Back Roads Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Back Roads)

193

EAT AND DRINK

AROUND HELMSLEY

Star Inn moderate

Award-winning pub restaurant offers

imaginative cooking using fresh, local

produce flavoured with herbs from the

garden. Grilled black pudding with pan-

fried foie gras and Pickering watercress;

North Sea fish pie with Montgomery

Cheddar topping or pan-roasted

haunch of Duncombe Park roe deer.

High Street, Harome, YO62 5JE (5 km/3

miles southeast of Helmsley); 01439

770 397; http://www.thestaratharome.co.uk

SUTTON PARK

Rose and Crown moderate

Gastropub serving imaginative

cooking such as tuna carpaccio,

Yorkshire rib-eye steak with rocket and

smoked cheese salad, and sea bass

with buttered summer greens.

Sutton-on-the-Forest, YO61 1DP;

01347 811 333; http://www.rosecrown.co.uk

q Rievaulx Abbey
North Yorks; YO62 5LB
This partially ruined building (Apr–Sep:
open daily; Oct–Mar: closed Tue, Wed;
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk)) is widely
regarded as England’s foremost
Cistercian abbey. The atmospheric
remains of soaring pillars and graceful
arches set on a slope in a quiet valley,
fire the imagination. Founded in 1131,
by the 13th century it was home to
150 monks and over 500 lay brothers.
An indoor exhibition explores the
farming, commercial and spiritual
aspects of the abbey. The café serves
fresh locally sourced food – and cider
from Ampleforth Abbey. Nearby, and
close to the main road, Rievaulx
Terrace and Temples (open daily) has
two classical Georgian temples and
fabulous views over Rievaulx Abbey.
ª Drive on the B1257 to Helmsley. Park
on the market square or Cleveland Way.

Above Flowers outside a pub in the attractive

market town of Helmsley

DRIVE 18: North Yorkshire Moors & Coast

DAY TRIP OPTIONS

Wherever you stay, history is not far

away, and neither are the moors.

Architectural Indulgence

In York 1 , see its Minster and medieval

“shambles”. Tour the splendid Castle

Howard 3 and go on to Yorkshire

Lavender 2 for aromas, fresh air and

lunch. Finish off with the exquisite

interiors and gardens of Sutton Park e.

Take the A64 north. Turn off for Castle

Howard and Yorkshire Lavender, then

continue west to the B1363 and south.

Moorland Adventures

Staying at Pickering 4 , see the church

frescoes before enjoying a few hours

of energetic cycling in the Dalby

Forest. Next head for Hutton-le-Hole

5 and explore the historic rural

buildings of Rydale Folk Museum.

Finish the day with a thrilling

rollercoaster of a drive over Rosedale

Chimney Bank, enjoying the views.

Head west on A170, turning right to

Hutton-le-Hole, then follow the signs

to Rosedale. Take Moor Lane south.

Coastal Fun

Be scared by the Gothic ruins of the

abbey and spooky graveyard at

Whitby 7. If the vampires aren’t

biting, maybe the fish will be, so try to

catch some on a boat trip. If there is

time, drive to Grosmont 6 to take

the restored steam train to pretty

Goathland. Those feeling fit can walk

back to Whitby on the Rail Trail.

Head out of Whitby on the A171, turn

left on the A169, turning right down

Eskdaleside to Grosmont.

Eat and Drink: inexpensive, under £25; moderate, £25–£50; expensive, over £50

w Helmsley

North Yorks; YO62 5AB

This small but bustling market town

on the River Rye is dominated by the

ruins of 13th-century Helmsley Castle

(Mar–Oct: open daily; Nov–Feb: closed

Tue, Wed). Against this backdrop,

Helmsley Walled Garden (open Apr–

Oct) is a pretty 18th-century fruit and

vegetable garden and a nice place

for a picnic. At the start of the

Cleveland Way National Trail, the

town is a popular base for walkers.

ª Leave on B1257, then A170, then

B1257 again. Turn right onto B1363

south towards York. At Sutton-on-the-

Forest, follow signs to Sutton Park.

Above Unspoiled Helmsley, a favourite
destination for walkers on the North York Moors

e Sutton Park

Sutton-on-the-Forest, N Yorks; YO61 1DP

The home of Sir Reginald and Lady

Sheffield (Apr–Sep: Wed, Sun & Bank

Hols, pm; ring ahead, 01347 811 251), this

is a fine early Georgian stately house

(1730) set in pretty parkland. The

furniture came from Buckingham

House (before it became a palace).

There are woodland walks, a Georgian

ice house and the gardens – especially

the roses – are stunning in summer.