Local area
The little hamlet of Whorlton is situated just a mile from the pretty village of Swainby located at the north-western corner of the North York Moors National Park. The characteristics of the village and the surrounding area consist of traditional Yorkshire dry stone walls, hills, sheep, heather and moorland. The village is close to the ruins of Whorlton Castle. Swainby has a village store, two pubs and The Rusty Bike a popular café serving home cooked food.
Osmotherley – Is the start of the famous Lykwake Walk and the Coast-to-Coast walk. Favourite walking routes of ours at BE include the walk from the village up to the Lady Chapel originally built by Monks in the 15th Century and a holy shrine for the Middlesbrough Catholic Diocese. From here you can take in stunning views across the Vale of York. Another favourite route is heading out of the village towards Cod Beck reservoir where you can walk a circular route around the reservoir before returning to the village. We think this is particularly impressive in the Autumn, especially on a clear day when the glorious coppery coloured trees are reflected in the water of the reservoir.
Close by is Mount Grace Priory reached by a leisurely three mile walk from Osmotherley. It’s the best preserved Carthusian Monastery in England and the ruins are so interesting to meander around. Another draw is the incredible garden, recently renovated by Chris Beardshaw.
Northallerton is a County town set in the rich farmland of Herriot Country, located at the foot of a ridge dividing two river basin areas, the Wiske and the Cod Beck, in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, on the edge of the Vale of York, between the Hambleton Hills and the Yorkshire Dales. This thriving Georgian market town boasts market days on Wednesdays and Saturdays, when both sides of the High Street are home to stalls selling a wide range of goods and produce, plus on the fourth Wednesday of the month the market is joined by a farmers’ market.
Despite its modest size, Northallerton has a number of independent and national shops, including Betty’s Tea Rooms, Lewis & Cooper, an outstanding delicatessen and wine merchant, award-winning butcher’s, artisan baker, greengrocers, department store, several supermarkets and bookshops.
This is a great location for exploring the stunning North York Moors National Park, which is full of bike trails and fantastic scenic walks, and the very popular Rievaulx Abbey.
Other nearby towns include Helmsley, Thirsk and ‘Herriot Country’, Richmond and a little further afield you will find the ancient City of York which can be accessed by the train station in Northallerton just a few miles away.
Not to be missed, the North East Coast with it’s fishing villages and expansive beaches, Whitby has a traditional working harbour and its famous Abbey is a spectacular sight. Goathland and Grosmont with the old steam railway are well worth a visit too.
Exploring
The cottage sits at the foot of the Cleveland Hills in the North York Moors National Park
- Swainby Village 1 mile
- Osmotherley Village 19 mile
- Helmsley 24 miles
- Harrogate 23 miles
- City of York 33 miles
- Yorkshire Dales 18 miles
- Castle Howard 34 miles
- Whitby, North Yorkshire Coast 65 miles
