About The White Shire
Welcome to The White Shire — a growing guide to Yorkshire, created by Michael and Lyn.
The White Shire started with something very simple: our love of exploring Yorkshire on foot.
We met in 1999 and married in 2004, and over the years we've shared a love of exploring, travelling and discovering new places together. We originally spent much of our spare time travelling around on motorbikes, but eventually we decided to slow things down and explore more of the countryside.
Walking became a big part of our lives.
Today, we regularly head out walking, exploring the countryside around us as well as discovering new parts of Yorkshire when we're away. Our grandson Alistair often joins us too, making our adventures a family affair.
How The White Shire Started
Michael was born and bred in Yorkshire, while Lyn was born in London, grew up in Norfolk and has lived in Yorkshire for most of her life.
Together, we share a genuine love of Yorkshire and its landscapes, history, people and way of life.
As Michael began mapping and recording the walks we were doing, the idea developed to create somewhere online where we could share them with other people.
That became The White Shire, the White Rose County.
More Than Yorkshire Walks
Although walking is where The White Shire began, the idea has grown considerably.
We want The White Shire to become a place where people can discover more of Yorkshire — not just the famous destinations, but the places, people and stories they might otherwise miss.
That includes personally walked routes, interesting attractions, Yorkshire history, local events, independent businesses, places to stay and the many smaller discoveries that make exploring the county so rewarding.
We're not trying to compete with the large established Yorkshire tourism websites.
Instead, we're interested in finding our own corner of Yorkshire and sharing the things that catch our attention.
Discovering Yorkshire
One of the things we enjoy most about exploring Yorkshire is discovering something unexpected.
It might be a quiet walking route, a small café, an interesting building, a village with a fascinating history, an independent business or an event that you wouldn't normally hear about.
That's the approach we're taking with The White Shire.
Some of the places we feature may be well known.
Others may be somewhere you've never heard of.
We're interested in both.
Outdoor Living and Yorkshire
Another passion we've developed together is outdoor cooking.
After buying a pizza oven in 2022, Michael designed and built our own outdoor kitchen, which led to a much bigger interest in cooking outside and making the most of our garden.
That interest has become another part of our life and something we enjoy sharing with friends and family.
What's Next for The White Shire?
The White Shire is continually growing.
We're adding new walks, attractions, businesses, events, historical stories and places to stay as we discover more of Yorkshire.
We're also developing new ways to explore the county, including our Yorkshire Mystery Walks, which combine walking with clues, characters and stories.
The aim is simple.
To create a useful, interesting and constantly growing resource that helps people discover more of Yorkshire.
Whether you live here, are visiting for the first time or simply want to explore somewhere you've never been before, we hope The White Shire gives you a reason to get out and discover something new.
Discover Yorkshire With Us
From a short local walk to a hidden piece of Yorkshire history, an independent business or an event you've never heard of, there's always something else to discover.
The White Shire — discover the Yorkshire you might otherwise miss.