North York Moors

Towns & Villages

CLOUGHTON

A charming, intimate village on the outskirts of Scarborough, Cloughton lies in ‘Heartbeat’ country and is the ideal base from which to explore North Yorkshire’s many attractions. In the 11th century Domesday Book it was called ‘Clocktune’. A local conference centre, Cober Hill, was owned in the late 19th century by Solicitor General Frank Lockwood, MP, who prosecuted the writer Oscar Wilde. Visitors to the historic property included George Bernard Shaw and Lloyd George.

Cloughton - Photo: Mick Garratt CCLt

EBBERSTON

Ebberston Hall - Photo: Phil Catterall CCL

The Rosedale ironstone mines and treatment plants can still be seen here, but the village of Ebberston is better known for having England’s smallest ‘stately home’, Ebberston Hall. It was built in 1718 in the Palladian style by the noted architect Colin Campbell, who lovingly called it a ‘Rustick Edifice’. On the moors above the village is a Bronze Age burial mound.

EGTON

A peaceful village around a market cross signifying the centre of a formerly important township. Largest agricultural show in the area takes place in August.

St. Hilda's Church - Photo: Colin Grice CCL

EGTON BRIDGE

The River Esk at Egton Bridge - Photo: Dave Dunford CCL

Picturesque village on the banks of the Esk. The stone bridge was rebuilt in 1992 in the style of the original one which was washed away by floods in the 1930s. St. Hedda's Church worth visiting for Stations of the Cross and Postgate shrine.

FILEY

A former fishing village, Filey has been transformed into a popular, traditional seaside resort and is protected from inclement weather by a spit of land - or brigg - which projects out into the sea. The area boasts several miles of sandy beach as well as an enthralling folk museum that offers varied displays on aspects of rural life and local history. Each summer the town stages a week-long Edwardian Festival featuring traditional seaside events - including a Punch and Judy show. It also plays host to an annual fishing festival. Activities here include surfing, angling, walking, yachting, golf, and bird watching.

Filey Brigg - Photo: Andy Beecroft CCL

GOATHLAND

Goathland Train Station - Photo: Subarite CCL

A typically scenic village in the Moors amid fine walking country, Goathland has become something of a favourite with TV and movie producers. Not only is it the location for the TV series ‘Heartbeat’ (as ‘Aidensfield’), set in the 1960s, but also features in the Harry Potter movies thanks to its old-fashioned railway station (‘Hogmeade’), one of the stops on the North York Moors steam railway.

Near the village is the dramatic Mallyan Spout waterfall and part of an old Roman road. The great white domes that rise out of Fylingdales Moor are not alien spaceships but part of Britain’s defence network. Here you will also find one of the world’s oldest Christian monuments, erected by King Edwin of the Kingdom of Deira in the 7th century. Goathland is the finishing line of the punishing, 53-mile challenge known as the Crosses Walk in which walkers travel to a number of prominent moorland waymarkers in a single day.

Mallyan Spout Waterfall - Photo: Les Hull CCL

GROSMONT

North York Moors Railway - Photo: Andy Beecroft CCL

This village of two halves was largely created to house the men who worked on the Whitby to Pickering railway in the mid-19th century. Although it was closed in the 1960s during the Beeching era, a band of enthusiasts revived it and transformed it into the private, steam-powered North York Moors Railway.

The line still cuts through the village and the station has been given some lovely historical touches. There is also access to the engine sheds. The line is connected here to the Esk Valley railway which takes passengers to Whitby and Middlesbrough.

HACKNESS

Lying at the point where Lowdale Beck merges into the River Derwent, this superbly-placed village has an 11th century church built on top of a nunnery established by St Hilda in the 7th century and an 18th century Hall, the seat of Lord Derwent, which is not open to the public. The area has remarkable variety and the delightful Forge Valley is replete with watercourses, forests, picturesque dales and undisturbed wildlife.

