Patrick Stewart Loved This Remote English Escape Surrounded By Waterfalls And Rolling Hills

Now passed at the age of 86, beloved actor Patrick Stewart had deep ties to the Yorkshire region of England. He grew up in the area, living with his family in Mirfield, a town between Leeds and Manchester, over three hours northeast of Bristol (where he'd later go on to attend the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School). Throughout the rest of Stewart's illustrious acting career, he'd travel even further afield, living everywhere from Los Angeles to Brooklyn. According to a 2016 New York Daily News article, the latter destination is one that Stewart once said reminded him "very much of the Northern Yorkshire town" in which he was raised. "The kindness of people," he added, "the care they take of each other, their sense of humor. There's so much generosity, so much respect for privacy."

The actor's enduring love for Yorkshire also stood out when he answered Vanity Fair's "Proust Questionnaire" for the magazine's April 2016 issue. Answering a query about his "favorite journey," Stewart responded: "The last few miles to my house in the Yorkshire Dales."

A remote English escape surrounded by waterfalls, the Yorkshire Dales is an upland area characterized by lovely rolling hills, beautiful national park lands, and old stone walls around peaceful farms. Here's a look at this part of the world that so thoroughly captured Stewart's heart.

Home to Yorkshire Dales National Park (a lovely destination with breathtaking vistas), this English pastoral landscape gives sightseers plenty to explore. Spanning around 800 square miles, this part of the United Kingdom features an impressive array of natural wonders. Among them are the Pennines (either a mountain range or string of hills, depending on who you ask), several fun swimming holes, scenic rivers, and some gorgeous waterfalls.

A great way to see several picturesque Yorkshire Dales waterfalls in one go is by hiking the Ingleton Waterfalls Trail. Just 4.5 miles long, this circular walking route begins near the border of its eponymous village and leads visitors on a trek toward a host of stunning water features. Following the rivers Doe and Twiss, you can look forward to cascades like Thornton Force, Hollybush Spout, Baxenghyll Gorge, and Triple Spout, plus gems such as Beezley, Pecca, and Snow Falls.

Of course, you shouldn't miss out on the handsome hills strewn across the Yorkshire Dales, either. If you're up for a challenge, head out to Yorkshire Dales National Park for a journey up the Three Peaks. Composed of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough, and Whernside, this set of hills requires hikers to handle roughly 5,000 feet of elevation gain during a 24-mile circular voyage through the national park. Afterward, those who somehow have energy to spare can mosey over to the nearly 270-mile Pennine Way, England's first national trail. Adventurers with the stamina to follow this path way up north will find even more natural beauty at Northumberland National Park — home to the U.K.'s cleanest rivers.