Itineraries

Itinerary 1 - St Gregory's Minster, Sutton Bank, Rievaulx Abbey, Helmsley and Brandsdale combing history, scenery, shopping and more stunning scenery

• Order a picnic hamper with a half bottle of champagne in good time.
• Set off after breakfast and turn right out of the alleyway, left at the end of the Market Place and right at the lights. This is the A170. Follow the direction for Thirsk, past Kirbymoorside, for one mile and then turn right, signposted Kirkdale. Here you will find St Gregory's Minster, one of the oldest (Saxon) and smallest minsters in the country.
• Back to the main road and on through Helmsley. About nine miles on, a few hundred yards after the Hambleton Inn, turn right into the car park at the top of Sutton Bank. Perhaps have a coffee with your hosts there, Ian and Chris Pearson, a quick look round the visitor centre and then walk down to the White Horse of Kilburn, a massive hill sculpture. This is around a half-hour trip.
• Back in the car (BIC). Turn left back towards Helmsley but turn first left after that, signposted Scawton and Rievaulx. Rievaulx Abbey (English Heritage) is worth a visit, as are the separate Temples at Rievaulx.
• BIC. Turn right and then up the hill. Turn right for Helmsley. Stop and shop (see shopping guide section), or visit Duncombe Park, Helmsley Castle, Helmsley Walled Garden, the open-air swimming pool.
• BIC. Head out of Helmsley slowly on the A170. Just after Carlton Lodge Hotel, on the right, turn left for Carlton. This road is the most stunning drive and Brandsdale is the prettiest and most unspoilt of the southern Moors dales. The road continues north through Carlton and on to Cockayne. Remember to shut both the gates. Find a place to stop.
• Chill your champagne in one of the streams, which you could follow to the Dale bottom (wear wellies if wet) where you will find the old mill (National Trust owned but not open yet). Great place for a picnic. Or, continue on south following signs to Gillamoor. In Gillamoor stop by the church to discover one of the prettiest views in the land. From Gillamoor head to Hutton-le-Hole, Lastingham, Cropton and home to Pickering and The White Swan.

Itinerary 2 - Steam Railway & Beck Hole Walk ('Heartbeat' Country)

• Turn right out of The White Swan, and right again at the bottom of the Market Place. Walk for 50 meters and, on your left, you will see the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway. Purchase a return ticket to Grosmont and board the train.
• The track winds up through Newtondale, past Levisham Station, through Goathland (home of TV's Heartbeat) and on to Grosmont. This takes approximately one hour. Walk around and have a look at the engine sheds but don't expect to find anywhere decent for lunch - there isn't anywhere, besides you haven't yet earned it!
• From Grosmont follow the public footpath for Goathland via Beck Hole. If you are lucky you will see the train snaking through the Moors - a stunning sight. After about three miles you will find the pub in Beck Hole, one of the smallest in the land. Its previous landlady served behind the bar for 73 years and it has changed little over the years. Order a drink and a doorstop sandwich - you deserve it! Goathland station is one mile from here.
• After lunch walk up the line of the old railway track (once a pulley track system operated by horses as early steam power couldn't manage the gradient). At the top of the slope you are almost in Goathland. Walk up to the main road and either:
• turn right to see the famous Mallion Spout (a waterfall close to the Mallion Spout Hotel). While you are there pop in and thank your lucky stars you booked with The White Swan. No, really, the food is excellent, but don't spoil your dinner! Alternatively
• turn left and head down towards the railway station and board the next train back to Pickering. You are allowed to get on and off the train at any station and then board a following train, provided you don't repeat any part of the journey.
• Once back in Pickering - if there is still time - complete your nostalgic day with a visit to the Beck Isle Museum of Rural life. This small museum has always been worthy of a visit but has now been extended, making it a "must see" attraction.

Itinerary 3 - Shopping in Harrogate

• Lynx, 20 West Park - beautiful selection of labels, Fenn, Wright and Manson, Versace Jeans, Armani Jeans, Victor Victoria, Nicole Farhi etc etc. Some shoes and bags.
• Moda In Pelle, 17a West Park- Italian designer shoes
• West Park Interiors, 12-14 West Park - furniture and accessories for the home
• Mulberry Bush, 21a West Park - beautiful children's clothes
• Hoopers, James Street - independent department store with wide range of mens and womens clothing, also perfume, cosmetics, accessories. James Street is one of the main shopping streets and you will find many familiar names.
• Bees Knees, 26 Beulah Street - 0-16 years Children's designer shop
• Morgan Clare, 3 Montpelier Gardens, an absolute favourite, stocks the best British designer clothes and shoes - say you are staying at the White Swan - it won't get you a discount (if it does I would like to know!) but you will get well treated and a nice cup of coffee.
• Bodytalk, 3 Montpelier Mews, wonderful lingerie and swimwear shop
• The Ginnel Antiques Centre, Montpelier Mews, indoor antiques market

Shopping is a thirsty and hungry business.

The best stop, if you can get in, is The Drum and Monkey (tel: 01423 502650), Montpelier Gardens - it is a massively popular and reasonably priced fish restaurant.  Locals will wait for tables from 11.30am (a good husband's job) and it is worth the wait for its delicious seafood menu. You can book a table upstairs if you telephone in advance but they may not have any.

Otherwise Olivers 24, Kings Road (tel: 01423 568600) is good for delicious brasserie type food or Bettys Tearooms,1 Parliament Street, (tel: 01423 502746) offers a wide selection and is a Yorkshire institution.  Also great for wide choice of loose coffees (ground or beans) and teas.

NB - Don't spoil your dinner! VB

Itinerary 4 - A Day Out in York

York is England's finest historic city and even a 24-hour day would be too short to do it justice. This beautiful and historic walled city, dating back to Roman times, has attractions for every age and interest.

Here are just a few of the many suggestions to while away some enthralling hours in this wonderful City:

• York Minster - Northern Europe's largest Gothic cathedral, attracting appreciative visitors from all over the world
• Yorvik Viking Centre (24hr hotline 01904 643211) - In the 15 years since it was first opened, 11 million people have called in to travel back to the Viking Age. Open April to October 7 days a week from 9am with last admission at 5.30p.
• Betty's Tea Rooms (01904 659142) - Can you resist a delicious "Fat Rascal"? This is just one of the City's many tempting cafes/restaurants/bars/pubs.
• Other suggestions are the Rubicon Vegetarian Cafe and Restaurant at 5, Little Stonegate (tel: 01904 676076), and The Royal Oak award-winning pub between the Minster and Monkbar. There are actually more than 365 pubs in York, and almost as many restaurants/cafes. Finding a good place to eat is easy.
• The Shambles - an absorbing area of cobbled streets, ancient houses and individual shops.York's ancient thoroughfare, Stonegate, also has a rich medley of shops with Medieval and Georgian architecture.
• National Railway Museum (tel: 01904 621261) - a paradise for railway enthusiasts with trains of all sizes. Awarded the Charter Mark for Excellence. Suitable for all the family and car parking available (at a charge). Children under 17 and adults over 60 go free. Open 10am to 6pm daily, except Christmas.
• City wall walks - a wonderful way to see the city, unless you are worried about heights.
• Castle Museum - a unique opportunity to see detailed reconstruction of Victorian streets and shops and items spanning four centuries
  Many more ideas are available from the York Visitors and Conference Bureau, Rougier Street, telephone 01904 620557. If you are travelling by car there are several NCP car parks in York, including central ones in Skeldergate, Piccadilly and Queen Street. There is also a park and ride scheme signposted on the outskirts of York.