Outstanding natural beauty beyond the National Parks
The rolling hills run from a northern-eastern boundary with the North York Moors National Park to the south-eastern edge where the landscape merges into that of the Yorkshire Wolds.
Although there are no large centres of population within the area, there are many small villages and hamlets. The towns of Malton, Helmsley and Easingwold lie just outside.
The hills are characterised by a melange of farmland, woodland and country house parkland, most notably the grade I listed landscape of Castle Howard, one of Britain's finest stately homes. The area also has historic churches and priories.
The area was defined as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1987. Since November 2023 the area has been renamed a National Landscape like other areas across the country previously called Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Villages
Just outside are:
Visiting by train
The railway between York and Scarborough passes through the Howardian Hills National Landscape alongside the River Derwent through the picturesque Kirkham Gorge. The nearest railway station is at Malton, just under two miles outside the edge of the area.
Visiting by bus
The Coastliner East Yorkshire service
There are also other less-frequent services reaching some of the villages within the Howardian Hills, running from York, Malton, Easingwold and Helmsley.
Other websites
Howardian Hills National Landscape Howardian Hills — National Landscape website
Also in Yorkshire.guide