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Situated among the hills, dales, and moors of Yorkshire and another example of the breathtaking natural beauty that the county has to offer

Situated among the hills, dales, and moors of Yorkshire, lies the Vale of York, another example of the breathtaking natural beauty that the county has to offer. The mainly flat, fertile land is covered in trees, grass, and farmers' crops.

Open farmland in the Vale of York
Photo Jeremy Howat
This is an important agricultural area of the English north, and so it makes sense that the Vale's biggest town, Easingwold, has become known for its food. It features several cafes and delicatessens that rank among the country's best, according to experts from various newspapers. The nearby village of Crayke has received similar plaudits for its pub "The Durham Ox", which is regularly rated as the best in Yorkshire!
Elsewhere in the Vale, there is an abundance of small, friendly settlements. The village of Wheldrake, for instance, is a good example of the building style that is common to the area. It features a row of attractive houses, built using differently shaded pink bricks to create a beautiful patchwork effect. Wheldrake also has Tudor cottages, built with the traditional black and white exterior.
Some villages in the Vale of York are home to larger buildings, such as the 900-year-old church in Sheriff Hutton. Just nearby are the ruined remains of a 14th-century castle, which would have towered over the houses and people of the village.
The presence of such old structures isn't unusual here. People have been living in this area of land for many thousands of years, as can be seen by the ancient monuments that appear throughout the landscape. The most famous example is a line of three standing stones, known as the "Devil's Arrows". The tallest of these rocks measures nearly seven metres, making it the second-largest in the United Kingdom.
Since that prehistoric time, the villages and towns of the Vale have taken part in many major historical events. The Romans came here, to construct walls and buildings. Today, this can best be seen at Aldborough, which has a Roman villa with intricate mosaic flooring. Further on in British history, during the Civil War, the nearby Marston Moor was the site of the largest and bloodiest battle of the entire conflict.
Luckily, things are a lot calmer now. The entire area is a lush, quiet place, where fishermen while away the hours on the banks of the serene rivers. Gliders take off from the nearby hills of the Yorkshire Dales, and float silently overhead. Cyclists roll by, taking their time on the country lanes and trails. Wherever you look, in the Vale of York, people seem to be more relaxed than anywhere else in the country.

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