This tour takes you across the North York Moors National Park, visiting Castle Howard and Rievaulx Abbey.
Take your choice of two touring routes:
The fast way: If you just want to get there as quickly as possible (not the best idea) then take the A19 from the centre of York.
Route 1B on the map.
Go to the bottom of the page for those nav. notes. (And go to the Naughty Step for even thinking of it!)
The recommended way – via the North York Moors
Route 1A on the map . . .
What’s to be seen along the way?
Rievaulx Abbey. (Pron. reevo). Set in a remote valley in the North York Moors National Park, Rievaulx is one of the most complete, and atmospheric, of England’s abbey ruins.
Castle Howard is an 18th century stately residence, set in 1,000 landscaped acres just outside York. The house, designed by the leading architect of the day, Sir John Vanbrugh, features many major works of art.The grounds include lakes, fountains, temples and woodland as well as formal walled garden and children’s adventure playground.
Discover the wonder of ancient trees and wild birds of prey in the North York Moors National Park. Moorland covers a third of the North York Moors National Park and most of the higher ground is covered in heather.
In early summer you’ll hear the call of the moorland birds, such as the red grouse, curlew and golden plover. Later, as the summer evenings draw in, the flowering heather turns the moors into a purple carpet that stretches for mile after mile. In winter the moors can be exceptionally beautiful, with mist and cloud rising above the sweeping expanses and crisp dustings of frost and snow turning the landscape an ethereal white.
Durham
The big attractions here are Durham Cathedral and nearby Durham Castle in this UNESCO World Heritage Site, standing side by side on a prominent hill top and encircled by the wooded slopes of the meandering River Wear. Durham Cathedral was voted the UK’s number one landmark in 2013. Started in 1093 and completed in 1133, it is the finest example on Normal church architecture in the country. Marvel at the work of the stonemasons that created the richly ornamented interior, particularly the vaulted ceiling – it was the first church to use ribbed vaulting on such a scale.
The castle, built in the same times at the cathedral, guards the approaches to the city from a narrow spur of high ground. It was built shortly after the Norman invasion in 1066, not only to defend against raiders from the north, but also to suppress English rebellions that were common in the first years after the conquest. Today it is occupied by Durham University. It is open to the public but admission is by guided tour only. For more on this click here . . .
Durham Museum and Heritage Centre Relive the story of Durham from Medieval times to the 20th century in this local history museum. See models of the medieval city and 19th century Market Place and explore the reconstruction of a Victorian prison cell. Displays describe the origins and development of the city and many of the objects illustrate domestic life, social life and the lost trades and industries. The museum is situated in a historic Grade I Listed Building, close to the Cathedral, once the parish church of the North Bailey. It was rebuilt in the 17th Century and retains impressive woodwork from that period.
Navigation Notes
York to Castle Howard
Distance about 15 mi, time a bit under half an hour.
Leaving York
0.0 mi 53.9630, -1.0782 Using the ring road around the city, find your way to Monkgate on the A1306. It in the north-west corner of the city.
3.1 mi 53.9905, -1.0238 Follow the A1036 (well signposted) to the A64. Take the 1st exit from Hopgrove Roundabout s/posted “Scarborough / Malton / A64”.
7.3 mi 54.072,-0.9176 At Barton’s Hill crossroads turn l. on to Mains Lane s/posted “Slingsby” and “Castle Howard”.
3.6 mi 54.1205,- 0.9152 At the r/bout around a giant obelisk, turn r. and go through walled gates into the grounds of Castle Howard.
Castle Howard to Rievaulx Abbey
From the gates of Castle Howard, at the giant obelisk, turn r. on to the road to Slingsby.
3.1 mi 54.1620,-0.9315 On to southern edge of Slingsby village, at the Give Way, turn l. s/p “Hovingham / Helmsley” on to Malton Rd, the B1257.
8.4 mi 54.2275,-1.0604 Pass through Hovingham, Stonegrave and the outskirts of Sproxton. At the Give Way turn r. on to the A170 s/posted “Scarboro 32”.
