NORTH Yorkshire and York have won ten of the 17 titles in the largest celebration of tourism and regional excellence in the UK.

The White Rose Awards in Leeds, hosted by tourism body Welcome to Yorkshire, saw South, East and West Yorkshire and Hull share the remaining accolades.

UN World Heritage site Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, near Ripon, landed the large attraction category.

Its general manager, Justin Scully, said: “The National Trust has a fantastic team here at Fountains and it’s so rewarding to see everybody’s hard work recognised.”

Other North Yorkshire and York winners included Camp Katur, in Bedale, which scooped best caravan and holiday park and Yorebridge House, in Leyburn, which won top honours in the small hotel category.

Low Mill Guesthouse, in Bainbridge, near Leyburn, received the guest accommodation category title, Scampston Hall and Walled Garden, Malton, won best small attraction and restaurant of the year was named as The Pheasant Hotel, Helmsley.

Rudding Park, in Harrogate, landed the large hotel crown, and the tourism event title was handed to the Great Yorkshire Show, in Harrogate.

Yorkshire’s pub of the year title went to The Bay Tree, Stillington, near York, and the Restaurant with Rooms accolade was handed to Estbek House, Whitby.

Meanwhile, The Bruce Arms, in West Tanfield, and The Georgian Theatre Experience (GTE) in Richmond, claimed highly commended awards.

Mac Bryant, GTE chairman, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for an attraction that only opened its doors just over a year ago.”

Other highly commended awards went to the National Railway Museum, York, for business tourism, Miller’s Fish and Chips, York, for “Taste of Yorkshire”, the Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes, for arts and culture, and Vale of Pickering Caravan Park, in the holiday park category.