My Yorkshire: Toby Cockcroft, Croft Residential

Toby Cockcroft is the director of Croft Residential, a York estate agency that specialises in out-of-the-ordinary Yorkshire properties and country houses. He lives in the Hambleton Hills near Thirsk.

What is your favourite place to visit in Yorkshire and why?

The Yorkshire Dales has to be one of our family’s favourite destinations for a day out. I love Wharfedale, especially Bolton Abbey and Burnsall, with the fantastic scenery around that area – the dry stone walls and the traditional Dales farms.

For my kids, no trip to Bolton Abbey would be complete without stopping off at Billy-Bob’s Parlour for one of its legendary ice creams or milkshakes.

What is still on your “to do” list in the region?

I think I’ve probably done most of the region’s many grand days out, but the pioneering Yorkshire Sculpture Park near Wakefield, with its amazing array of modern artwork, is still on my bucket list. I’d also like to visit the spectacular Deep aquarium in Hull.

What is the most memorable meal you’ve ever had in Yorkshire?

I was taken shooting near Whitby by a client. At lunchtime a mobile fish and chip van arrived for our lunch. To make the situation even more surreal, for anyone who didn’t fancy the traditional Yorkshire ‘one of each’, there was also a mobile teppanyaki. Brilliant!

What is your most Yorkshire trait?

Bluntness – I can sometimes be a little short and to the point

Favourite piece of trivia about the region?

Yorkshire can lay claim to the world’s second largest medieval gothic cathedral. Only beaten in size by Chartres in northern France, York Minster is one of the most incredible buildings not just in Yorkshire but in the world – a true architectural and artistic masterpiece that took more than 250 years to design and build.

What is your favourite cultural icon to come out of Yorkshire?

I have to say Dame Judi Dench, who has achieved so much in her career and is originally from York. She opened the library at my old school, St Peter’s in York, and it is named in her honour.

Worst experience or thing about Yorkshire?

Don’t know: I try never to look for the worst in anything.

What is one thing you’d steal from London?

I’d steal two things from the capital if I could:

The Shard: at 96 storeys high, it’s a truly audacious landmark building and the views of the cityscape from the top are breathtaking.

Also, the Hakkasan Cantonese restaurant, off Tottenham Court Road, which is the epitome of decadence and sophistication, both in its food and surroundings, and without doubt my favourite restaurant.

What is the most overrated thing about Yorkshire?

Nothing about Yorkshire can possibly be overrated!

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