At the Malt Shovel in Hovingham you can get a good pub lunch and with luck there’ll be a few of the local farmers in the bar – you’ll hear the sounds of the rural Yorkshire voice. The toilets there are also very clean.
On this stretch of road you have the Howardian Hills to the w. and you are beginning the climb up to the North York Moors.
1.3 mi 54.2450,-1.0601 As you come into the township of Helmsley, you will cross over a stone bridge. Take the left hand fork in the road on to Bridge St (street sign on the r.) At the flush r/bout turn r. s/p “Slingsby”. It’s the first road on the l. in to Castlegate, the B1257.
Expert navigator checkpoint: Shortly after that turn, look for the ruins of Castle Helmsley through a gap in the row of shops on the l, and slightly further on Helmsley Church on the r.
Just out of Helmsley you will enter the North York Moors National Park.
2.2 mi 54.2595,-1.1067 Turn l. on to Rievaulx Bank, s/posted “Abbey / Terrace and Temples”. The abbey entrance is the second of the entrances
0.6 mi Rievaulx Abbey (pictured) is on the l.
Rievaulx Abbey to Durham
Return to the B1257 and turn l.
11.8 mi The Hastie Bank Lookout is on the r. Stop and take in a view of the hills and dales of Cleveland.
Go str. through Great Broughton
5.3 mi 54.4700,-1.1820 At the large grassed r/bout on the southern edge of Stokesley, take the 3rd exit, s/posted “Teeside A172”. At the exit itself, the signs say “Middlesborough A172 / Stockton (B1365)”.
0.6 mi At the next r/bout take the 2nd exit on to the B1365 s/posted “Stockton B1365”. At the exit the s/post is “Hemlington / Acklam / Stockton / B1365.
Go through 2 r/bouts on the southern outskirts of Middlesborough.
5.2 mi 54.5291,-1.2361 Just after the second r/bout take the exit ramp towards the A174 s/posted “The NORTH / The SOUTH / M’boro Centre / Stockton” .
Merge on to the A174.
1.8 mi 54.5299,-1.2815 At the r/bout (traffic lights) take the 3rd exit on to the A19 following s/posts “The NORTH”. At the exit the s/post says “The NORTH / Darlington / Middlesbrough /
16.4 mi 54.7358,-1.3620 Take the A181 exit s/posted “Durham / Blackhall B1281”.
0.2 mi At the T i/sec turn l. s/posted “Durham / Wingate / A181”.
Go through 2 r/bouts.
Follow the A181 into Durham.
9.0 mi 54.7784,-1.5652 At Gilesgate Roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Leazes Rd the A690, s/posted “City Centre A 690 / Consett (A691)”.
Expert navigator checkpoint: Shortly after that turn you will pass under a pedestrian overbridge.
0.1 mi 54.7771, -1.5729 At the next r/bout on Leazes Rd take the 2nd exit which will take you towards the Prince Bishops shopping centre. Keep that shopping centre on your l. hand.
There is a parking building at the shopping centre – the closest one to the Cathedral and Castle. Other parking options are signposted.
Durham Castle and the Cathedral are now over to your left.
You are now in the centre of Durham.
The fastest way
To do that you’ll take the A59 from the centre of York and follow signs to the A1.
53.9540, -1.0938 Go back along the A1036 and take the A59 which starts at the cnr of Blossom St and Holgate Rd. Look for the A59 on the road way.
Expert navigator checkpoint: The Chiropractic 1st clinic is on the left as you make that turn.
12.8 mi 54.0133,-1.3796 Merge on to the A1.
59.2 mi 54.7904,-1.5301 At Junction 62 take the exit s/posted “Sunderland / Durham / A690 / Consett (A691)”.
2.4 mi 54.7774,-1.5737 Follow the A690 into Durham.
Durham Castle and the Cathedral are now over to your left.
You are now in the centre of Durham.