Local Information
The picturesque, bustling market town of Helmsley is situated on the banks of the River Rye, from which Ryedale takes its name, and on the southern boundary of the North York Moors National Park . The large central square is home to a busy market and an antiques fair (Town Hall) on Fridays.
Helmsley is an ideal base for a holiday in one of England's most beautiful landscapes. The town itself, and the surrounding countryside, provide innumerable attractions for all age groups.
Within the town these include
the 12th century ruins of Helmsley Castle with Tudor Manor www.english-heritage.org.uk
restored walled garden www.ryedale.co.uk/index2.html
open air heated swimming pool https://www.helmsleyopenairpool.org/
Duncombe Park lies on the outskirts of the town. Landscaped gardens and parkland open to the public www.duncombepark.com
The National Centre for Birds of Prey, www.ncbp.co.uk , is situated within the grounds of Duncombe Park
Helmsley Arts Centre www.helmsleyarts.co.uk
a wide range of restaurants, tea shops and cafes to suit all tastes and pockets, including two Italians, traditional English and Indian restaurants
great shopping to cater for all needs including a small department store, two supermarket and many individual, independent clothing, household, antiques,stationers, books
award-wining delicatessens and many other food outlets www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/connecting-communities-with-food-suppliers
Helmsley Town Hall and library , which also hosts regular antique and handicraft fairs
The start of the Clevelamd Way National Trail https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/trails/cleveland-way/trail-information/
Slightly further afield, the magnificent countryside and coastal landscape of the North York Moors are a year round draw for walkers and nature lovers. Helmsley is the starting point of the Cleveland Way National Trail and the Ebor Way. More information can be found at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk.
Do look on the website for the weekly car parking passes that can make life so much easier if you are exploring the National Park area. These cover all of the National Park Authority car parks and cost £22.50 for 7 days from the date of issue. You can buy them from The Moors National Park Centre, Sutton Bank National Park Centre and the National Park Office in Helmsley. Alternatively contact Julia Jewitt on 01439 772700 and pay over the telephone.
Within easy access of Helmsley are a wide variety of attractions for children and adults alike, including
the beach resorts of the North Yorkshire coast including Whitby and Scarborough, and the picturesque fishing village at Robin Hood's Bay (all less than an hour's drive)
beautiful villages such as Thornton-le-Dale, Hutton-le-Hole and Rosedale Abbey (all within 30 minutes drive)
the restored steam railway running through The Moors from Pickering to Whitby www.nymr.co.uk (20 minutes drive )
Flamingo Land, the renowned theme park with amazing white-knuckle rides and zoo www.flamingoland.co.uk (25 minutes drive )
Eden Camp a Second World War history museum set in an ex-prisonor-of -war camp www.edencamp.co.uk (30 minutes drive )
Goathland, the Moors village setting for the popular TV series Heartbeat (40 minutes drive)
Rievaulx Abbey www.english-heritage.org.uk and Terrace and Temples www.nationaltrust.org.uk (5 minutes drive)
Castle Howard , the setting for the Brideshead Revisited TV drama series www.castlehoward.co.uk (20 minutes drive)
The Star Inn, a Michelin-starred restaurant at the nearby village of Harome www.thestaratharome.co.uk (5 minutes drive)
For more general information about Helmsley and the North York Moors, please visit
www.visitengland.com/things-to-do/north-york-moors
www.visithelmsley.co.uk
www.northyorkmoors.org.uk
www.ryedale.gov.uk/discover-ryedale/tourist-information
The photographs appear by kind courtesy of http://www.north-york-moors.com and may not be used elsewhere without the express permission of the copyright owner
