Santa Specials on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway run every weekend in December and daily in the final week; they sell out by October. Castle Howard is dressed for Christmas from mid-November, Helmsley's Christmas market is on the last Saturday of November, and Whitby's Christmas festival and the Krampus Run share the first weekend of December.
Christmas week
Most attractions close from Christmas Eve to the New Year but the pubs, the beaches and the moors do not. The Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, the Fauconberg at Coxwold and the Feathers in Helmsley all do Christmas lunches; book early. Boxing Day walks: Roseberry Topping, the Cleveland Way from Helmsley, the beach from Whitby to Sandsend.
New Year
Whitby's harbour fills for the fireworks. The Goathland Plough Stots dance on the first Saturday after Plough Monday, in early January.
Where to stay
Cottages and inns are booked months ahead for Christmas week; the quieter weeks either side are easy. Snow on the high moor is likely at some point and the Blakey Ridge road closes when it comes.
