North York Moors

Towns & Villages

AMPLEFORTH

This is the location of the magnificent Ampleforth Abbey, which was built in the early 19th century and still has a community of more than 90 monks. A private Catholic boys’ public school was also established here and is known as the ‘Catholic Eton’. Part of an 11th century manor house at nearby Gilling East is open to the public.

Ampleforth Abbey - Photo: Stephen Horncastle CCL

BOROUGHBRIDGE

Boroughbridge War Memorial - Photo: Alison Stamp CCL

With a 250ft well in the market place, this small town close to the city of York has an appropriately murky past. It was here in 1322 that the two rebel earls of Lancaster and Hereford were soundly defeated at the Battle of Boroughbridge by Edward II. Hereford was killed while Lancaster was later executed. Large prehistoric stones known as the Devil’s Arrows can be seen in the area.

BROMPTON

Lying in picturesque moorland, Brompton’s 14th century church provided the location for the wedding of the great Romantic poet William Wordsworth and his sweetheart Mary Hutchinson, a local farmer’s daughter, in 1802. His life and work are celebrated at a gallery at Gallow’s Hill.

Church of St. Thomas - Photo: Richard Thomson CCL

CHOP GATE

Chop Gate and Cold Moor - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

Surrounded by the glorious Hambleton Hills, Chop Gate is a picturesque moorland village that offers the traveller spectacular views as well as unrivalled opportunities for rambling, cycling and sightseeing.

COXWOLD

A village of pretty stone houses, Coxwold is famous as the place where the Irish churchman, novelist and gambler Laurence Sterne wrote his comic masterpiece ‘The Life and Times of Tristram Shandy’. The 15th century house opposite the village church was later renamed Shandy Hall and is now run by the Laurence Sterne Trust as a museum. Nearby is the 12th century Newburgh Priory, which was turned into a country house, and the atmospheric ruin of Byland Abbey, once one of Britain’s greatest Cistercian structures. Built in the 12th century it was dissolved in the 16th century.

Byland Abbey - Photo: Alison Stamp CCL

EASINGWOLD

Church of St. John the Baptist - Photo: Bill Henderson CCL

A small red-brick market town with cobbled streets, Easingwold has a Gothic church and an old bull ring. Many people come here to view ‘Herriot’ country. At one time the area was contained within the Norman hunting Forest of Galtres. The splendid Howardian Hills rise nearby while the City of Troy Maze is the only surviving example in this part of the world of the bygone game of ‘treading the maze’.

GREAT AYTON

This is undoubtedly one of the prettiest villages in the region and it was where the great explorer Captain James Cook was taught at Postgate School. The school is now a museum dedicated to the great man and his remarkable voyages. A 50ft monument to Cook stands proudly on nearby Easby Moor. Two miles away, at Newton, is a footpath that takes the visitor to the distinctive 1,000ft landmark of Roseberry Topping.

The River Leven at Great Ayton - Photo: Colin Smith CCL

HAWNBY

Hawnby Hill behind Hawnby Village - Photo: Gordon Hatton CCL

This a great place for walking and from Hawnby you can head over moorland to the picturesque Hambleton Hills. An old drovers’ road leads to the summit of Black Hambleton. At 1,257ft this offers marvellous views over the Vale of York and towards the Pennines. The village itself lies on the River Rye and has a fine Norman church. John Wesley preached here in 1757 and it gained a reputation for Methodism. Nearby Arden Hall is the seat of the Earls of Mexborough. Mary Queen of Scots stayed here briefly en route to her execution.

INGLEBY CROSS

Serene and laid back, the village of Ingleby Cross lies in the considerable shadow of the beautiful Cleveland Hills, which seduces thousands of walkers each year. The village also lies on the Coast to Coast walk and is close to the beautiful Mount Grace Priory.

