One of my favourite villages in North Yorkshire is that of Goathland. I have been visiting this village for almost twenty years and have never grown tired of its charm and character. The village is situated in the North York Moors National Park and is easily reached from Whitby and Pickering.

Over recent years the village has become immensely popular due to the fact that it is the location for Aidensfield in ITV1′s hugely successful drama Heartbeat. Heartbeat was first shown in 1992 and is perhaps one of the most well loved television dramas of all time. As a result large numbers of tourists have visited Goathland and enjoyed spotting famed landmarks such as Mr Scripp’s Garage, the Aidensfield Stores, the doctor’s surgery, police house and the church. Some followers of the show, including myself and daughter, have even been lucky enough to see the programme being filmed and have actually met some of the actors involved.

Of course there is so much more to Goathland than Heartbeat. It is very charming and provides an excellent starting point for walks up on to the moors. One of the best times to hike in this beautiful area is in the late summer when the heather turns the land into a sea of purple. A word of warning though – be on the look out for adders during the spring and summer. My husband, daughter and I came across one whilst out walking – this was fascinating, but could have been dangerous should we have inadvertently stood on it. Always wear stout footwear and keep your eyes open! There are also several waterfalls in the area – the most well known being the Mallyan Spout. Sheep can be found roaming through the village and grazing on the grassy areas. There are other hotels in the village (in addition to the Goathland Hotel). These include the Inn on the Moor and the Mallyan Hotel. Both of these offer a high standard of accommodation and good quality meals. There are also several bed and breakfasts in the village along with an excellent tea room which I would highly recommend.

Goathland station is also on the North York Moors Railway. My family and I have taken regular trips on this charming railway and it has been a real hit with my three year old nephews. It is truly a breathtaking experience travelling back in time and taking in the beautiful surroundings at the same time. The line actually runs from the lovely market town of Pickering right through to the quaint coastal town of Whitby. In actual fact a holiday cottage in Whitby would provide an excellent base for investigating this beautiful area.

Jane writes for Ideal Holiday Cottages.co.uk where you can find an outstanding selection of self catering holiday cottages in Britain and Ireland along with a decent choice of holiday cottages in North Yorkshire.

Find pragmatic things to know in the sphere of luxury vacation home – please make sure to read this site. The times have come when proper information is truly only one click away, use this possibility.