Yorkshire, England's largest county, comprises four main areas; the City of York, North Yorkshire, West Riding and East Riding. The ridings are not counties in the usual sense of the term but because of the size of Yorkshire, each of the Ridings is usually treated as a separate county for administration and geographical purposes. The City of York is situated at the junction of the Ridings, in the Vale of York, which is the widest plain in England.
The largest area is North Yorkshire, stretching form the Pennines in the west, to the north east coast, covering nearly 3500 square miles. Known by the locals as 'God's own county', it is celebrated for its varied landscape, which is host to two national parks. The North York Moors, with its spectacular heritage coastline, is a joy to behold. The Yorkshire Dales with its high peaks, low valleys, flowing rivers and patchwork fields ribboned with dry stone walling, is simply outstanding.
Yorkshire, England's largest county, comprises four main areas; the City of York, North Yorkshire, West Riding and East Riding. The ridings are not counties in the usual sense of the term but because of the size of Yorkshire, each of the Ridings is usually treated as a separate county for administration and geographical purposes. The City of York is situated at the junction of the Ridings, in the Vale of York, which is the widest plain in England.
The largest area is North Yorkshire, stretching form the Pennines in the west, to the north east coast, covering nearly 3500 square miles. Known by the locals as 'God's own county', it is celebrated for its varied landscape, which is host to two national parks. The North York Moors, with its spectacular heritage coastline, is a joy to behold. The Yorkshire Dales with its high peaks, low valleys, flowing rivers and patchwork fields ribboned with dry stone walling, is simply outstanding.
Yorkshire's landscape is picturesque and varied. The Pennines form the western boundary of the county. Several rivers rise in the Pennines and flow south-east through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. East of Thirsk the steep ascent of Surton Bank rises to the Hambleton Hills, which lead on to the North Yorkshire Moors and the Cleveland Hills. South of the moors the land flattens into the Vale of Pickering, then rises again in the east to the chalk downs, known as the Yorkshire Wolds. The flat land along the Humber Estuary, in the south, ends in a narrow shingle promontory of Spurn Head.
Yorkshire's breathtaking countryside has inspired many novels such as, Emily Bronte's 'Wuthering Heights' and James Herriot's 'All creatures great and small'. The dramatic scenery has also provided the backdrop for countless films, from Robin Hood Prince of Thieves to Dracula and Calendar Girls.
'In winter nothing more dreary, in summer nothing more divine, than those glens shut in by hills, and those bluff, bold swells of heath.'
County Town: | York - distance from London: 209 miles (336 km) |
Nearby Counties: | Cumbria, Derbyshire, Durham, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire |
Train Operators: | Cross Connect / First TransPennine Express |
Nearest Airport: | Leeds |
Major Roads: | A1, M62 |
Highest point: | Mickle Fell, 2591 feet |
Rivers: | Aire, Calder, Derwent, Don, Humber, Idd, Ouse, Ribble, Swale, Tees, Ure, Wharfe |
County Flower: | White Rose |
Local Delicacies: | Pontefract Cakes - small
round liquorice sweets. Yorkshire Pudding - batter pudding baked in a hot oven, which in Yorkshire it is traditionally eaten before the main meat course. |
Named after the county town of York, which originates from the Latinized Celtic Eboracum, meaning the estate of Eburos; to which was added the wic (dwelling) termination by the Angles, producing Eoforwic. This was rendered as Jorvic by the Danes, which later became York.