Easingwold is a handsome Georgian market town just north of York, with a relaxed market square, independent shops, cafés and plenty of local character. It’s an easy place to slow down, wander and get a feel for everyday North Yorkshire beyond the city.

Crayke is a beautiful hilltop village with sweeping views across the Vale of York. We stop by St Cuthbert’s Church, a peaceful historic landmark with strong links to the village’s long past and a setting that feels wonderfully tucked away from the usual tourist trail.

Byland Abbey is one of Yorkshire’s most atmospheric monastic ruins, set in peaceful countryside beneath the North York Moors. Its soaring arches and remarkable west front give a real sense of the scale and ambition of the medieval abbey.

The Kilburn White Horse is one of Yorkshire’s most distinctive landmarks, cut into the hillside below the Hambleton Hills. From here you get wide views across the Vale of York and a brilliant sense of the scale of the countryside beyond the city.