The River Derwent in the Forge Valley - Photo: Phil Catterall CCL

LEVISHAM

Levisham Beck - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

Remote Levisham lies north of the spectacular valley of Levisham Beck and is approached via a waterfall and old mill. There are excellent viewpoints along the many footpaths on both sides of the valley. On tumuli-rich Levisham Moor visitors stare in wonder at the natural amphitheatre known as Hole of Hocum, a huge depression.

LOCKTON

Eight miles from Pickering and lying next to Levisham, this delightful village cast in a beautiful location has one of the National’s Park’s few remaining village duck ponds. Nearby Levisham Moor was one of the first places where remains of early iron-smelting have been found.

Lockton Village - Photo: Andy Beecroft CCL

NEWTON-UPON-RAWCLIFFE

The Mucky Duck Public House - Photo: Phil Catterall CCL

This village on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park has its own centuries-old duck pond and village green. It nestles on a limestone plateau close to the stunning valley of Newton Dale, near Pickering. Nearby are the unique and mysterious earthworks of Cawthorn Roman Camps and the Roman road ‘Wade's Causeway’.

RAVENSCAR

It’s hard to believe that this is where Britain’s chemical industry was created – or possibly invented – in the 17th century by an enterprising chap named Thomas Challoner. He discovered that a substance called alum found in local quarries could make a ‘mordant’ used to permanently dye wool when it was mixed with seaweed and stale human urine. Demand for this vital ingredient was insatiable until, in modern times, scientists found how to make it synthetically. Visiting the site of this discovery is a sobering experience. The Romans once had a fort here and George III visited Ravenscar in an attempt to recuperate from his bouts of illness.

One of the local residents at Ravenscar - Photo: Mick Garratt CCL

REDCAR

A Redcar Beech Sunset - Photo: Nick W CCL

Redcar is a family coastal resort with a good range of accommodation, cafes and shops. Children are well catered for with playground, BMX track and indoor and outdoor funfairs.

The RNLI Zetland Museum houses the world's oldest surviving lifeboat, the 'Zetland'. Built in South Shields for the people of Redcar in 1802 and was responsible for saving over 500 lives during it's service. It was of course in service some 22 years before the formation of the R.N.L.I. in 1824.

South Gare is a vantage point for observing shipping on the Tees; the sand dunes have good wildlife interest.

ROBIN HOOD'S BAY

With a maze of tightly-packed houses and the swell of the North Sea in the distance, the village of Robin Hood’s Bay is a picturesque and sometimes dramatic setting for a seaside resort. The residents once lived solely by fishing and smuggling. The main street was washed away by a great storm in 1780. The impressive sandy bay sweeps several miles to the south, with Ravenscar nestling on the headland.

Robin Hood's Bay Sunrise - Photo: Graham Proud CCL

RUNSWICK

Runswick Bay - Photo: Paul Allison CCL

This picturesque village resort is something of a suntrap and stands in one of Yorkshire’s most handsome bays. It is sheltered from the strongest weather by spectacular cliffs but was not always so fortunate. In the 17th century the village was virtually washed away. Nearby Kettleness is a headland that has become a nesting site for many seabirds. The ‘Hob Holes’ are caves which resulted from the mining of jet.

SANDSEND

The name of this quaint seaside resort signifies that it sits at the end of a long beach, so it’s little surprise that the Romans came here and built a cement works. Later the area around the village was mined for alum, which was a key constituent in the dyeing of wool. Georgian Mulgrave Castle sits on land between two rivers and received honourable mentions from two illustrious guests, Wordsworth and Dickens.

Sterile Land caused by the old Alum Works - Photo: Mick Garratt CCL

SCALBY

St. Lawrence's Church, Scalby - Photo: Humphrey Bolton CCL

Ideally situated for both walking and touring, the village of Scalby lies at the mouth of the River Derwent on the outskirts of the bustling resort of Scarborough. It has managed to retain some of its old charm and the parish church still commands the centre of the village atop a low hill. Sea Cut is a man-made channel that helps the Derwent flow into the sea. Nearby is Dalby forest and Goathland - better known as ‘Aidensfield’ in the TV drama ‘Heartbeat’.

