Camping at Castle Howard Traction Engine Rally

Days away from the Traction Engine Rally should start within very easy reach indeed: at Castle Howard. Made recognisable by television and movie adaptations of Brideshead Revisited, the spectacular 18th-century stately home should certainly be explored, and there are 1,000 acres of grounds – with woods, gardens and a boating lake – to traipse around too. It’s not the only big pile hereabouts either, as Nunnington Hall is 15 minutes’ drive away and Beningbrough Hall is within 40. Otherwise, stick to history but leave old houses behind with stops at Eden Camp or the stunning ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, both within half an hour of base. Foodies are well catered for nearby, as the site’s 15 minutes from Malton and its artisan producers, food shops, cookery school, restaurants and food tours. There’s a reason it’s known as Yorkshire’s food capital, after all... Prefer to go whizzing around the country? The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is 25 minutes away (keep eyes peeled for a glimpse of Harry Potter’s Hogsmeade station from the train), and the high-octane rides of Flamingo Land and ziplining at Go Ape are both within half an hour.