & Papas as well as many cafes and restaurants, including McDonalds, Pizza Hut and Starbucks could be found at Monks Cross.
Gain from the numerous Park & Ride opportunities around York - Rawcliffe bar (Clifton Moor), Monks Cross (Huntington), Grimston pub (Hull Road), Askham public house (Tadcaster Road) or McArthur Glen Designer Outlet. Scarborough also offers four Park & Ride areas offering high fine buses which get you to the seafront and city centre in a matter of minutes. An enchanting alternative is to use the Moorsbus network to relax and enjoy the beauty of the North York Moors National Park, its idyllic villages and captivation.
York is a magical mixture of dark ages and now, classic and cool, tranquil and trendy. Whatever it is you are searching for, you will pinpoint it in York. A giant selection of shops, a wide choice of fine dining in restaurants, pubs and cafes, hundreds of ancient erections and museums and stirring outdoor adventures for the whole family.