The best way to spend a day in Pickering in North Yorkshire

Pickering (Image: Getty)

MORNING

Shameless plug here but I can’t think of a better way to start the day than with the tantalising waft of freshly baked sourdough at Cawthorne House as a full Yorkshire breakfast is served which includes thick sausages from a recipe that Liz, the family butcher at RC Hanns, says: ‘She’ll take to her grave’.

Then take a short walk up Smiddy Hill to venture into St Peter and St Paul’s Church where one of the country’s most complete set of medieval wall paintings can be admired.

At the top of the Market Place, turn right down Birdgate, towards the motte-and-bailey castle. Walk round the moat’s perimeter to the bottom right-hand corner and pick up a path that leads into woodlands belonging to the Duchy Estate. From here you can head either towards the fabulous community park, aptly named Woodlands, or meander gradually down towards Newbridge and Chris Timm’s farm on the Duchy Estate.

Walking back down the road towards Pickering, parallel to the steam railway line, pop into the magnificently restored station on this heritage line.

AFTERNOON

Head back towards the Market Place and notice how Pickering seems to have a ‘bubble of warmth from yesteryear’ with its nostalgic features and independent businesses.

Step into Feast, a lovely café, and make a beeline for the sofa before ordering one of their continental teas and coffees, together with a piece of cake.

Afterwards walk down to Beck Isle Museum, a treasure trove of social history and culture run by an army of enthusiastic volunteers. Here you’ll be able to watch the old forge in action and discover a myriad of trinkets and interesting artefacts denoting Pickering’s rich history including the town’s fame for watercress production. You might even get to have a go on the printing press.

EVENING

Walk up Westgate to the Sun Inn, which has won numerous accolades including CAMRA’s rural real ale pub of the year. This is a good locals’ pub which prides itself on serving fine ales and a good selection of gin and tonics.

Having enjoyed a pre-dinner drink, then you’re going to have to decide where to go for a meal.

It’s a hard decision but I’d recommend a fish pie at Capplemans, loin of lamb at The White Swan, sausage and mash at The Black Swan or seafood linguine at Figaro’s.

Cawthorne House Pickering, the boutique guesthouse run by Pascal and Sarah. (Image: David Mackinnon.co.uk)

DON’T MISS IN 2026

Pickering Rocks
The annual community, and family-friendly, music festival in the town.
Saturday, September 12

Artisan markets
Bramble Berry and This Little Piggy markets return to Pickering in March, including at Beck Isle.

The Pixie Trail
The latest town trail for visitors to find the historic landmarks and stories associated with the town and its residents. An app accessed via Discover North Yorkshire gives a bite-size history accompanied by old photos, of spots like the 1793 Quaker Meeting House and Garden; the Corner Shop, or the English Chemist and Druggist shop where sheep dip was once on sale. Discover North Yorkshire – Apps on Google Play.

Pike and Ring Plinth
The stone plinth was carved by a local resident back in the 1970s and was salvaged by the Community Interest Company from one of the town’s fish and chip shops. It’s now on The Ropery Bridge and represents the legend of how Pickering got its name: Local legend says that the town was founded and named in around 270 BC by King Peredurus. One day, the King lost his ring, and accused a young woman of stealing it. However, later that day, the same ring was found inside a pike that was caught for his dinner in Costa Beck. The town got the name Pike-ring – an image of which is featured in the town’s coat of arms to this day.

Volunteering
Whether it’s leading the Mindful Mile Saturday sociable run, making tea for the stall holders in the artisan markets; helping manage the traffic during public events; or knitting the latest yarnbombing display, purple-tabard wearing volunteers are often seen around the town, and are crucial to the town’s strong sense of community.

Streets ahead
Pickering has reinstated its blue heritage street signs and is recreating traditional shop fronts that hark back to a nostalgic era when town centres were a hub for the local community.