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25. North Yorkshire Moors and Cleveland Hills
• Upland plateau landscape underlain mainly by sandstone and mudstone of Middle Jurassic age, and in the south, calcareous sandstone and limestone of Upper Jurassic age, with areas of undulating land arising from deposits of glacial till, sand and gravel.
• Plateaux dissected by a series of dales, often broad and sweeping, but with steep-sided river valleys in places, and floored by Lower Jurassic shales.
• Extensive areas of heather moorland on plateaux and hills, creating a sense of space, expansiveness and openness.
• Arable landscape to south and east, but part still on elevated, sweeping plateaux and hills.
• Sparsely settled, with population concentrated in the dales and around the fringes.
• Valley landscapes characterised by predominantly pastoral farming with clear demarcation between the enclosed fields, farms, settlements and the moorland ridges above. The transition is often marked by bracken fringes.
• Panoramic views over moorland ridges, dales, surrounding lowland vales and the sea.
• Extensive areas of coniferous plantations, especially on the Tabular Hills in the south-east and Hackness north of Pickering; with remnant areas of predominantly ancient semi-natural woodland occurring mainly on valley side slopes, on escarpments and fringing hills.
• Traditional stone walls and hedgerows enclosing fields in the dales and lower fringing farmland - now often replaced by fences.
• Farms and villages built of predominantly rubble limestone or dressed sandstone, with red pantile or slate roofs.
• Distinctive and dramatic coastal landscapes with high cliffs, small coves and bays, coastal towns and fishing villages.
• Rich archaeological heritage from many different periods, especially on the high moorland plateaux.
For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.
