Northern England - my top 10

<h1>Northern England - my top 10</h1> <h5>Born and bred north of Leeds I spent much of my early years exploring the Yorkshire Dales and other beautiful areas that Yorkshire has to offer. I now live in Durham, which has afforded me the opportunity to explore further North and West. I live within 40 minutes of the North York Moors, 60 minutes from the Yorkshire Dales and 90 minutes from the Lake District - why would I want to live elsewhere? In terms of my favourite places there are simply too many to list, so here, in no particular order, are my top 10. </h5>

<h3>The Lake District</h3> The Lake District (map - purple triangle) is the UK's most popular national park. While there are so many spectacular walks my favourites are: Derwentwater and the surrounding walks, Helvellyn - summiting via Striding Edge is perhaps the most famous walk in England but should only be done in good conditions, the Langdales, the Grasmere area, Scafell Pike (the highest mountain in England), climbing the Old Man of Coniston, and Blencathra. For more information refer to my <a href="{entry:4343@1:url||http://www.aworldonthebrink.com/blog/the-lake-district-my-top-10-walks}">Top 10 Walks in the Lakes</a> blog.  In addition to the lakes and fells, there is no shortage of museums, country houses and villages to explore in the Lake District (PS clicking on any image below reveals the place name).

<h3>Brimham Rocks</h3> Brimham Rocks (Yorkshire Dales. Map - circle) in North Yorkshire is a place I frequented as a child and also with my own children. It is an amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations that easily takes about four hours to explore for the first time and makes an enjoyable day out for families, climbers and those wanting to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and magnificent views over Nidderdale. Some of the rock formations are relatively easy to scamper up, others can only be climbed with ropes and the proper equipment. The views from the top are exhilarating, not only of the countryside, but on a clear day you can see all the way to York and beyond.

<h3>Fountains Abbey</h3> Fountains Abbey (Yorkshire Dales. Map - circle), a World Heritage Site, is situated only 15 minutes from Brimham Rocks. From humble beginnings the magnificent abbey was established by devout monks seeking a simpler existence. When the socially ambitious John Aislabie inherited Studley Royal he set about creating an elegant water garden of mirror-like ponds, statues, and follies, incorporating the romantic ruins into his design. Green lawns stretch down to the riverside, a perfect spot for a picnic, and the riverside paths lead on to the deer park, home to Red, Fallow and Sika deer and ancient trees. My favourite time to visit is autumn with golden foliage and the magnificent spectacle of the deer rut.

<h3>Bolton Abbey and Strid Wood</h3> Bolton Abbey and Strid Wood (Yorkshire Dales. Map - circle) are one of Yorkshires most visited attractions. At the heart of Bolton Abbey Estate lies the Priory Church and ruins of an Augustinian Priory in its beautiful riverside setting, canons lived and worshipped here until 1539. Just up from the abbey is Strid Wood, one of the largest remnants of sessile oak trees in the dales. The majestic wood hugs the banks of the river Wharfe and is renowned for its bluebell flowers in late April and early May, followed by wild garlic. Wildlife includes roe deer, otters, kingfisher, and greater spotted woodpecker. At the heat of the wood is the Strid, a natural wonder, where the river suddenly narrows forcing the water through at intense pressure.

<h3>Bolton Abbey to Buckden</h3> The route from Bolton Abbey to Buckden (Yorkshire Dales. Map - circle) takes you through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. A winding road takes you through the beautiful village of Burnsall with its riverside walk, the market town of Grassington, and then Kilnsey Crag, popular with climbers. Further north are the villages of Kettlewell and Buckden. Two of the best walks in the area are Buckden Pike and Great Whernside. The route described forms a small part of the famous Dales Way, this walk stretches for 78 miles from Ilkley in West Yorkshire to Bowness-on-Windermere in Cumbria, following mostly riverside paths and passing through the Yorkshire Dales and the gentle foothills of southern Lake District.

<h3>Malham Cove</h3> In the south-western Yorkshire Dales, Malham Cove (Yorkshire Dales. Map - circle) is a spectacular 70 metre (230 feet) high, gently curving cliff of white limestone. The cove has been eroded backwards by the action of water and ice over millions of years. Today the sheer rock face of Malham Cove challenges climbers and is home to a pair of peregrine falcons. Equally impressive is the limestone pavement on top of the cove where Harry and Hermione set up camp in the film Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. A short circular walk from the cove takes you to Gordale Scar, a limestone ravine with waterfalls and overhanging cliffs over 100 metres high.

<h3>The North York Moors</h3> A National Park since 1952, a sense of space and solitude marks the North York Moors (map - star). Ridge upon ridge of purple heather moorland extend into the distance. Deep valleys cut the plateau with the warmth of their red-roofed villages that contrast with the upland solitude. The park is a paradise for walkers and mountain bikers - one of the best short walks is Roseberry Topping. While in the park travel 18 miles on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway from Grosmont to Pickering, with a station at Goathland, the famous Aidensfield of the Heartbeat TV series. Within the park are the high cliffs and rocky shores of the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast with its quaint fishing villages and sandy beaches. If you want some fun on an e-bike then try the 36 marked runs at Dalby Forest.

<h3>York to Edinburgh on the East Coast railway </h3> The section of the East Coast railway that stretches from York to Edinburgh affords lovely views including overlooking Durham and its cathedral, and along the Northumberland coast. The two most attractive cites en route are York and Durham (map - arrows). York is one of England’s most beautiful historic cities. York is best known for its Minster, medieval town wall, winding cobbled streets, Georgian town houses, and the Jorvik Viking Centre. Further north is the smaller but equally attractive town of Durham. Durham Cathedral, a World Heritage Site, is set grandly on a rocky promontory next to the Castle with the medieval city huddled below and the river sweeping round.

<h3>The Northumberland Coast</h3> The Northumberland Coast (map - heart) with its costal sand dunes and castles is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. My favourite beach is Embleton Bay, overlooked by the ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, this is a popular place for sea kayaking. From the bay there is a beautiful costal walk to Craster harbour. Further north is Bamburgh Castle, and then Holy Island, which is linked to the mainland by a causeway that is covered twice a day by the North Sea. While along the Northumberland coastline take a boat trip to see the 37,000 pairs of puffins on the Farne Islands, and also take in the famous Alnwick Castle (used in both Harry Potter and Downton Abbey) and gardens.

<h3>My own back garden</h3> One of my favourite places is my own back garden. My garden, on the outskirts of Durham, is a paradise for wildlife with a family of foxes, the occasional deer and badger, stoats, bats, and an amazing array of birds including the greater spotted woodpecker, the little owl, sparrow hawks, goldfinches, and yellow hammers. Sadly, far too many gardens in the UK are 'neat and tidy', and full of plants and trees that don't support enough of our wildlife. If you want a truly beautiful garden, which is rich in wildlife from bees to butterflies, bats to woodpeckers, and hedgehogs to foxes then dig a little pond, leave some of your garden to grow wild, and plant native species known to attract large numbers of insects. This website is non-profit making. In return for using this website all I ask if that you <a href="{category:134834@1:url||http://www.aworldonthebrink.com/blogs/leave-for-others}">follow this link</a> and consider doing more to support conservation and help protect our beautiful planet. Thank you.