Posts Tagged ‘north yorkshire moors’

20-22 May: Mountain Bike World Cup, Dalby Forest

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011 by RichFox
Mountain Biking World Cup at Dalby Forest

Mountain Biking World Cup at Dalby Forest

Friday 20 May – Sunday 22 May

Mountain biking is really in vogue at the moment (and not just amongst the MAMILS*), so if it’s your thing, you simply must head to Pickering over the weekend of the 20-22 May to see the Mountain Bike World Cup.

It’s a superb opportunity to see some of the world’s top riders in action ahead of next year’s London 2012 Olympics.

Top British riders expect to compete include Liam Killeen and Annie Last.

It promises to be a weekend of top-class riding, with the UK leg of the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) Mountain Bike World Cup taking place on the Sunday at Dalby Forest, plus the free-to-watch Pro Sprint Eliminator (an urban street race) on the Friday in Pickering.

Celebrations at the Mountain Biking World Cup

Celebrations at the Mountain Biking World Cup

What’s more, the official Mountain Bike World Cup course is open to members of the public for the “Dalby Dare” on the Saturday. Family and friends can watch and cheer on participants as they ride under race conditions the 6km official World Cup course before tackling a further 14km of some of Dalby’s first-class trails.

For kids there is the Go Ride Racing on Sunday morning with young club riders racing a 1km track which incorporates the start and finish lines of the World Cup course. And children who have never competed before can take part in entry-level racing free of charge in the World Cup Village (in the Go-Ride Racing programme organised by British Cycling, or they can enter Dixons Dare).

And in addition to watching or taking part in the races, you will also have the opportunity to watch technical teams at work and bike demos whilst enjoying the atmosphere in the World Cup Village and mingling with the star riders at this top-class sporting event.

Tickets are available at the event and are £14 for adults for the World Cup racing, whilst there are discounts for children plus weekend/family passes available.

Further details can be found on the Mountain Biking World Cup website here.

And for Pickering accommodation for the weekend, check out some great Pickering bed and breakfast properties on Hello Yorkshire.

If you’d liked this, you might like to read about the possibility of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire.

*MAMILS – middle-aged men in lycra!

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Posted in North Yorkshire Events, North Yorkshire Moors Events, Pickering Events, Yorkshire Events | No Comments »

The Chocolate Factory in the North York Moors

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 by chrisjones
Chocolate Factory

Chocolate anyone?

When a pair of North Yorkshire brothers read that Britons top the world for eating chocolate in 2002, an acorn (or rather, a cocoa bean) of an idea was sown. That idea rapidly grew into reality when they opened a chocolate-making business in the kitchen of their parents’ home, using a standard bain-marie as found in many a kitchen to melt the chocolate. Although it was very much home-based, the brothers, Gareth and Chris East, decided to call their company the Chocolate Factory. It is now a thriving family business in the North York Moors.

Stars & Bars

Creating a successful business depends on many factors – having the right idea at the right time, having a product that sells, being prepared to work very hard, having a vision, having the necessary marketing skills, and having the skill to recognise when an opportunity has arisen and seizing the day. It needs a star or two, and Gareth and Chris had just the right blend of skills to make their dream a reality; their hand-made Belgian chocolate products have not just filled a niche waiting to be filled, but added to the demand for the highest quality chocolates and chocolate bars. In fact, demand has been so great that they have moved on from their humble beginnings to owning two shops – one in Thornton Le Dale and one in Hutton Le Hole where they also have their factory.

The Finest Ingredients

Belgian chocolate is prized the world over and the Chocolate Factory imports around 8 tonnes of the finest each year, moulds it and adds the necessary ingredients for a range of delicious fresh chocolates and flavoured chocolate bars – in milk, white and dark. The Chocolate Factory also produces a range of hand-made chocolate figurines, and produces one-off designs for occasions such as when Royal Ascot was held at York Racecourse.

All the highly acclaimed chocolate products from the Chocolate Factory are gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. Only fresh ingredients are used, and there are no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives – it’s no wonder they taste so scrummy.

