North Yorkshire is a unitary authority area in North Yorkshire, formed in 2023 from the merger of seven former districts (Selby, Harrogate, Craven, Hambleton, Richmondshire, Ryedale, and Scarborough), creating one of the largest unitary authorities in England by area. This vast and spectacular county encompasses the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Herriot Country, and the historic towns of Harrogate, Scarborough, Whitby, Richmond, and Skipton. The climate varies dramatically from the relatively mild coast to the harsh upland conditions of the Dales and Moors, with high rainfall and winter snow on higher ground. Culturally, North Yorkshire holds world-class heritage significance with the city of York (though York has its own unitary authority, the county includes surrounding areas), the magnificent ruins of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal (UNESCO World Heritage Site), the castle and abbey at Richmond, the spa town of Harrogate, the coastal resorts of Scarborough and Whitby (with its abbey and Dracula connections), and the Herriot country of the Dales celebrated in the works of James Herriot. The area preserves exceptional heritage including Castle Howard (one of England's greatest stately homes), Beningbrough Hall, Nunnington Hall, Rievaulx Abbey, Byland Abbey, and numerous castles and historic houses. The Yorkshire Dales National Park and North York Moors National Park offer world-class walking, cycling, and scenery, with famous sites including Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, the Three Peaks, and the Cleveland Way. The coastline features dramatic cliffs, fossil beaches, and traditional resorts. The Herriot Country (around Thirsk and the Dales) attracts visitors to the settings of the All Creatures Great and Small stories. The county's market towns from Skipton to Helmsley to Pickering maintain their historic character with cobbled streets and castles. Boundary GIS data for North Yorkshire Council is available for download in GeoJSON and KML formats, essential for managing this vast and spectacular county, protecting its two National Parks, preserving its world-class heritage from Fountains Abbey to Castle Howard, and supporting sustainable tourism and agriculture across one of England's most beautiful and diverse areas.

📍 Administrative boundary of north yorkshire local authority district

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