Pickering is the southern gateway to the North York Moors — a solid market town with a Norman castle, a priory and the famous North Yorkshire Moors Railway, which steams north into the heart of the national park. The Tabular Hills stretch away to the north, and the dramatic valley of Newton Dale is just a short walk from the town.

A well-served, characterful market town with good accommodation and direct rail connections into the national park, Pickering is an excellent base for the southern and central North York Moors, particularly for those who want to combine walking with a steam train journey.