The Chocolate Factory believe that just because you’re diabetic doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enjoy a treat from time to time, and their range of diabetic chocolates (made with Sorbitol and no sugar) is highly tempting – milk, plain or white chocolate praline, strawberry truffle or coffee cream – both in dark chocolate, white chocolate vanilla cream, and Amaretto or Cointreau liqueur truffles. Mmm!

Visiting the Chocolate Factory

Visitors are welcome to see for themselves how the Chocolate Factory’s delicious products are made at the Hutton Le Hole factory, but please bear in mind that production schedules vary so chocolates won’t necessarily be in the process of being made when you visit.

You can find out about opening times and much more if you visit Gareth and Chris’s website: the Chocolate Factory.

And if you’re after accommodation in the North York Moors including North York Moors holiday cottages and North York Moors bed and breakfasts, take a look at the properties on Hello Yorkshire.

Other articles on food you may like:

Best fish and chip shop in the UK – award winning chippy in Bridlington

Yorkshire forced rhubarb – Yorkshire’s rhubarb triangle is legendary

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Posted in Visitor Reviews, Yorkshire Ramblings | 2 Comments »

15-17 October 2010: Railway in Wartime weekend

Saturday, June 12th, 2010 by chrisjones

This is an incredibly popular event (and growing in popularity each year) organised primarily by the North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NMYR) and takes place in Pickering and the villages (Levisham, Goathland, and Grosmont) on the rail line to Whitby. Although originally based on the railway stations, it has, over the years, spread out across the towns and villages and involves a large proportion of the local population, as well as thousands of visitors (many in period costume) who come along to join in the many and varied events that take part over the weekend.

The basis of the Railway in Wartime Weekend is that Britain’s railways and the staff that ran them played a vital part in the Allied victory in World War 2. To celebrate this contribution to the war effort and to commemorate those staff who died in service the North Yorkshire Moors Railway set aside one weekend a year in which they turn the clock back to those days when fair Albion had its back again the wall. The NMYR decorates it stations in WW2 style, station names are covered up (spies are everywhere!) station windows are taped-up (to minimise flying glass), sandbags line entrances and exits (to absorb shrapnel), and propaganda posters adorn the walls (to boost morale and encourage everyone to do their duty). To complete the picture the Railway’s staff wear appropriate uniform for the duration.

Many of the local populace join in and also dress in period civvies or in the uniforms of our valiant armed forces, and there are dances (organised by ENSA*, naturally), parades and marches. Participants also have to be aware that air-raids can occur at any time and must be prepared to take precautions – so always wear your gas-mask!

If you visit any of the participating towns and villages, you’ll find lots of men and women in military uniforms – and you’ll need to be aware that you might be challenged by a German paratrooper (they have been known to invade Pickering before now). There are always displays of military equipment – from hand guns to tanks – flags, and insignia, etc.

And, of course, you can really get a feel for it all by boarding one of the steam trains that journey back and forth on the line that day.

The weekend serves many functions – it’s an excuse to dress up, it’s a chance to relive recent history (a time for grandparents to share their or their parents’ experiences of wartime Britain), it’s a commemoration (a wreath is laid in tribute to railway workers who died during wartime service, but it’s also huge fun and a treat for all the family.

*Not really, as ENSA – Entertainments National Service Association – no longer exists, but they are in the style of ENSA concerts and dances.

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Posted in North Yorkshire Events, North Yorkshire Moors Events, Pickering Events | No Comments »

Yorkshire Walks

Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 by chrisjones

Frank Firth is a keen walker and avid admirer of the Yorkshire countryside, who has built a delightful and incredibly useful website [www.yorkshirewalks.org], which features hundreds of walks in Yorkshire and beyond.

The walks are graded by length – 1boot, 2boot and 3boot – and each category has a selection of walks covering differing levels of strenuousness.

The site lists walks in the Yorkshire Moors, the Yorkshire Dales, other parts of Yorkshire, plus quite a number outside the county (even straying as far as France and New Zealand).