Cod Beck Reservoir  - Photo: Martin Norman CCL

INGLEBY GREENHOW

Ingleby Greenhow Parish Church - Photo: Stephen Horncastle CCL

A picturesque moorland village located a few miles from Guisborough, Ingleby Greenhow dates from at least the 11th century, although only the local parish church carries evidence of those early days. Above the village in the magnificent Cleveland Hills is rugged Battersby Moor where there is a round cairn.

KILBURN

Kilburn is best known as the home of the late Robert Thompson, one of Britain’s most important woodworkers. The son of a local joiner, his carvings, all containing his individual trademark - a mouse - can be seen in churches across Britain, including Westminster Abbey. His workshop is at the centre of the village and visitors can see the skill of wood carving in action.

Behind the village is the figure of a 300ft white horse dug into the hillside of Sutton Bank. It was the work of a local schoolmaster and his pupils in 1857. Sutton Bank is the base of the Yorkshire Gliding Club.

Kilburn White Horse - Photo: Gordon Hatton CCL

KIRKBY

St. Augustines Church - Photo: Bill Henderson CCL

This small village near Stokesley is surrounded by beautiful countryside and is ideal for walkers and cyclists alike. The coast is just a 30-minute drive away. Nearby attractions include both Mount Grace Priory – the best-preserved Carthusian monastery in Britain – and 12th century Guisborough Priory.

NORTHALLERTON

Close to this market town, where houses are grouped together round a church with a 15th century tower, is Cowton Moor, site of the Battle of the Standard in 1138. At one time the town was the ‘capital’ of North Yorkshire and during the 18th and 19th centuries it became famous for the manufacture of spurs. The Old Fleece Inn is part-medieval.

Pack Horse Bridge at nearby Romanby - Photo: Heather Holdridge CCL

OSMOTHERLEY

Mount Grace Priory - Photo: Alison Stamp CCL

Taking its name from the Saxon prince Osmund, Osmotherley lies just a few miles from the Cleveland Hills and the picturesque Osmotherley Moor. It stands at the start of the challenging 40-mile Lyke Wake Walk to Ravenscar. John Wesley preached here by the town’s cross. Nearby is the ruin of Mount Grace Priory, probably the best-preserved Carthusian house in England. Founded by Thomas Holland, Duke of Surrey, at the end of the 14th century, it was home to ‘silent’ monks who even avoided contact with each other.

STOKESLEY

Stokesley is a quiet market town well situated for exploring the Moors yet convenient for Teesside. West Green at the end of High Street is very attractive bordered by period houses and well kept cottages. The river Leven flows behind the main street - a pleasant feature with grassy banks, footbridges and a ford.

Market day is Friday, with a livestock mart on Tuesdays. September brings the annual four day Fair to the streets and the huge Agricultural Show to the nearby showfield.

Stokesley Fair - Photo: Mick Garratt CCL

SUTTON-UNDER-WHITESTONECLIFFE

Hambleton Hills - Photo: Scott Rimmer CCL

This village lies at the foot of Sutton Bank on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park and, with 27 letters, is noted in the Guinness book of records as a candidate for the longest village name in England, however being hyphenated means it does not take the record. The market town of Thirsk – one-time home of the novel-writing vet James Herriot – is just a few miles down the road while many other places of interest are within relatively easy reach.

SWAINBY

Swainby is located on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park within striking distance of the coast. A quaintly traditional village, it is surrounded by softly-spoken heather moorland becalmed within a maze of dry-stone walls. The Cleveland Way and a national cycle route pass right through the village.

Swainby - Photo: Stephen Horncastle CCL

THIRSK

North Kilvington Sunset - Photo: Sandy Holland CCL

An interesting market town a few miles north of Northallerton, Thirsk (or should that be Darrowby?) is where a Scot named Alf Wright began his career as a vet in the dark days of 1939. Now better known as the creator of the TV veterinary surgeon James Herriot, his life and work are celebrated at the ‘World of James Herriot’ at Skeldale House. This museum takes the visitor back in time and is also dedicated to veterinary science.