Places of interest in Pickering, North Yorkshire 

Pickering is the ideal base for your stay in Ryedale. A single day simply isn’t long enough to appreciate all there is to do in the area, so if you can try to book several nights at Bramwood! 
 
Spend a day in Pickering itself. This small market town, home to less than 7,000 inhabitants, boasts a variety of excellent family run shops offering a friendly personal service. There are two banks (with cash machines), a post office and an impressive public library offering internet access. There is a daily covered Flea Market and a small street market on Mondays. Why not take a look at the town website for more information at www.welcometopickering.co.uk 
The Parish church of St. Peter and St. Paul dates back to Norman times, with the tower being added in the 13th Century. Most importantly, perhaps, it houses “the most complete collection of medieval wall paintings in England” (Nicholas Pevsner) which attract thousands of visitors per year, many from overseas. www.pickeringchurch.com 
The Beck Isle Museum is a real gem with its 27 rooms packed full of exhibits covering many aspects of local, social and family history & militaria. It is also home to the Sydney Smith photographic collection of photographic equipment and local photography, depicting local history and landscapes from the early 20th century. www.beckislemuseum.org.uk 
Pickering Castle was originally a wooden structure started by William the Conqueror. It was replaced by a stone version in later years. Subsequently it was a royal hunting lodge and a royal holiday retreat and many of its walls and towers remain today. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pickering-castle 
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the longest and most popular heritage railways in the country. It takes you on a journey through breath-taking scenery on it’s winding 18 mile route between Pickering and Whitby. Railway enthusiasts and day trippers alike are bound to enjoy the variety of steam and diesel engined locomotives, the lovingly restored carriages, the engine sheds at Grosmont and the beautifully tended atmospheric stations at Pickering, Levisham, Goathland and Grosmont. Fascinating stuff, and not just for “anoraks”! 
TV watchers will enjoy Goathland’s association with “Heartbeat” and Hogwarts Station of Harry Potter fame. Take a look at the NYMR website at www.nymr.co.uk 
 
During 2015 one of our guests, Roger Loose, took some terrific footage of the railway which is available to view on Youtube 

Further afield 

Pickering is the ideal base for your stay in Ryedale. A single day simply isn’t long enough to appreciate all there is to do in the area, so if you can try to book several nights at Bramwood! 
Just 7 miles away (and easily accessible by bus) is Eden Camp, the award winning modern history theme museum. Constructed in the huts of a former POW camp built in 1942, it gives a unique and fascinating insight into life in Britain during World War II. Allow a minimum of 3 or 4 hours for your visit, and prepare to feel exhausted and overwhelmed afterwards! www.edencamp.co.uk 
No visit to this area could be considered complete without spending at least a day in the historic city of York. If you take your car we strongly recommend you drive to one of easily accessible Park & Ride car parks just off the A64. 
 
If you want to leave the car behind, travel the 28 miles from Pickering to York centre in 1 hour 10 minutes on the Coastliner bus service. Visit York Minster, climb the tower and go down to the crypt. 
Walk the walls by day www.visityork.org/seeanddo. Hunt the ghouls by night www.ghosthunt.co.uk. Cruise the Ouse on a guided river trip www.yorkboat.co.uk. Learn about Vikings www.jorvik-viking-centre.co.uk. If you lose all your money at the races www.yorkracecourse.co.uk don’t forget that admission to the National Railway Museum is free www.nrm.org.uk And if you get lucky at the races, the shopping’s rather good as well! 
The lovely market town of Helmsley is a 17 mile drive or bus ride. Market day is Friday. Visit the remains of the Helmsley Castle, the scene of a siege by Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War, or the the peaceful Walled Garden which is being lovingly and expertly restored by a team of devoted volunteers. www.helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk 
 
The breathtaking ruins of Rievaulx Abbey can be found just outside the town 
If you feel the call of the sea why not travel the 18 miles to Whitby by car, bus or train. Cross over the river and wander through the old town and if your’re feeling energetic, climb the 199 steps to visit the Abbey ruins and St Mary’s Church, or simply take in the spectacular views. Visit the impressive Captain Cook Museum, eat fish ‘n’ chips, and be on the lookout for Dracula at all times. 
If donkeys on a sandy beach appeal, then Scarborough is the place for you and only 18 miles distant. Again, both Whitby and Scarborough are accessible by a regular bus service from Pickering, and check the North York Moors railway timetable for details of their 'Earlybird' service which provides through-trips all the way from Pickering to Whitby. 
Many people feel that a visit to this area is incomplete without a trip to Castle Howard www.castlehoward.co.uk the magnificent 18th century house (of Brideshead Revisited fame) with 1,000 acres of parkland, lakes, gardens, statues, fountains and shops. 
There are several other historic houses and gardens of note close by, including Duncombe Park near Helmsley, Burton Agnes near Bridlington, and Sledmere House. 
 
