Attractions in our Local Area

Surprise View Cottages are on the southern edge of the North York Moors National Park. They are within easy reach of Scarborough, Whitby, York and Thirsk.  They are in the centre of one of the most beautiful areas in the North of England; you are literally on the edge of the Moors which are renowned for  panoramic scenery and are now one of the largest area of SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest)  Rolling hills, steep escarpments, hidden villages, forests, abundant wildlife and wide-open spaces make this a unique area which has appeal right through the year.

You are at the lower end of Farndale; in April, wild daffodils form a yellow carpet from the top end of the dale at Church Houses, following the River Dove down to Lowna and beyond, attracting thousands of visitors . 

 During the month of August the whole of the moors are turned into a sea of scented purple heather! 

From the cottages there is a network of footpaths and tracks to suit every sort of walker, those out for a stroll or people who relish the challenge of a strenuous hike. There are many places of interest in the area; quite a few within walking distance, and with the growth in cycling there are 100's of miles of cycle tracks to suit all abilities! 

To coincide with the Farndale daffodil season and then through the Summer, the Moorsbus runs through some of the most scenic places of interest; you can drop off at any point on the route and pick it up at any point, giving you the freedom to choose your walks or simply to sightsee. 

GILLAMOOR – (1 mile) well worth a visit if only for the spectacular view from the bank top near St. Aidan's church; this is the famous Surprise View which is featured on many calendars and magazine publications, and which gave its name to the cottages, - Lowna is the focal point of the view. 

HUTTON-LE-HOLE (1 mile) one of the most picturesque villages in North Yorkshire, with manicured greens kept in trim by the local moor sheep!  It has the fine Ryedale Folk Museum which has won the Museum of the Year award in the 90's, and is about to embark on a large building programme to house the  magnificent Harrison collection. 

HELMSLEY is about 8 miles away and boasts an English Heritage Castle, a Stately Home, Duncombe Park, an open-air swimming pool, (open during the Summer) a thriving Arts centre and a lot of very good hotels, eating places and shops of distinction. 

KIRKBYMOORSIDE is the nearest market town and it has a good mix of smaller shops - most importantly a newsagents,- and two grocery and general stores which open early and stay open until quite late.  It has a golf course, squash courts, bowling greens, tennis courts and a good children's play area. 

MALTON is the administrative centre of the Ryedale area. It has a Roman museum in the centre of the town and also a very good Second World War theme museum, Eden Camp, which is just outside the town on the Malton to Pickering road.  It still has a weekly cattle market on a Tuesday and it also has your nearest mainline railway station with connections to York and Scarborough.  It is separated from its linked town of Norton only by the River Derwent. 

PICKERING is a short distance away and is well worth a visit.  It has an English Heritage Castle, a church with medieval murals, and the North Yorkshire Moors Steam Railway which runs a comprehensive service during the Summer, now linking up to Whitby, and a more limited service right through the year at weekends and during school holidays. There is a fun fishing lake, a swimming pool, the Northern Ryedale Leisure centre and children's fun factory and it also has a supermarket! 

FURTHER AFIELD  there are numerous excursions and visits which might take up the best part of a day.

CASTLE HOWARD with its beautiful lake and garden setting and a magnificent interior is a 'must see'. It also has an excellent Garden Centre.

DALBY FOREST offers a host of activities from walking, climbing, cycling on it's award-winning mountain bike trails which cater for all abilities, or just soaking up the living, breathing, forest.

FLAMINGOLAND for the young at heart offers a mix of small zoo and large theme park.  It has become one of the major attractions in the area, and is to be found in the village of Kirbymisperton, just South of Pickering.

SCARBOROUGH, WHITBY, FILEY and BRIDLINGTON are all seaside resorts within striking distance and each has its own character and attractions. 

YORK is a must with its wonderful Minster, city walls, riverside walks and Olde Worlde charm. It has theatres, excellent museums, art galleries, historic buildings on every street and many boutiqe and  specialist shops.  It is also home to the National Rail Museum.

There are now several major shopping areas around the city.  The shopping centre at Monks Cross also has a water feature and karting track.  The shopping area at Clifton Moor features a Vue Cinema multiplex and also a bowling rink, and there is a Designer Outlet Centre to the South West of the city.

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