About Yorkshire and the Humber

It should be crispy on the outside, fluffy inside, and served swimming in gravy - never as a dessert with jam as some outsiders mistakenly do!

Don't miss York's Viking Festival (February), Whitby Goth Weekend (April/October), or the bizarre 'Pudding throwing' competition in Denby Dale.

Pack layers as weather changes rapidly, wear sturdy boots for limestone pavements, and carry an OS map - mobile signals are unreliable in valleys.

Always ask permission before photographing in working areas like Sheffield's steelworks. Many textile mills have strict photography policies.

The Yorkshire Pass offers great value for multiple attractions. Many museums are free, including York's superb National Railway Museum.

Look for traditional 'Sam Smith's' pubs with their own brewery rules (no phones, no music). Many rural pubs still serve 'high tea' with cakes and sandwiches.

Visit the Brontë Parsonage in Haworth, follow the James Herriot trail in the Yorkshire Dales, or explore Ted Hughes' inspirations in the Calder Valley.

In York, it's legal to shoot a Scotsman with a bow and arrow (except on Sundays) - though naturally this medieval law isn't enforced!

Walk sections of the Cleveland Way, timing your visit for low tide to see hidden coves. Robin Hood's Bay is perfect for fossil hunting.

Use the extensive public transport network, support local producers at farmers' markets, and consider walking holidays along the many established trails.