Must See Sights and Landmarks in Pickering Area

"There are ruined abbeys, and there are picturesque ruined abbeys. And then there's Whitby Abbey, dominating the skyline above the East Cliff like a great Gothic tombstone silhouetted against the sky. Looking as though it was built as an atmospheric film set rather than a monastic establishment, it is hardly surprising that this medieval hulk inspired the Victorian novelist Bram Stoker (who holidayed in Whitby) to make it the setting for Count Dracula's dramatic landfall."

"There’s something special about the ruins of Whitby Abbey brooding over the harbour from the East Cliff. These ruins were mentioned in Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1890), and even at that time the monastery had been abandoned for 350 years. It was set up in the middle of the 7th century by Oswy, the King of Northumbria."

"As we dropped down into the town, we managed to find a parking space next to Whitby Abbey. It was a perfectly base for our little adventure and (being members of the National trust) didn’t cost us a penny."

"Next we made our way up the hill to Scarborough Castle. This medieval keep is in a commanding location, it would have been a spectacle to behold and easy to defend. The castle is mostly ruined now, but it is great to walk around and learn about the 3000 year history of the site."

"Wonderful views of the bay, informative guides and very helpful staff. Lots of space to walk around and have a picnic or food from the tea room. There is a good cafe on the site with plenty of choice."

"Stately homes may be two a penny in England, but you'll have to try pretty damn hard to find one as breathtakingly stately as Castle Howard, a work of theatrical grandeur and audacity set in the rolling Howardian Hills. This is one of the world's most beautiful buildings, instantly recognisable from its starring role in the 1980s TV series Brideshead Revisited and in the 2008 film of the same name (both based on Evelyn Waugh's 1945 novel of nostalgia for the English aristocracy)."

"Standing in the Howardian Hills to the west of Malton, Castle Howard is an outstanding example of English baroque, with a distinctive…"

"At the top of those 199 Steps, and before you get to Whitby Abbey, you’ll be confronted by the compact Church of St Mary. The building goes back to a Norman church, consecrated at the start of the 12th century. The tower, choir and parts of the nave all date to that earliest period, and at the transept you can look for the three Gothic lancet windows."

"The 199 steps of Church Stairs lead steeply up from the end of Church St, passing the spooky graveyard of St Mary's Church, a favourite haunt of Goth courting couples. The atmospheric interior of the church is..."

"In the secluded valley of the River Rye about 3 miles west of Helmsley, amid fields and woods loud with birdsong, stand the magnificent ruins of Rievaulx Abbey (ree-voh). The extensive remains give a wonderful sense of the size and complexity of the community that once lived here, and their story is fleshed out in a series of fascinating exhibits in a new museum. There's also a cafe with floor-to-ceiling windows and outdoor terrace from which to gawp at the ruins."

"On West Cliff, overlooking the mouth of the River Esk, is the Whalebone Arch, an archway formed from a set of 20-foot-high whale jaw bones. The arch is a reminder of the role played in Whitby's heritage by the whaling industry in the 18th and 19th centuries. The original arch was erected in 1853."

"Whitby was once a whaling town and the arch made from 2 whale jaw bones is a reminder of its past. The bones that stand there today are not from illegally hunted whales but those from a whale killed legally by Inuits in Alaska."

"One of those things you simply have to do in Whitby is to climb the 199 steps that wind up from Church Lane to St Mary’s Church on the East Cliff. You’ll be treading the same path as the creature “resembling a large dog” that climbed up to the abbey in Dracula. The stairway is vertiginous, but the higher you go, the better the views back over the roofs of the old town and the harbour."

"Climb the 199 steps to the top of East Cliff for views over the town and harbour. At the top you will find the medieval church of St Mary."

"One of the more beautiful churches in Scarborough, St Martins is filled with gorgeous stained glass windows with designs from celebrated artists including William Morris, Sir Edward Burne-Jones and Dane Gabriel Rosetti."

"High on the isthmus between the old town and castle, St Mary’s is a Grade I listed church, first erected in the 12th century. That building was mostly lost in Civil War in the 17th century, and was rebuilt at the end of the 1600s. Out in the sprawling graveyard you can find the ruins of the old west towers, which give a sense of how much larger the Medieval church used to be."

"The Magpie might be famous for its fish and chips (and have the queues to prove it), but they do a belting menu of other fish dishes that deserve a shout out. In fact, the menu is something of an epic tome that really warrants some quality time spent on it. Make life easier on yourself and choose the seafood taster for a bit of everything, including oysters, clams, mussels, crab, scallops, prawns and half a lobster to top things off."

"The Magpie flaunts its reputation for serving the 'World's Best Fish and Chips'. Damn fine they are too, but the world and his dog knows about it and summertime queues can stretch along the street."

"With magnificent sea views, out over Scarborough’s North Bay, this family-run hotel is close to the town centre, Peasholm Park, Scarborough Castle and all that the town has to offer. The Delmont Hotel has a good location, within easy reach of all of the North Bay’s amenities and holiday attractions, including Scarborough Cricket ground, The Sands complex and the Alexander Bowls centre. The shop and beaches are within easy walking distance and there are also regular buses to the neighbouring villages and towns, including Filey, Whitby and York."

"24/25 Newborough, Scarborough YO11 1NA EnglandItalian, Pizza, European, GrillLunch, DinnerTakeout, Seating, Street Parking, Highchairs Available, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Wine and Beer, Accepts Mastercard, Accepts Visa, Cash Only, Free Wifi, Reservations, Accepts Credit Cards, Table Service, BYOB[email protected]+44 1723 507336http://www.pomodoropizzeria.co.uk"