Just to the north-west of Cropton are the remains of Cropton Castle. It was a Motte and Bailey castle, built of wood in the late eleventh century, overlooking Rosedale. Only the earthworks can be seen nowadays, but it is still interesting to see the position of the castle.
North of Cropton is Lastingham, a very attractive village set in a narrow valley beneath Spaunton Moor, with a stream running through it. The village is regarded as 'the cradle of northern Christianity' and had a religious settlement in AD654 when St Cedd founded an abbey here. Sadly, it was destroyed by the Danes in the ninth century. Rebuilding started in 1078 but only the crypt and the apse of the church got finished, as the Monks abandoned Lastingham and went to set up a new monastery in York. The church became parochial in 1228, and has remained a parish church ever since, still acting as the focus of the village. Restoration work took place on the church in 1879 but the heart of the church is still Norman, and the crypt is truly superb and a must-see.
A few miles to the east is the tiny village of Levisham, sitting on the edge of a breezy plateau. It is an attractive, traditional farming village, with the village green at its centre, flanked by cottages. The village itself does not have much to keep you busy for long, but it is a gateway for some of the best walking in the National Park.
Nearby Levisham Estate, owned by the National Park Authority, is around 3,360 acres (1,360 ha) of stunning landscape, moorland and woodland open for everyone to enjoy. A large part of it is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Special Protection Area for merlin and golden plover. Another 544 acres (220 ha) of it has been scheduled as an ancient monument because it contains a wealth of archaeological remains dating back over about 3,500 years. There are burial mounds and boundary dykes from the Bronze Age and Iron Age, evidence of Roman settlements and the remains of a medieval sheep farm associated with Malton Priory.
Also within the estate are the ruins of Skelton Tower, perched on the edge of Newtondale Valley, and offering stunning views in the directions of Goathland Moor in the north and Pickering in the South. It's a two-storey tower built in 1850 as a shooting lodge by former Levisham vicar, Rev Robert Skelton.
While in the area, a visit to The Hole of Horcum in the beautiful Newtondale Valley really is a must, although be warned, the car park near the Hole soon gets full. This popular and frequently photographed natural phenomenon is an enormous natural amphitheatre, at about 1 mile long and 600 feet deep, and is wonderful to walk around.
So, dig out your walking boots, camera and waterproofs and get exploring this part of the North York Moors!
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