East of York - the Wolds and the Yorkshire Coast
The Wolds, a few miles East of York, are smooth, rounded chalk hills, rarely more than 600 feet high. The natural vegetation, wiry grass and gorse, is confined mainly to the numerous dry valleys. The flat hill tops are cultivated, mainly owned by large farming families, such as the Sykes of Sledmere House.

There are a number of scattered villages, such as Rudston (large Neolithic standing stone), Burton Agnes, Fridaythorpe and the unforgettably-named Wetwang. Wharram Percy is a village abandoned 500 years ago, and whose remains can be viewed.

Driffield, on the York - Bridlington road, is a market town in the middle of the Wolds.

Beverley, nearer Hull, has a fine 13th century Minster and one surviving medieval Town Gate.

The Yorkshire coast, one of the finest in England, stretches from Hornsea in the South to Whitby in the North. The finest cliff scenery is between Bridlington and Filey, where the chalk cliffs rise 300 feet out of the sea; Bempton Cliffs on this stretch, supports one of the largest sea bird breeding colonies in Britain. Traditional seaside towns include Hornsea (with its 2-mile long freshwater Mere), Bridlington, Filey, Scarborough (which can be reached by train from York) and Whitby, a once-thriving fishing town with a beautiful harbour overlooked by the ruins of St. Hilda's Abbey. The last two are well worth a visit, whilst at Filey, the sight and sound of the breakers roaring thunderously on the jutting-out Filey Brigg can be spectacular.