Yorkshire Sketchbook: A Pictorial Guide to Favourite Places

Yorkshire Sketchbook is a unique guide to some of the most popular places in the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors and the City of York - three of the UK's best-loved tourist destinations. There's suggested road trips taking in all the featured places and quirky facts about flat caps, Yorkshire pudding, 'On Ilkley Moor Baht'at' and more! It's easy to scoff when you hear that 'Yorkshire has everything', especially when said by a Tyke (Yorkshire person) but the more I explore this vibrant and diverse county the more I'm convinced that it's true. The county is largest in the UK, which helps if you have to fit everything in, but there's still space to spare for the wild areas where you can walk all day and never meet anybody else. Yorkshire abounds in stunning vistas across rolling fields, hills and beaches. There's breathtaking rivers, cliffs, dales and moorland to explore. It boasts five national museums, three national parks, three UNESCO sites, a stunning coastline and seven vibrant cities. With Worldclass attractions, historic houses and castles, picturesque villages, fine restaurants, vibrant culture, abundant shopping, cricket, fish and chips and real ale there's truly something for everyone. The Yorkshire folk I met travelling round were unfailingly friendly, helpful and funny. I never had any problem getting them to talk. Shutting them up was another matter. A book of this size couldn't possible cover all of the county so it concentrates on the two national parks - the Yorkshire Dales and the North York Moors. Plus the city of York. Nobody should ever tour North Yorkshire without going to York. The places I've chosen to illustrate are my own favourites, some were new to me but the majority I've been to before. None of them were a disappointment and I'll go back to all of them again at the drop of a flat cap. Most are popular tourist destinations so you'll probably find some of your own favourites amongst them. This book will tell you how you can drive to each place, where you can park, some relevant history and what to look out for. I also hope that it not only informs, but also entertains and, if you're a visitor, gives you something to enjoy when you're back home. What it can't do is provide the unexpected surprise that will stay with you forever. You have to experience those for yourself. I've enjoyed many of them on my travels throughout this remarkable county. I do hope you will too.