Driving help from York to Keswick in the Lake District

Here's a decent route:

York - heading north to Strensall-Sheriff Hutton (ruins of Richard III's castle) - Helmsley (nice little town)

Take a right to Kirbymoreside (dont stop there!) and then follow signs left to Hutton le Hole (quaint little village)

Then going north follow signs to Castleton going up into the moorland of Blakely Ridge.

When you see a first right turn near some stone crosses (after about 10 miles) then take it and you are now heading back south to Rosedale Abbey (nice little village).

Unless you are in a caravan or a seriously underpowered vehicle then take on the Rosedale Chimney. This is a road out of Rosedale that heads back to Hutton le Hole. It goes up to a 33% incline so you get a great views plus the effects of gravity trying to pull you back down.

Retrace the steps back to Helmsley but then head onto Thirsk going down Sutton Bank first. Thirsk to Ripon, then up to Leyburn and then just stay on the A684 heading West all the way to Kendal. Plenty to see and do in the Dales along the A684.

Thank you so much for your reply. It sounds wonderful. I looked it all up on the map and it will give us a taste of the North York Moors before heading to Keswick. Can you tell me more about the road, is it paved etc? Also, how is the A684, two lane highway of freeway?

Thank you,
Lisa

laclisa02, What you call a freeway is called in English a motorway. Motorways have road numbers beginning with 'M', or for some sections ending in 'M'. They have blue road signs, and on British maps are usually shown in blue.
Other roads have numbers beginning with 'A' or 'B'. Some 'A' roads have sections of dual carriageway, but most are single carriageway, one lane in each direction.
I don't think the A684 has any sections of dual carriageway. I found photos of it here: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/A684_slip_road_at_Ellerbeck_-_geograph.org.uk_-_323108.jpg
and here: http://www.sabre-roads.org.uk/wiki/images/a/a0/A684_-_Coppermine_-_22706.jpg
It is not a main road.

I am not sure what you mean by 'paved', but all roads in the UK have tarmac surfaces, apart from a very few with concrete surfaces.

Thank you so much for the information about the A684. I loved the pictures. It looks so beautiful! What I meant by paved is: in the U.S. some of the country roads do not have asphalt on them. They are just gravel. I was wondering if the road into the Moors was paved, but I am sure it is. Thank you for all your information. It has been very helpful.
Lisa

Lisa - the roads in the North York Moors are paved. There are plenty of places to pull over and admire the views as well. It is not as busy as the Dales.