Fun facts about Yorkshire
North York Moors Railway
I’m writing this blog post on Yorkshire Day, our annual celebration of all things Yorkshire. Although to be fair, anyone born in Yorkshire doesn’t really need an annual event to do that!
Yorkshire folk are fiercely proud of their heritage. And rightly so! We have breathtaking countryside, historical visitor attractions, and wonderful traditions.
Where is Yorkshire?
Yorkshire is in the north of England, between the Pennines and the North Sea. It’s the largest county in the UK, spanning 2.9 million acres. But it’s also split into four smaller counties:
North Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The region has eight cities (Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield, Sheffield, Doncaster, Kingston upon Hull, Ripon, and York). Whilst there’s a central built up area, it’s also has stunning natural and remote beauty, with three National Parks:
The Yorkshire Dales National Park famous for limestone scenery, drystone walls, and beautiful dales (valleys).
The North York Moors National Park mostly upland areas with heather moorland, but also including 26 miles of coastline.
The Peak District National Park often thought of as starting in Derbyshire, the gritstone moorland of the Dark Peak reaches into Yorkshire.
Read more: 15 adventures in the UK’s National Parks
Fascinating things about Yorkshire
A few years ago, I shared some thoughts on what’s so great about Yorkshire. The post included fab places to visit, so I thought I’d go a little quirkier this time with a handful of strange and interesting facts about Yorkshire.
1. Yorkshire has contentious county boundaries
In 1974, the UK’s county boundaries were shuffled around. Until then, Yorkshire had been split into the North, West, and East Ridings. The new changes caused upset for people living in areas taken out of Yorkshire.
Saddleworth moved from being in the West Riding of Yorkshire to Greater Manchester. Even now, 50 years later, some local residents claim to be part of Yorkshire. Traces of Yorkshire identity can be found on house signs and the ‘Welcome to Saddleworth’ sign which has a white rose and reference to it being in the historic county of York.
Hull and Beverley were also taken out of Yorkshire, becoming part of Humberside overnight. Beverley protested in 1975 with Yorkshire Day celebrations. Humberside was finally abolished in 1996 and the two towns are now in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
Outside The Deep, Hull at the start of the Hull to Hornsea rail trail
2. The highest pub in Britain is in Yorkshire
If you were looking for the highest pub in the UK, you’d be forgiven for concentrating on the Lake District or Scottish Highlands. But, it’s actually in Yorkshire.
Built in the 17th century, the Tan Hill Inn is 1,732 feet above sea level, on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It was an important stopping off point for drovers and the highwayman, Dick Turpin, was said to have used it as a place to lie low.
The pub is roughly on the halfway point of the Pennine Way (incidentally Britain’s longest non-coastal path) and is completely off-grid.
Image from the Tan Hill Inn website
3. The Yorkshire coastline includes protected conservation areas
The Yorkshire coast stretches over 90 miles from Staithes to Spurn Point. It includes popular seaside resorts such as Scarborough, Filey, and Whitby. But there are also smaller coastal villages, once home to smugglers.
Bempton cliffs are an RSPB reserve, with walks along the top and viewing points to watch puffins, gannets, and other seabirds. Further around the headland is Flamborough Head, recognised internationally as a Special Area of Conservation and Special Protection Area.
You can also visit Spurn Point National Nature Reserve. It’s a peninsula curving between the North Sea and Humber Estuary, three miles long but only 50 metres wide at points. It has a washover section of sand, covered by water at high tide and dangerous to pass until the water has gone.
Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire
4. Yorkshire is home to the world-famous Yorkshire Pudding
Yorkshire pudding is made from a batter of flour, eggs, and milk. It’s cooked in the oven, usually in individual portions and served with a roast dinner. But, depending on your heritage (and which part of Yorkshire you’re from) it can be eaten in different ways. Some have it as a starter, with just gravy poured over, before the main meal.
Historically, Yorkshire pudding was made using the fat from a dripping pan while the joint roasted. The first recorded recipe dates back to 1737. When meat was expensive, and times hard, it was a filler before the main course. And, because it’s the same ingredients as a pancake, leftover batter could be made into a desert.
Yorkshire cuisine also has a refined side too, with eight Michelin star restaurants in 2024. And don’t forget our famous Wensleydale cheese.
Gluten free Yorkshire Puddings
5. We have weird and wonderful traditions in Yorkshire
There’s hidden folklore around Yorkshire, from hobgoblins, to fairies and giants. The county also has lots of folk festivals, and agricultural shows throughout the year. Here are a few more quirky traditions.
On Ilka Moor Baht’at: Translated as ‘On Ilkley Moor without a hat’, it’s Yorkshire’s unofficial anthem and tells the story of a lover courting Mary Jane and catching his death of cold because he’s not wearing a hat.
Kettlewell scarecrow festival: The event began in 1994 and is one of the better known scarecrow festivals in the region, with residents coming up with amazing creations for visitors to see as the wander around the village.
The World Coal Carrying Championship: Started in 1963, when two local coal merchants settled a pub argument over who was fittest by running a mile with a sack of coal over their shoulders.
The Yorkshire Pudding Boat Race: Dating back to 1999, the race involves baking giant Yorkshire puddings, coating them in varnish, then steering them down the river.
The Great Knaresborough Bed Race: The event is part fancy dress, part pageant, and a 2.4 mile run, before ending with a swim in the River Nidd.
The Ripon Hornblower: At 9pm, every night, a horn is blown at each of Ripon Market’s four corners, and outside the Mayor’s house to set the ‘watch’. The tradition dates back to 886AD!
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival
What about the wild and remote parts of Yorkshire?
It’ll come as no surprise to read that the rural corners of Yorkshire are my favourite. Whether it’s the limestone dales to the north, the heather moorland and coastline to the east, or the wild and remote moors to the south.
Each have their own beauty, each matching different moods.
I grew up in the picturesque Yorkshire Dales with its limestone crags, drystone walls, and green fields. I missed them desperately when I moved away, and it took me a long time to appreciate the darker, wild moors on my new doorstep.
But a summer spent walking them to write an updated version of the AA’s 50 Walks in the Peak District helped me understand them better. Then, during the pandemic, we spent our time roaming the unspoiled places closer to home. Now, I love this rugged and isolated expanse of peat bogs!
Many of the posts you’ll find on this website are about adventures in Yorkshire. Go to the Outdoor Adventure section and type ‘Yorkshire’ into the search box to find them.
You may also be interested in reading:
10 of the best outdoor activities in Yorkshire
What are the Peak District Ethels?
Cycling the Hull to Hornsea rail trail
Walking in Alston and the Cumbrian North Pennines
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Outdoor-Girl is run by Jacquie Budd, an outdoor adventure and marketing content writer for brands that care about their impact on people and the planet.