Northallerton

Market day brings this North Yorkshire county town to life, though Tuesday sees the old cobbles crowded with farmers and families browsing the stalls that have traded here for centuries. Northallerton feels properly Yorkshire - no-nonsense shops line the high street, and the Georgian architecture speaks of agricultural prosperity rather than tourist polish.

The town sits in the Vale of Mowbray, surrounded by the rolling Hambleton Hills that rise dramatically to the west. Black Hambleton and Hemmel Hill offer cracking views across the vale, while Ruebury provides a proper walk for those wanting to stretch their legs. These aren't Lake District peaks, but they're well worth the climb on a clear day.

Bayonet Brewing has put the town on the craft beer map, and their taproom draws visitors from across the Dales. Meanwhile, Thimbleby Hall and Snilesworth Lodge remind you that this was once serious landed gentry territory. The Madonna of the Cross gallery offers a cultural surprise in what's essentially a farming town.

Woodland walks abound in the surrounding countryside. Burnthouse Wood and Big Wood provide shaded rambles, while the reservoirs at Oak Dale and Cod Beck attract anglers and birdwatchers alike. It's quintessential North Yorkshire countryside - green, peaceful, and genuinely unspoilt.

Northallerton makes an excellent base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors, sitting roughly equidistant between both. The A1 runs nearby, making it accessible from most of the country, while staying at one of the holiday parks around town puts you within easy reach of Thirsk, Richmond, and the Dales proper. Perfect for those who prefer their Yorkshire unvarnished.