Ryedale
Nestling between the city of York, the Yorkshire Heritage Coast and the North York Moors, Ryedale is as diverse as it is spectacular. The area provides a constant reminder of Yorkshire’s natural beauty to residents and visitors alike, with the rolling countryside of the Howardian Hills flowing into rugged moorland, all bounded by one Britain’s most celebrated coastlines.
As long-time Ryedale residents, we are passionate about the local area and the vast array of property on offer. Busy market towns, quaint country villages and picture-postcard hamlets are scattered throughout arguably one of the most beautiful chunks of God’s Own County (and indeed the UK). Buyers have the choice of country cottages, hill farms, historic townhouses and new developments, all of which are positioned against Ryedale’s enviable backdrop. There are few better places, in our opinion, to live, work and thrive.
The coastal towns of Scarborough, Whitby and Bridlington offer an opportunity for an easy seaside getaway, while culture-vultures have access to some of the UK’s most famed country houses, castles, abbeys and attractions. Castle Howard, Duncombe Park and Scampston Hall all sit in Ryedale, as does the Dalby Forest - the largest upland heath forest in the UK. Ryedale is also the site of the UK’s most popular heritage steam railway route, which runs for 18 miles from Pickering, through the North York Moors and concluding at the charming seaside town of Whitby - the landscape and folklore of which inspired Bram Stoker’s ‘Dracula’ and numerous other literary greats..
Market Towns
More than anything else, Ryedale is celebrated for possessing some the UK’s most famed and sought-after market towns: Helmsley, Kirkbymoorside (known locally as Kirkby), Malton, Norton-on-Derwent and Pickering. Helmsley, overlooked by the 12th-century ruins of its eponymous castle, is one the UK’s best-known and recently won the High Street Award for the market-town category. Kirkby rests neatly between the Howardian Hills to the south and the Moors to the north. Pickering, enclosed by the Dalby Forest, lies in the east of the area overlooking a Vale of the same name..
Malton is Willowgreen’s base and the centre of the area’s commercial and retail activity. In recent times Malton has been making a name for itself as a food town built around its famous local produce and is now home to the award-winning monthly Food Markets, annual Food Lovers’ Festival, and some of the best food shops in Yorkshire. The town offers numerous independent and national stores, in addition to a weekly market and monthly farmer’s market and of course Malton was recently voted one of Britain’s ‘best places to live’ in the Sunday Times - a title which would have come as little surprise to residents who have received visitors seeking the town’s genteel atmosphere since the 19th-century. Charles Dickens chose Malton as the location to pen a ‘Christmas Carol’ on this very basis. Malton, along with its neighbour Norton-on-Derwent, is also an epicentre of the British horse racing with numerous stables in the area.
Connections
Despite the area’s rural setting, those craving an urban buzz can easily access the city of York and beyond it the city of Leeds. Those travelling by train can use the TransPennine Express to reach York from Malton and from there connect to London and Edinburgh in around two hours, Manchester in around two hours, and Leeds in just under an hour. Ryedale’s proximity to the A1 - the longest numbered road in the UK - allows residents to drive south to London, north to Edinburgh (and access everywhere in between). Leeds Bradford, Doncaster Sheffield Robin Hood and Newcastle airports are all easily accessible while Manchester Airport can be reached by a direct TransPennine link from Malton itself.
For futher information about our area please visit: www.visitryedale.co.uk
Food Festival
Please watch the latest film from Malton Food Lovers Festival 'Love Letter to Malton Film' to give you a flavour of our town!