Frank provides photos and a written commentary on each walk, to relate his findings and guide you through the walk.

Yorkshire Walks has a very active Twitter page [http://twitter.com/yorkshirewalks] where those who share his joy of walking in Yorkshire can keep in touch with him and fellow walkers.

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30 April-16 May: North Yorkshire Moors Railway Spring Steam Gala

Friday, April 2nd, 2010 by Hello Yorkshire
NYMR spring steam gala

See Sir Nigel Gresley and many other steam locomotives at the North Yorkshire Moors Railway spring steam gala

Dubbed ‘The Giant Gala of Giants’, this triple celebration is set to be the largest NYMR gala to date. Spread over 3 weekends (30th April-3rd May , 7-9th May and 15-16th May), North Yorkshire Moors Railway will be staging a variety of theme days and special events.

Highlights include demonstrations of bridge load testing on the newly opened Bridge 30, working freight trains and shunting demonstrations, and recreations of the holiday trains of the 1950s and 60s.

A great day out for all the family. Take a ride on a steam locomotive, enjoy the stunning scenery of the National Park, and explore the pretty villages and towns of the North Yorkshire Moors en route. There will be plenty of opportunities to get some great photos and see these fantistic machines in action.

Visiting engines will include King Edward I (6024), Bittern (60019), 1744, 44871, The Lancashire Fusilier (45407), and resident engines Eric Treacy (45428), 76079, 53809, 49395, 63395, 825, Repton (30926) and the famous Sir Nigel Gresley (60007).

Prices from Pickering:

Adult Child Concession Family (2 adults + up to 4 children)
To Grosmont £20 £10 £16 £41
To Whitby £25 £12.50 £20 £54
To Battersby £30 £15 £25 £64

£5 discount per ticket available for second visits during the Gala (excludes multi day rovers)

Why not rent a North Yorkshire Moors cottage and explore this beautiful part of Yorkshire, or take a short break in a North Yorkshire Moors B&B. You’ll find a wide range of accommodation in the North Yorkshire Moors for a weekend breaks, or longer stays.

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Posted in North Yorkshire Moors Events, Whitby Events | No Comments »

23-25 April: Worlds Best Dirty Weekend at Dalby Forest

Thursday, April 1st, 2010 by RichFox

If you’re into mountain bikes, Dalby Forest is the place to head for this weekend (and every weekend!).

Boasting some of the best mountain bike courses in Yorkshire, for beginners through to experts, it’s long been a popular place  for many of my cycling mates to head to.

But this weekend will be extra special as Dalby’s hosting the opening round of the UCI Mountain Bike Cross-Country World Cup – dubbed the ‘world’s best dirty weekend’.

Not only can you watch the men and women’s races, plus a junior race, but if you’ve the stomach for it, you can take part in the Dalby Dare and test the world cup course out for yourself.

Up-to-date news on the event can be found here and for accommodation in the area, check out Pickering hotels or North Yorkshire Moors guest houses

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27-28 March: North Yorkshire Moors Railway: Grand Bridge Re-opening Weekend

Thursday, March 4th, 2010 by RichFox

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway has been in danger of closure in recent months, but thanks to the NYMR Bridge and Wheels Appeal, over £660,000 has been raised to save the railway.

Originally built to successfully stem the decline of the port of Whitby in the early 1830s, the NYMR now generates around £30m per annum for the local ecomony and is a very popular tourist attraction.

However, in order to keep the railway running, one of the NYMR’s bridges – Bridge 30 between Goathland and Grosmont – needed to be replaced. Unlike the other bridges which are made of stone, Bridge 30 was constructed from cast iron over 140 years ago. Having reached the end of its life, replacement during the close season was required so as to minimise the effect on the tourist season.

Work is now well under way, and at the end of March the bridge will be reopened. For more information about the event, visit the NYMR website at www.nymr.co.uk, and find North Yorkshire Moors accommodation here.

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Posted in North Yorkshire Moors Events | 1 Comment »