"Yorkshire wins World Travel Awards." I read it online on my way home to York after a trip abroad. Not only that but the county had beaten off opposition from London, Berlin and Madrid to become European destination 2013 at the World Travel Awards held in Antalya, Turkey. Previous winners include Edinburgh, Istanbul and Lisbon. Reading all this, I was, I must admit, shocked, deeply shocked. How was it possible that God's Own Country had not won before? What flagrant prejudice and bigotry had denied the North, South, East and West Yorkshire victory in previous years?

Normally such a declaration would come accompanied by a disclaimer stating the writer's affiliations, but I was born in Cumbria and grew up in blissful ignorance of Yorkshire. It was not until the winter of 1994 that enlightenment came. Forced by circumstances to stay with relatives near Thirsk, I began a process of discovery: the magical wilderness of Swaledale, the North York Moors all the way to the coast at Whitby and Robin Hood's Bay, Fountains Abbey and the Strid waterfalls at Bolton Abbey. I was hooked. In fact I moved to the county that same year and have never moved away.

Over subsequent years I've discovered many other wonderful corners: the Wolds behind Bridlington in East Yorkshire, the farther dales around Tan Hill in the north of North Yorshire and the brutal, beautiful amalgam of nature and industrial detritus that lies around Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. Then there are the pubs and the beer – try Galtres Festival in Helmsley, North Yorkshire, for sampling a wide range – the cheeses (Yorkshire Blue is my favourite) and the wine. Some of my favourite walks, hotels and campsites are in Yorkshire, plus some great beaches (perhaps not with the warm blue water of other places but you can't have everything). There is still plenty more to discover, I'm sure, and there's the Tour de France in 2014. Take it from this outsider: Yorkshire certainly deserves this belated award.

Fancy a trip?

Our North Yorkshire holiday guide has dozens of tips on where to stay; the best walks in the Dales and North York Moors; family days out around the Dales and Moors; the best pubs and more.

Our guide also lists the best budget hotels and B&Bs, and you'll find more great places to stay in our interactive guide to UK hotels. If you prefer to self-cater, take a look at these cool holiday cottages in Yorkshire which include an 18th-century tower and a converted barn.

The Dales and Moors may be the most famous areas of natural beauty, but there are other less well-known areas of Yorkshire waiting to be discovered too, like the Howardian Hills. Read about this hidden corner here. And the maginifcent cliffs at Flamborough, the highest in Britain, here.

Anyone building up an appetite walking those gorgeous hills is spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out. Fantastic local produce means chefs have their pick of the best ingredients. Michelin-starred Frances Atkins reveals her favourite resturants, pubs and producers in North Yorkshire here. And Tony Naylor has guides to budget eats in Harrogate and York. Oliver Wainwright's quick travel guide to Leeds includes where to eat and drink, as well as what to see and buy.

For art lovers the Yorkshire Sculpture Park is one of the finest in the country, seen here in winter.

And of course all eyes will be on the region next year when it hosts the Tour de France Grand depart in 2014. Read Kevin Rushby's attempt at the Etap du Dales here.