High Marishes

High Marishes is a small hamlet in the Vale of Pickering, North Yorkshire, sitting alongside its twin settlement of Low Marishes a few miles east of Malton. The name comes from the Old Norse word for marsh, a reminder that this whole stretch of the vale was once wet, low-lying ground before generations of drainage turned it into some of the most productive arable farmland in the county. Today the parish is thinly populated and almost entirely agricultural, with wide open fields, long straight lanes and big Yorkshire skies rather than any obvious visitor attractions of its own.

What High Marishes lacks in bustle it makes up for in position. It sits almost exactly between the market town of Malton to the west and Pickering to the east, with the North York Moors National Park rising to the north and the Yorkshire Wolds folding away to the south. A disused railway once ran through here on the old York to Whitby line, and the station nearby was known as Marishes Road. For visitors, the appeal of staying in or near High Marishes is the same as it has always been for the wider vale: a peaceful, uncrowded base from which to explore some of North Yorkshire's best-loved countryside, market towns and coastline, without paying the premium prices charged closer to the honeypots.

Top things to do near High Marishes

Nothing in High Marishes itself will keep you busy for long, but it is superbly placed for day trips in every direction.

• Malton — a lively market town a few miles west, known as Yorkshire's food capital, with the Talbot Yard food court, independent shops, and a busy monthly food market.
• Eden Camp Modern History Museum — a former WWII prisoner-of-war camp near Malton, now a museum with themed huts recreating life on the home front and the front line.
• Pickering and Pickering Castle — a handsome market town to the east with a well-preserved medieval castle overlooking the Vale of Pickering, and the southern terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
• North Yorkshire Moors Railway — a heritage steam line running from Pickering through the National Park to Grosmont and on to Whitby, one of the country's best-known preserved railways.
• Ryedale Folk Museum — an open-air museum at Hutton-le-Hole covering six acres, with reconstructed historic buildings showing centuries of rural North Yorkshire life.
• Castle Howard — the grand stately home and gardens made famous by Brideshead Revisited, a short drive south-west of Malton.
• North York Moors National Park — heather moorland, forested valleys and walking country beginning just a few miles north of the vale.

Getting to High Marishes

High Marishes lies just off the A64 corridor between York and Scarborough, with Malton the nearest sizeable town a short drive to the west and Pickering a similar distance east along the B1257 and minor roads. The closest mainline railway station is Malton, on the York to Scarborough line, from which local roads or a taxi cover the last few miles. By car, the hamlet is roughly 20 minutes from York and around 45 minutes from Scarborough, making it a realistic base for exploring both the coast and the city without being in the thick of either.

Best time to visit High Marishes

Late spring through early autumn suits this part of the vale best, when the surrounding farmland is at its most colourful and the moors above are accessible for walking. July and August bring the purple flush of heather to the North York Moors and the busiest visitor numbers to Pickering and the steam railway, so late spring or September offer a quieter alternative with equally good weather. Winter is very quiet indeed, with much of the appeal reduced to the pub fire and the wide, empty skies the vale is known for.

Where to stay near High Marishes

Accommodation in High Marishes itself is limited, but the surrounding area offers a good spread of options. Malton and Pickering both have traditional coaching inns, B&Bs and small hotels, while farm cottages and converted barns are common throughout the vale, reflecting its agricultural character. Caravan and camping sites are dotted around the vale and towards the moors, giving campers easy access to both the flat farmland scenery and the more dramatic moorland landscape a short drive north.

Food and drink near High Marishes

For a hamlet of its size, High Marishes has no pub or restaurant of its own, so visitors head into Malton or Pickering for food. Malton has built a strong reputation as a food destination, anchored by the producers and eateries of Talbot Yard, along with its regular food markets and independent delis. Pickering offers a good choice of traditional pubs and cafes serving hearty Yorkshire fare, popular with walkers and visitors to the steam railway.