'The Food Capital Of Yorkshire' Is A Charming Market Town With Quaint Shops, Local Festivals, And Outdoor Fun

Spanning over 6,000 square miles from the North Sea to the heart of England, Yorkshire is the U.K.'s largest county. In the northern reaches of this enormous region lies Malton, an idyllic market town on the River Derwent. Malton is anchored around its central Market Place, where markets have been held since at least the 13th century, and its surrounding colorful streets are lined with quaint boutiques and specialty food shops. Set amidst a fertile landscape, the town's agricultural bounty and culinary renaissance have earned it the title of the "Food Capital of Yorkshire."

While Malton has been a market town for centuries, its status as Yorkshire's food capital is a 21st-century development. Tom Naylor-Leyland, who is heir to the Fitzwilliam Malton Estate, was inspired by the number of independent artisans in Malton and pioneered the town's foodie revolution. He founded the Talbot Yard Food Court, a local food district in town, and organized the annual Malton Food Festival starting in 2012. Now, Malton continues to draw avid foodies to this idyllic pocket of Yorkshire to enjoy its farm-to-table fare. While the town's delicious offerings are in the spotlight, Malton's neighboring Howardian Hills National Landscape also promises plenty of outdoor fun, especially on the estate of the iconic Castle Howard.

Malton is located about a 30-minute drive east of York, a charming city with walkable streets and a beautiful cathedral, and a four-hour drive north of London. The best time to plan a trip to Malton is in late May for the annual food festival or between June and September (when temperatures are in the mid-60s) if you want to enjoy outdoor adventures.

While British cuisine has long been considered Europe's worst, a trip to Malton may just change that reputation. Begin your trip by strolling the central Market Street up to Market Place, which lies in the shadow of the Norman-era St. Michaels Church. Along Market Street, you can browse Hare & Wilde, a chic shop selling a curated array of homewares, kitchen essentials, and bath soaps, or Kemps Books and Kemps General Store for a wide range of literary titles, greeting cards, and lovely gifts. If you've worked up an appetite, head to the bottom of Market Street and turn right onto Yorkersgate to reach Talbot Yard Food Court. In this historic courtyard, stop at Groovy Moo Gelato for scoops of locally-made ice cream, Bluebird Bakery for fresh breads, or Food 2 Remember for butcher cuts. For more shopping, Malton's market tradition continues every Saturday when the town hosts its weekly Saturday Market with vendors selling abundant local produce, bakery items, gifts, and more. Additionally, you can browse local artwork and handicrafts at the New Arts and Crafts Market, which is held on the last Saturday of each month.

While Malton's markets are a weekly tradition, you can also plan your trip around one of the town's local festivals to see the full scale of the area's artisanal scene. The annual Malton Food Festival hosts over a hundred vendors and allows visitors to sample delicious local dishes, watch chef demonstrations, or simply stroll through the free festival soaking in the lively atmosphere. Another beloved Malton festival is the one-day Malton St. Clement's Festival held every November. Named for St. Clement, the patron saint of blacksmiths, the arts and crafts festival is the perfect time to stock up on Christmas gifts made by local artists, listen to live music, and watch the annual lantern parade.

Malton is adjacent to the Howardian Hills National Landscape, a rolling countryside marked by gorges, farms, and the winding River Derwent. The most famous landmark in this 80-square-mile landscape is Castle Howard, the seat of the Howard family and Earl of Carlisle. Completed in the early 19th century, the fanciful castle marries Baroque and Palladian architectural styles and is set amidst nearly 9,000 acres of gardens, woodlands, farmland, lakes, an arboretum, and more. Its cinematic grandeur has been translated on screen as a set for the Netflix hit series "Bridgerton" and the film "Brideshead Revisited," released in 2008.

While you should tour the interiors of the opulent castle, Castle Howard's sprawling property keeps visitors entertained with plenty of outdoor fun. You can head out on walks through the nature trails that weave through the picturesque area or cycle on the estate's network of roads. Don't miss a stroll through the exuberant gardens, which contain everything from blooming rose gardens to bucolic woodland paths as well as the 18th-century Temple of the Four Winds. "The surrounding countryside is just awe inspiring," raved a Tripadvisor reviewer. "We loved walking through the woods to find the temples." Children will also adore the Skelf Island Adventure Park with its footbridge over the lake to a whimsical land where children can climb, slide, and explore in a forested playground. For more outdoor excursions, Malton is just a 40-minute drive from the beautiful seaside town of Scarborough where you can visit Scarborough Castle and relax on sandy beaches.