The attractive market town of Kirkbymoorside provides the ideal cottage holiday base for exploring the North York Moors. This small town has historic buildings and a cobbled market place, where you will find all kinds of stalls every Wednesday; there has been a market on this site in the main street since 1254.

Positioned approximately halfway between Pickering and Helmsley, it’s the ideal base for those wishing to visit the famous abbeys of Byland, Rievaulx, and Ampleforth. It is also very convenient for the North York Moors National Park and the Cleveland Way National Trail for visitors who enjoy walking and other outdoor activities, such as cycling and climbing.

If you prefer to see the lovely countryside with less exertion, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway runs eighteen miles from Pickering to Grosmont and then onto the coast, stopping at various picturesque moors villages along the way.

Other nearby attractions include the lovely village of Hutton le Hole with its Ryedale Folk Museum, an open air museum comprising more than 20 historic buildings, where you can find out about the lives of the local people from the iron age up to the 1950s.

The market town of Helmsley with its ancient castle is just six miles away and visitors will also enjoy visiting the adjacent five acre walled garden.

Kirkbymoorside is justly proud of its traditional inns, one of which, the Black Swan Inn, was built in 1662. Visitors will find plenty of places to sample local real ales and traditional Yorkshire food, as well as specialist shops where you can find anything from local produce to antiques. Trout fishing is available for visitors in the River Dove and golfers will enjoy a round or two at Kirkbymoorside Golf Club.

For accommodation in this lovely area, search for Kirkbymoorside holiday cottages.