Pickering, a Perfect Place to Visit!

A rare Saturday off meant I could to visit Pickering, North Yorkshire.

It is one of Ryedale’s prettiest market towns with an incredible history.

With a lovely high street crammed with shops, cafes and pubs, Pickering is also the location for a splendid motte and bailey castle.

The town is host to one of the busiest of North Yorkshire Moors Railway’s stations, a historic church and the wonderful Beck Isle Museum.

I was blessed with the weather as the sun shone on a perfect April day.

My first visit was to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

This is one of the country’s finest heritage railways.

Back in the day, I had the honour of working on the dining trains in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

So when I see the steam locomotives and the carriages they pull, they bring with them a flood of memories of hard work and good times.

Pickering Station is fantastic, and I timed my visit just right as a locomotive was just pulling into view.

It is a real treat to see the sights, hear the sounds and experience the smells of a steam train.

A meal was being served in the carriages, too.

The clatter of plates, the chink of glasses and the clunk of the cutlery brought those memories rushing back.

A wander up and down the platform reveals lots of lovingly-restored details which are a joy to anyone who visits.

Next on the list was a return visit to the Church of St Peter and St Paul.

This parish church towers over the high street and its history dates back to Saxon times.

There are some fabulous stained glass windows as well as examples of the best preserved frescos I’ve ever seen.

The frescos, which are clearly visible on the upper walls of the church, date from the Medieval period.

They were covered up during the Reformation, to be revealed once again in the 1870s.

If you love Medieval history, then you’ll love the Bruce Effigy, a stone carving of a local knight which dates back to around 1344.

The churchyard is also worth a wander around and is obviously lovingly cared-for.

There is also an intriguing tree house sitting in the crook of some branches in one of the trees.

As the sun shone brightly, I walked towards Pickering Castle.

I have visited it before but didn’t venture within its walls on this occasion.

It’s a motte and bailey castle, and the stone version of the building was the location for the imprisonment of King Richard II in 1399.

Then it was time to visit Beck Isle Museum

This is heritage location that I’ve long wanted to visit.

And I wasn’t disappointed!

For a modest entrance fee, your ticket (valid for 12 months) provides access to a stunning collection of historical artefacts and social history.

It is also much bigger than it seems so be prepared to spend some time exploring if you decide to visit.

Highlights include a fully-equipped barber’s shop, a chemists, a sweet shop, and some rather scary-looking agricultural equipment!

Other joys were the toys on display, some of which I remember playing with when I was a kid!

The staff on duty were fab, and clearly enjoyed what they do.

It was very uplifting to see this and I’m guessing they were also volunteers, which makes it even more amazing.

One of my interests is heritage clothing and accessories.

At Beck Isle, there is an extensive array of exhibits featuring women and men’s attire.

In addition there is an impressive collection of umbrellas and parasols and a wonderful array of fans.

As the spring weather was wonderful, I wandered along by the river which cuts through the town. There are several bridges in the town too.

Having a Saturday off work for me is a very rare thing and I am so glad I was lucky enough to visit Pickering on such a lovely, sunny day.