Top 20 Natural Monuments around Pickering

Bridestones are unique rock formations located in Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire. Originally formed by movement of glaciers during the last Ice Age, the sandstone formations date back 150 million years ago.

The Bridestones are the remnants of a sandstone cap, deposited during the Jurassic period, some 150 million years ago. The formations consist of alternating layers of hard sandstone and softer calcareous layers. Erosion by wind, frost, and rain over millennia has created the unique and bizarre shapes seen today. The term "Bridestones" may have originated from the Old Norse words "brink-stones" or "edge stones" The Bridestones are steeped in folklore and legend, connecting them to ancient cultures and mythical beings. Some legends suggest the Bridestones were ancient meeting places for Druids, while others tell tales of giants who once roamed the moors. One legend speaks of a young couple who eloped and found shelter among the rocks, whose love caused the stones to form a protective arch. Another story tells of Nan Moor and Jack Stone, guardians of the stones, who lived in a rock house and were possibly married there. The Bridestones are sometimes associated with the Celtic goddess Brigantia.

"Each of these crosses can tell its own story and what motivated people to erect "their" cross at this spot. (...) These wayside crosses were erected as visible signs and attract the attention of many people. The cross is a symbol of life. It stands as a sign of our Christian hope and aims to direct our gaze to Jesus Christ, who has overcome death (...). The cross is a part of our lives, just as it was a part of the life of Jesus. So I hope that many people... will seek out the wayside crosses, whether as places of silence and respite before God, or as places of community gathering, prayer, and praise." (Source: Dean Rainald M. Ollig in: "Wayside Crosses... Small Sacred Monuments as Signs of Popular Piety")

Photographer @Jessica Mather had the misfortune of not being able to enjoy the view offered by the ANA CROSS site during her run here due to the weather conditions. However, more than two dozen photos of the small sacred monument and the panorama offered by the prominent location can be seen on the hiking highlight of the same name =>> https://www.komoot.com/de-de/highlight/2252418

Highest cross on the moors, great views across Spaunton Moor when the weather allows.

Fantastic 360 degree views and a variety of routeing options. I can't comment on the track west to Wheeldale Lodge or the bridleway south along Simon Howe Rigg to Cropton Forest, but both the bridleway north to Goathland, and the track east to Fen Bog Nature Reserve and the A169 are good quality tracks over easy terrain. The track east to Fen Bog is still quite waterlogged and boggy in some places even in July, but it is quite easy to skirt around these over the heather.

The wayside cross marks a medieval route way across the moor between Lastingham and the site of Rosedale Priory. A deeply incised hollow way skirts the western side of the barrow heading towards the modern village of Rosedale Abbey. The current cross, which at one time was known as Ain or One Howe Cross, but now more generally as Ana Cross, dates to 1949 when the original medieval cross was removed to the crypt of Lastingham Church. It was repaired in the summer of 1998 after its collapse in the winter of 1995. More details at ancientmonuments.co.uk.

A scheduled monument, Simon Howe is a large round cairn on Goathland Moor that offers great views of the North York Moors National Park.