Google takes a view on the hippest and most romantic streets in Yorkshire

And now six streets in Yorkshire will find out just how closely they are held in the public’s affections after being nominated in the Google Street View awards 2011.

The awards scheme, a celebration of the UK’s best-loved streets, pits 60 streets against each other in an online poll launched today.

Flying the flag for Yorkshire are:

Montpellier Hill in Harrogate and New Road, Robin Hood’s Bay – as the most romantic street;

Low and High Petergate in York and Skipton High Street – as the best shopping street; and

Call Lane in Leeds and New Quay Road in Whitby – as the “hippest” street.

They were selected by a panel of experts including national tourism chiefs and leading travel editors and writers – whose views chimed with those who were out and about wandering these celebrated corners of Yorkshire yesterday.

Rish Parmar, who was enjoying a stroll along Harrogate’s Montpellier Hill with girlfriend Heidi Procter, 23, and their dog Simba, said the area has a romantic feel to it in all seasons, but particularly in warm weather.

“What I love about Montpellier Hill is on a hot sunny day, with some of the weather we’ve been having, all the flowers are out and it’s such a romantic place,” said Mr Parmar, 33. “You do see a lot of couples walking together.

“We often take a little picnic and a bottle of wine. In the winter it’s really nice when it comes to Christmas and all the lights are out on the Stray; that can be really romantic.

“I’m a Londoner and I moved to Harrogate five years ago because it’s a lovely, small quiet town with a friendly atmosphere, and living in Yorkshire among the fresh flowers, it’s a better quality of life.”

This leafy part of Harrogate is competing in the same category as New Road in Robin Hood’s Bay, which was nominated by David Else, chief writer of The Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain.

He said: “As the lead author of the Lonely Planet Guide to Great Britain, I’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country and seen many of these streets first-hand.

“For the second year running, selecting the shortlisted streets has been great fun.

“I hope people have as much fun voting for their favourites.”

York will have high hopes for Low and High Petergate in the shopping category, after the city’s most famous street, The Shambles, was named the most picturesque street in the UK last year in the inaugural staging of the awards.

Skipton’s High Street, which is home to Skipton Market four days a week and has a variety of shops in its narrow side streets, also caught the eye of the panel.

However, by no means all the residents of the nominated streets felt comfortable with their descriptions.

Chris Clarkson, assistant manager of Trenchers fish and chip shop and restaurant in New Quay Road, Whitby, which is nominated for “hippest” street, said: “I wouldn’t go that far.

“But it’s overlooking the harbour, you can see all the boats and the old fashioned shops and there’s a good feel about the place.

“It’s got a good atmosphere,” he added.

The nominations have delighted tourism chiefs in the county.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, said: “These nominations are great news for Yorkshire, they showcase the breadth of what we have to offer from the romance of Robin Hood’s Bay to the vibrancy of Call Lane and to have them independently nominated by the likes of Lonely Planet and Vogue just adds to our credibility.

“I would urge everyone to vote for their favourite and follow-up The Shambles success last year with a clean sweep of Yorkshire winners.”

Google’s street view is an online resource that allows users to see and navigate 360-degree street-level imagery in more than 90 per cent of the UK.

New research has found that UK residents are using street view about twice a week to discover new shops, restaurants, hotels and businesses.

More than half of the those polled – 55 per cent – said they use street view to plan visits to tourist attractions and their surrounding areas.

They said that the look of a street would affect whether or not they chose to visit.

Voting opens today and runs until Sunday, May 22. The results will be announced in June with trophies awarded to the winners.

Online voting is at www.google.com/landing/beststreetsuk