With the gateway to the North York Moors National Park to the east and Yorkshire Dales National Park to the west, the bustling town of Thirsk boasts a quaint market place, splendid Georgian buildings, and a Norman church. Here there are a selection of excellent pubs, restaurants, a cinema and a leisure centre, as well as independent stores to be browsed at your leisure. Visit the World of James Herriott Museum, dedicated to the life and works of the town’s own famous vet and author or explore the surrounding rolling countryside and Hambleton Hills, offering excellent walking and cycling opportunities. The town is home to the Yorkshire Vet, All Creatures Great and Small, and Thirsk Races, and there are an abundance of local walks throughout the local area, including those at Osmotherly, the Cleveland Way, and Sutton Bank. Cycling within this location is catered for with mountain biking trails and road cycling trails at Sutton Bank’s Cycling Centre, Dalby Forest, and Tour de France routes, and there are further walks and cycling routes along the picturesque coast of North Yorkshire, as well as delightful locations including Whitby, Robin Hood Bay, and Staithes. Explore the fascinating maze of tunnels, follies, and chambers known as Forbidden Corner, or spend a day in Monks Park observing the animals. Travel a little farther to York, a historic city that has York Minster, the Jorvix Museum, and other attractions. Visit Helmsley to see the charming little stores, the magnificent Helmsley Castle, the outdoor swimming pool, and the grounds of Newby Hall and Thorpe Perrow Arboretum and Zoo. Betty’s Cafe serves delicious Anglo-Austrian cuisine. There are three Michelin-star restaurants: The Black Swan at Oldstead and Roots in York by Tommy. Other attractions include Fountains Abbey and Ripon.