The contemporary Walled Garden at Scampston also attracts many visitors. 
There are regular fossil hunting events at the coast https://ukfossils.co.uk/category/yorkshire/ and finally, the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy is well worth a visit. 

Bramwood for Cyclists 

The North York Moors are recognised as one of the very best areas for cycling in England, and always feature in the Tour de Yorkshire. The region offers a vast and varied network of quiet lanes and off road tracks that make best use of the topography and stunning views afforded by the moorland, forest and coastal scenery. 
There are a number of cross country cycle trails around the National Park, and a wealth of purpose built trails in nearby Dalby Forest. Contrast this with the former railway track along the coast between Whitby and Scarborough which offers spectacular views of this very special coastline. 
Other cycle routes utilising dismantled railways can be found around the North York Moors, often at a high level, demonstrating the Moors’ industrial heritage. Popular examples of such trails are in nearby Rosedale and Farndale where the rural moorland setting contrasts with the ruined remains of the ironstone industry. 
 
Pickering is at the centre of an area comprising the North York Moors, Howardian Hills and the Yorkshire Wolds. Click HERE to see a location map and details of nearby routes. 
Pickering is also one of the starting points for the Moor to Sea cycle route – a triangular route, mainly off-road, of some 110km over the moors and through the forests to Whitby and Scarborough. www.moortoseacycle.net 
 
For cycle hire, spares or repairs, there's a choice of Big Bear Bikes close by in Pickering, Pace Cycles in Thornton- le-Dale and Dalby Bike Barn which is actually inside Dalby Forest. 
 
At Bramwood Guest House we offer secure cycle storage. 

Bramwood for Walkers 

There is a wealth of walking opportunities nearby, suitable for all levels of ability. Choose anything from a gentle stroll of a few miles along a well graded track, right up to a long slog across the high moor to one of the iconic moorland crosses. 
The North York Moors combine a dramatic coastline, wild upland moorland, interesting villages, and carefully tended farmland in the valley bottoms. Add to this the numerous points of interest from the Moors’ industrial heritage, a substantial number of ruined abbeys and castles, and what is arguably the foremost steam railway in the country. All can be explored on foot using a well-developed network of footpaths, bridleways and open access land within the North York Moors National Park. 
Bramwood is close to Pickering town centre, so you have a choice of restaurants nearby for your evening meal. Being in a town also gives you the opportunity of leaving your car behind and taking the steam railway or the bus to or from the start or finish of your day’s walk. We have the timetables and can advise on options. 
 
From 1st April 2018 the Moorsbus network operates on Sundays and bank holidays. It offers very good value: travel for the whole day for £5 (2011 prices) and is a walker’s delight because it allows the planning of linear routes through remote parts of the moors. 
Pickering is a "Walkers are Welcome" town having achieved that status in 2009.  

As a taster, here are some popular walks: 

Hole of Horcum circular across Levisham Moor and via Skelton Tower. (about 10km, 6 miles). This walk offers spectacular views across and down into Newtondale. Time it right and a steam train will thunder up Newtondale whilst you sit at Skelton Tower taking in the view. You can use bus 840 to get to the start of this walk. 
 
Blakey Topping via Thompsons Rigg and Crosscliff (about 8km, 5 miles). Local legend has it that the distinctive conical shaped Blakey Topping was formed when Wade (a local giant) scooped up a clod of earth (which formed the Hole of Horcum – see above) and threw it at Bel, his long suffering wife. Fortunately he missed, but Blakey Topping is where the earth landed. Bus 840 again will take you to one of the starting points for this walk. 
The Bridestones and Staindale Lake (about 10km, 6 miles). The stones stand on the edge of a steep sided valley and have weathered into unusual shapes – typically wide at the top and narrower lower down. Abundant birdlife around the lake. If you start this walk from Lockton then once again you can leave the car behind and use the bus. This does add about 3 miles to the total distance. 
 
If you would like to walk from the door of Bramwood then please ask us and we will gladly point you in the right direction. 
 
For a list of 49 walks on the North York Moors with maps and descriptions click here 
 
• Should the weather be unkind, we will do our very best to dry your outdoor clothing and boots for the following day. 
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