Today sees the elite in world cycling congregate in Yorkshire for the fifth year in a row. Starting with the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014 and subsequently the Tour de Yorkshire, our beautiful county, with its stunning scenery and friendly locals, has really taken this event to its heart.

If you’re visiting God’s own county over the next few days to witness this increasingly popular event, here are our top five favourite things to do, in and around our neck of the woods, once the lycra dash has passed…

1. Rievaulx Abbey

If you’ve never visited this Cistercian Monastery before, you’re in for a huge treat. Founded in 1132, Rievaulx Abbey became home to a 650-strong community before falling foul of the Suppression of the Monasteries under Henry VIII in the 1500s.

There’s still lots to see and do at this English Heritage site, though. You can explore the ruins, visit the museum and of, course, there’s a lovely café selling lots of delicious local produce.

If you’re watching the cycling from Helmsley, there’s a lovely 7-mile-round walk to the Abbey. You can find details on the North York Moors National Park website.

2. Malton (Food Capital of Yorkshire)

If there’s one piece of advice we can give you when visiting Malton, it’s to make sure you go with a good appetite!

From bakeries (Bluebird Bakery) and breweries (Brass Castle) to distilleries (Rare Bird) and delis (The Malton Relish), the market town, described by the late Antonio Carluccio as Yorkshire’s food capital, is jam-packed with artisan food and drink producers.

Top of our favourites, especially with children in tow, is the amazing gelateria, Groovy Moo and the new Master Patissier Florian Poirot with his incredible macaron creations.

The town also hosts its own annual Food Lovers Festival, taking place later this month on 26th and 27th May 2018. You may want to pay another visit for that… For more information see the Visit Malton website.

3. North York Moors Railway at Pickering

There’s nothing like the sight, sound and smell of a steam train and at the North York Moors Railway station in Pickering, you can witness the regular comings and goings of these beautiful engines as they transport delighted passengers back and forth from Whitby through 24 miles of stunning Yorkshire countryside.

Pickering also has lots of lovely shops and eateries, as well as the eclectic Beck Isle Museum, full of interesting artefacts telling the story of the local area.

4. Bempton Cliffs

Now is the perfect time of year to visit Bempton Cliffs. The RSPB Nature Reserve covers over five kilometres of sea cliffs which, from April to October, become home to England’s largest population of seabirds. The grassland at the top of the cliffs is also home to breeding and wintering farmland birds.

From gannets and guillemots to puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes and linnets, these and many other species of birds can be seen at Bempton. If you’re watching stage 3 of the Tour, ending in Scarborough on Saturday, the cliffs are only a 30 minute drive away.

5. A Wolds Drive

What can we say, if you’ve ever visited the East Riding of Yorkshire you’ll know it’s jam-packed with hidden gems from the deserted medieval village of Wharram Percy, the Rudston monolith, the tallest prehistoric standing stone in Britain, and the beautiful village of Sledmere with its red brick houses and stunning stately home. You can stop at the Farm Shop & Café for refreshments and local produce.

In fact, the Yorkshire Wolds so inspired artist David Hockney that he’s spent many years of his life painting its awe-inspiring scenery – you can see evidence of his inspiration everywhere you look!

So why not take a drive around? There’s even the Robert Fuller Gallery, home to one of Britain’s foremost wildlife artists, at Thixendale, in itself a fabulous place for a walk in a typical Yorkshire Wolds dale.