Question-- York & North York Moors
 

Just about have my England itinerary finalized, all accommodations booked (except one). Here's the dilemma: I'm realizing one night is not enough for the North York Moors (or so the B&B tells me). I'm booked 2 nights in York, and I'm wondering if I should change that to 1. I was in York 25 years ago as a day trip -- visited the Minster and walked around the wall. Maybe one night would be sufficient. Any thoughts on this?

I'd keep the 2 nights in York and one night in the Moors. I've been in/trough the Moors several times -- all but one were day trips from York or Thirsk or Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, etc - and the other was a 4 day stay in the Moors. Having the one night and maybe 1.5 days in the Moors will be a nice taste IMO.

As Janisj says, York is the diamond in the velvet that is the the North York Moors, lovely but not wonderful.

However if you have a special interest in say Steam Trains, or Daffodils in April, or gliding then the other keys possible sites are

Fountains Abbey
Jervaulx Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey
Ripon Cathedral
Bolton Abbey

Thanks, janisj. I just hate making changes once I've already booked b & bs. I appreciate your insight.

billoburgler: I was sort of interested in taking that steam engine train through NYM. I'm planning to visit Rievaulx Abbey (the whole reason for going up there). The b&b is in Rosedale Abbey, and the setting looks lovely.

The steam train runs pretty slowly (10mph) and you can book day trips or evening trips. The evening trip includes food, which, while having a certain English amateur charm is actually pretty good. You do need to book the evening trip if you want to go on it.

Going on the day trip is ok. I've not had tea on it. http://www.nymr.co.uk/food-and-drink...diner-service/

One more thing: Is Robin Hood's Bay worth the drive up there? Was thinking of leaving York, driving up to RHB, then over to Rosedale Abbey where the B&B is. Then I'll see Rievaulx Abbey the next morning.

bill: I think I will skip the train. Thanks for the link and for offering insight.

Hi, susanoo1. I've been to York and did basically the same as you... walked the wall, visited the Shambles, Clifford's Tower, and since my interest is more Georgian/Regency/Victorian era, I didn't need more than a good 7-8 hour day in York. Though I did love my stay at the Best Western-Dean Court, which offered me my first taste of kedgeree for breakfast!

Have you considered a trip to Castle Howard near Malton? Absolutely gorgeous house and garden. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal garden were lovely, too.

Robin's Hood Bay, I hear from everyone, is wonderful. However, a couple of ladies I met in the Peaks told me of a village NEAR Robin's Hood Bay (something with an 'end' in the name... I wrote it in my notebook, I believe, so I'll post with it later) but maybe this is a place where they stayed in a B&B... so may not be of interest if you weren't planning on staying overnight there (or nearby).

Thanks for your comments, ChgoGal. I visited Castle Howard in '88 with the literary group, and don't feel a need to return. I guess I'm more interested in natural beauty (the moors). I'm staying in a lovely B & B in York. The owners are so friendly (over email), and the rooms look very nice.

Hi Susan001,

“bill: I think I will skip the train” – probably a good choice not to book ahead because this type of travel is fun ONLY in good weather in my opinion.

I was really looking forward to our ride of the Ffestiniog & Welsh Railroad, an antique train, on our journey up to Caenarfon in North Wales. Unfortunately it was pouring and foggy with almost zero visibility.

I see that your trip is shaping up nicely….

Thanks, LateDayTraveler. Good idea about the train. I suddenly have a tiny concern about fog: reading one person's review of the b & b, and that they finally found it up a narrow road in the fog. But... I'll try not to worry and hope for the best. I'm really looking forward to this trip!

I think the village mentioned is Sandsend.
Rosedale Abbey is lovely although quite remote. But it has pubs and a couple of very good tearooms. There are old lead mining workings up there (which I find fascinating) and lots of walks you can do from the village, but I doubt you'll have time.
I could give you suggestions of dozens of places to visit in the area - it's just a question of you narrowing it down.
I love Robin Hood's Bay but it can get very busy on sunny weekends (we do occasionally get those up there!). It's not a place for a quick visit as you can't drive down the very steep 'main street' that leads to the sea. You have to park up and then walk down.
You can see Rievaulx thoroughly in an hour or so.
Whilst I appreciate you want to see natural beauty, I think it is always good to have a Plan B - the weather can be dreadful. So have some indoor things planned too!

@ Morgana: Thank you! Exactly right. It was Sandsend ("...where the sand ends.") The lady who mentioned it was a Land Artist and I believe she had an installation there.

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/whitby.html

Check out Whitby if near it - nice castle and lots of Dracula links!

Oops not castle for Whitby but the ruined abbey (ruined if I recollect correctly).

Thanks so much, Morgana. I love getting insight from a local. I went ahead and booked the b & b in Rosedale, because the area around looks so beautiful. But I do get that it's remote, from looking at the map. My original plan was to stay overnight in Helmsley, see Rievaulx, and then head out. I wrote to one Inn there that didn't respond, and that's when I found the lovely B & B in the remote location. It's also in Karen Brown's guidebook.

PalenQ: If I were 13 again, I would be fascinated by the Bram Stoker stuff; but it just does nothing for me now.

I can understand that - nevertheless I found Whitby to be really nice, abbey on the sea, etc.

You'll be fine in Rosedale. I might not be saying that if you were visiting in the winter! But I believe you are travelling in the summer so you'll not have snow, fog etc. It's a lovely little place.
It does have a really steep and infamous road close by called Rosedale Chimney Bank, but again that won't be a problem weather wise.
A couple of 'local secret' places that might interest you too.
1) Wheeldale Roman Road - high on the Moors, a mile long, very well preserved stretch of Roman road crossing the moorland. You can walk along it or alongside it. Reputedly haunted of course! Never met another soul up there.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...le-roman-road/
2) Wharram Percy medieval deserted village
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/d...ieval-village/
Situated in the Yorkshire Wolds - fascinating place and very atmospheric.

Thank you, PalenQ. Will consider a stop.

Morgana: Thanks so much; I'll check out the links. Now you have me worried about the Rosedale Chimney Bank. Do I have to take that road to get there? Some people on Trip Advisor said their GPS led them to that road in the fog! Yes, I'm going in July, so hopefully fog won't be an issue, but I don't like steep roads. That's why I never drive in San Francisco!

Morgana will know better - I've only been on that road once and it was nearly 20 years ago. I have a photo I just <i>had</i> to stop and take of triangular info/warning signs (on the same pole) that show 1 in 4 down and 1 in 3 up :O

But AFAIK you don't have to take that road to get to Rosedale. (Which is why I also always have a road atlas and don't rely solely on a GPS/SatNav - they can lead you astray once in a while)