Thirsk is an ideal touring centre with excellent road access:

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• west to the Yorkshire Dales National Park, particularly to Richmond and Swaledale, Wensleydale, Ripon, Harrogate, Knaresborough and Nidderdale - all comfortably within an hours drive.
   

• east to the North York Moors National Park, with numerous beautiful villages, castles, abbeys and attractive scenery from 15 minutes to 1 hours drive away.
   

• east to the Yorkshire Heritage Coast with its spectacular scenery and quaint villages. Whitby is one hour away and Scarborough 1¼ hours.
   

• as a base for walking, particularly for the western leg of the Cleveland Way.

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