Covering more than 3000 square miles and stretching from Cumbria to where the North Sea nibbles its toes, North Yorkshire is England's largest county. While the rolling hillsides of the Dales National Park in the west are packed with visitors, the high-altitude wilderness of the North York Moors has plenty to attract holidaymakers, too.
For dedicated sightseers, there are the tourist magnets of Scarborough and Whitby. But if you prefer more solitary locations – for example, dramatic coastal landscapes, peppered with picturebook pathways and intriguing villages – you're also in the right place. There are huge contrasts to be explored and enjoyed here.
History buffs will find the area rich in important sites, including the ruins of Whitby Abbey, which are hauntingly beautiful as well as enlightening. People as diverse as Captain Cook and Bram Stoker, the creator of Count Dracula, have spent time here. Factor in invaders from Scandinavia and Italy, and you'll find the area's past is an elaborate tapestry.
If you want history within touching distance, the Ryedale Folk Museum lets you experience moorland life from days gone by, while Eden Camp recalls the daily realities of life during World War II. At the other end of the entertainment scale, the thrills and spills of Flamingo Land theme park and zoo are on offer, while the seafront at Scarborough brings a traditional seaside flavour to the area.

SEE ALSO IN THE AWARDS 2006 ISSUE OF PRACTICAL CARAVAN
The Great Outdoors, Holiday Hints, Nature Notes, Contacts, History and Culture, Foodies' Corner, Holiday Souvenirs, Family Fun, Festivals & Events

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