The key characteristics of the Vale of York are:

28. Vale of York

The key characteristics of the Vale of York are:

• Low lying, generally flat or gently undulating land, crossed by obvious ridges formed by the York and Escrick glacial moraines.

• Underlain by glacial deposits resting on Triassic sandstone and mudstone and Lower Jurassic mudstone to the east.

• Floodplains of several major rivers notably the Ouse, the Derwent and the Wharfe, but also the Ure, Nidd and Foss.

• Washland and hay meadows in the river floodplains.

• Medium to large sized open fields intensively cultivated for arable crops, but with some dairy farming.

• Low, flailed, intermittent hedges forming field boundaries with sparse, scattered hedgerow trees.

• Scattered small woods, with more extensive conifer plantations on sandy soils, together creating an impression of wooded farmland in some areas.

• Remnants of heathland commons on sandy soils.

• Distinctive character of settlements, especially the linear villages with buildings set back behind wide grass verges.

• Distinctive mottled brick used in buildings, combined with pantile roofs.

• Scattered, large, brick built farmsteads.

• Focus on City of York with roads radiating from the city and York Minster providing a focal point visible in views from the surrounding area.

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.