SCARBOROUGH

One of the most popular North Sea seaside resorts in the north of England, Scarborough has fabulous cliff scenery and splendid sandy bays. The Normans built a clifftop castle here in the 12th century, which was later besieged by Parliamentarians during the English Civil War. The defenders surrendered but not before they’d eaten their own boots.

Scarborough Castle - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

Scarborough North Bay - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

At one time it was a major mineral spa town and became known as ‘The Queen of Watering Places’ It was the birthplace of the great Hollywood actor Charles Laughton (1899-1962) and witnessed the death of Anne Bronte in 1849 (she is buried at St Mary’s Churchyard). The 19th century poets Edith Sitwell and Sacheverell Sitwell also lived here.

SLEIGHTS

The village of Sleights inhabits hillsides on either side of the River Esk and was the birthplace of ‘Flint Jack’, one of Yorkshire’s great characters. In the mid-19th century he created fake antiques which fooled even the real experts. From here country lanes lead to intriguing places such as Ugglebarnby, Littlebeck and Eskdaleside.

River Esk at Sleights - Photo: Margaret Clough CCL

STAINTONDALE

Disused Station in Stationdale - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

Staintondale and its twin village Ravenscar are perfectly located for visitors who wish to explore the coastal reaches of the North Yorkshire Moors, sandwiched between the port of Whitby and the traditional resort of Scarborough. The area has a long, eventful history, beautiful surroundings and boasts a popular centre for old-fashioned shire horses.

THORNTON-LE-DALE

Just two miles from busy Pickering, this quaint village offers visitors a pleasant rural experience – though it can be a little crowded at times. Byways lead to glorious countryside views and the small Church of St Hilda at nearby Ellerburn dates back to the days of the Saxons. The local churchyard is the last resting place of The Black Knight of the North, Sir Richard Chomley, who served Elizabeth I.

Thatched Cottage in Thornton-le-Dale - Photo: John Harding CCL

WEST AYTON

River Dervent at West Ayton - Photo: Humphrey Bolton CCL

A typical moorland village, West Ayton is noted for the two bridges which carry traffic over the whispering River Derwent. One is an old stone bridge, the other a modern structure. There are interesting remains of 14th century Ayton Castle. Nearby is Scarborough Castle and the remnants of two other fortified houses, Brompton Castle and Wilton Castle.

WHITBY

The unique flavour of this seaside resort is reflected in one of its most popular attractions, the Dracula Experience. The town was partly responsible for Bram Stoker penning his famous vampire story after he heard the tale of how a dog was the only survivor of a shipwreck in the harbour. His imagination turned the real-life dog into a wolf which took refuge in St Mary’s Churchyard before embarking on a killing spree as a shape-shifting vampire.

Whitby Sunset Taken form the Pier - Photo: Phil Catterall CCL

Whitby Abbey - Photo: Colin Westley CCL

High above the town is a dramatic headland on which stands the ruin of Whitby Abbey. The Vikings destroyed an original abbey founded in 657AD by St Hilda but the Normans rebuilt it. The modern ruin dates from the 13th century. The nearby St Mary’s Church is approached by 199 steps, giving a glorious view of Whitby and its environs.

Whitby’s most famous inhabitant was the explorer Captain James Cook who served his nautical apprenticeship in this one-time whaling port and sailed for Tahiti in a locally-built ship in 1768. His house is marked by a plaque. Another well-known son of the town was the photographer Frank Meadow Sutcliffe. Many of his evocative pictures are on show locally.
 

Replica of Captain Cook's ship, Endeavour, leaving harbour - Photo: Colin F M Smith CCL

The town’s Pannett Park Museum tells the history of Whitby’s famous jet mining industry. Jet, or fossilised wood, has been turned into jewellery since prehistory. It was worn by Queen Victoria while she mourned the death of Prince Albert.