About Yorkshire Calling | Guido

Hi, I’m Guido. I’m a Dutchman who married a Yorkshire local, and I run Yorkshire Calling to help you find the places in Yorkshire that are actually worth your time.

How a Dutchman ended up in Yorkshire

I grew up in the Netherlands and lived in Amsterdam, a city of canals, bikes and very flat land. Then I married Callie, who was born and raised in Yorkshire, and swapped the flat Netherlands for the hilly Yorkshire Dales.

I thought I knew what to expect. I didn’t. Yorkshire is England’s biggest county. It has two national parks (and a corner of a third), a wild coastline, medieval York, spa-town Harrogate and more pubs, abbeys and castles than anyone could visit in a lifetime.

So I started exploring. Weekends in the Dales, day trips to the coast, far too many pints in different pubs. Yorkshire Calling is where I share what I find.

Why listen to me?

I’ve been there. Almost everything on this site is somewhere I’ve been myself. When I recommend a walk, a village or a place to stay, it’s because I’d send my own friends there. If I haven’t been somewhere yet, I’ll say so.

I know what good travel advice looks like. I’ve travelled to more than 60 countries, so I know the difference between a guide that helps you and one that just lists everything. I’ll tell you what’s worth the detour, what isn’t, and the practical details that make a trip easier: where to park, when to go, and how long you really need.

I have a local on my side. I see Yorkshire as a newcomer, like you, so I notice the things first-time visitors want to know and locals forget to mention. And Callie, who grew up here, is my secret weapon: she’s the one who knows the best pubs, the shortcuts and the places tourists miss, and she keeps my recommendations honest.

Who this site is for

I write for anyone planning a trip to Yorkshire, especially first-time visitors. That includes readers coming from the US and further afield who want to know how to get here from London, how many days they need, and whether they need a car. I also write for UK and European travellers looking for a great weekend away or a corner of Yorkshire they haven’t discovered yet.

Where to start

A few of my favourite places

  • My favourite place: Harrogate. I love the architecture and the general vibe.
  • Callie’s pick: the Yorkshire Dales. It’s beautiful wherever you look.
  • Favourite pub: Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw: picturesque and next to a waterfall.
  • The view I’d show a friend first: Reeth. It’s surrounded by beautiful hills and the drive there is stunning as well.

How I keep this site free

Yorkshire Calling is free to read. Some links, mainly to hotels, are affiliate links: if you book through them I may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It never decides what I recommend. Read the Affiliate Disclosure for more.

Get my free Yorkshire trip planner

Join the newsletter and get my free trip planner: how to get here, how many days you need, and sample routes for 3, 5 and 7 days. I’ll also send you new guides and hidden gems. No spam, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Say hello

Got a question about your trip, or a Yorkshire gem I should know about? Email me at guido@yorkshirecalling.com or use the contact page. I read every message.

Guido