Vale of Pickering

Bordered by the Tabular Hills and North York Moors National Park to the north and the Yorkshire Wolds to the south, the Vale of Pickering was once a great glacial lake. A legacy of the Ice Age, this area of Ryedale is now a fertile patchwork of arable and grazing farmland. It is populated by small villages, many situated alongside the picturesque becks (small streams) which feed into the Rivers Rye, Derwent, Costa and Dove. The Vale of Pickering is the heartland of farming in Ryedale. This rural way of life is celebrated at the annual agricultural shows, where the farming community gather in friendly competition with livestock, produce and crafts. These events are a popular day out with locals and visitors alike.

The 17th century manor house, Nunnington Hall, lies on the banks of the River Rye in the pretty village of Nunnington. A National Trust property, it is noted for its walled garden and fascinating Carlisle collection of miniature rooms.