A thriving market town at the junction of the A170 and the transmoor A169 (Whitby road), PICKERING 's most attractive feature is its Castle on the hill north of the market place (Easter-Oct daily 10am-6pm; Nov-March Wed-Sun 10am-4pm; £2.40; EH), reputedly used by every English monarch up to 1400 as a base for hunting in nearby Blandsby Park. Eight monarchs certainly put up here, including Edward II after his trouncing by the Scots at the Battle of Byland Abb... [More]