Nestled in the North-Western corner of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park is the village of Swainby and the beautiful Swainby Country Park. With a population of less than 2,000, Swainby is an area of tranquility in the heart of Yorkshire.
Whorlton Castle
The fascinating abandoned ruins of Whorlton Castle and the village of Whorlton lay nearby. A listed building that is privately owned, you can still visit Whorlton Castle, which was built in the 12th century. With it’s unusual Norman motte-and-bailey, it is worth visiting while you still can: English Heritage and other such preservation organisations are fighting to preserve the site as it is currently open to the elements and is falling into disrepair. Whorlton Castle is currently on the English Heritage At Risk Register, so may not be available for the public to visit for long. Take advantage while you still can!
A walk around the village of Swainby makes for a picturesque experience – and a typically Yorkshire one at that. Surrounded by Yorkshire dry stone walls (made up of dry stones with no mortar binding them), hills, sheep, heather and moorland, it makes for charming scenery that wouldn’t be out of place on a postcard.
Eating Out
The village High Street plays host to two local pubs and a café. The Black Horse is family-run, and all of its food is locally sourced. The Blacksmith’s Arms is larger, and boasts a dish unique to the UK: steak on a stone! If you’re after something less heavy to eat, the Rusty Bike Café serve lighter bites and cakes alongside tea and coffee. There’s something for everyone!
If locally sourced food is your forte, nearby is The Belted Bull at Lordstones and the Blackwell Ox Inn at Carlton-In-Cleveland.
Roseberry Topping
As if that wasn’t enough for you to do, Swainby Country Park is within walking distance of Roseberry Topping. A very distinctive hill within the national park that is often compared to the Matterhorn in Switzerland, it stands at 1,049ft tall and from the top offers unrivalled views across Eston Nab monument, a look-out tower built during the Napoleonic Wars, and Captain Cook’s monument at Easby Moor. The National Trust offer a short but challenging walk to the top followed by a wander through Newton Wood thereafter. The route is dog-friendly and takes around an hour.
Of course, the Country Park itself is situated within the North Yorkshire Moors protected area and there are innumerable walks and trips to take around the national park itself. Look online for excursions of all levels and lengths! Swainby Country Park is beautifully landscaped and set in such stunning scenery that you may choose just to relax in the park itself.
If you would love your own Holiday Home within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, view our Caravans For Sale at Swainby. You can also follow Swainby Country Park on Facebook by clicking this link: www.facebook.com/swainbycountrypark
The Maguire Family.
