Thornton-Le-Dale is a beautiful, quaint English village and undoubtedly one of the most picturesque in Yorkshire. With its olde worlde charm, scenic surroundings and friendly atmosphere, it is easy to see why the village has been voted the prettiest in Yorkshire on more than one occasion! Why not take a look at our Gallery of Photographs?
Nestled on the southern edge of the North Yorkshire Moors on the A170, Thornton-Le-Dale is the perfect location for a day visit or a holiday and is ideally located as a touring base with quick and easy access to Pickering, Dalby Forest, North York Moors and the coastal towns of Whitby and Scarborough. There is a large car park in the centre of the village - two minutes walk to the village centre (Aerial View and Map). The car park access is via Maltongate, it seems like you are leaving the village but the road loops back round to the village heart. The post code of the car park entrance road is YO18 7SD ....more
Take a leisurely stroll around the village and you will be impressed by the picturesque setting, relaxing atmosphere and the interesting history and architecture. Passing under small stone bridges, Thornton beck meanders throughout the village with the renowned Beck Isle Thatched Cottage situated on the bend. This famous scene is one of the most photographed aspects of the village and is regularly featured on postcards, calendars and jigsaws.
Situated in the centre of the village and catering for your every need, we have an excellent array of traditional shops, restaurants, cafes, pubs, gift shops and much, much more including a chocolate factory and ice cream parlour!
The central point of the village is the 13th century market cross surrounded by The Green where many traditional events take place, including the popular ‘switching on’ of the spectacular Christmas lights. Staged annually on the first Saturday of December, this event is lively and entertaining and you can expect Father Christmas to arrive, roast hogg, mulled wine, live music and a variety of festive stalls. During the summer months, we have our Sunday afternoon event ‘Music on the Green’, creating a relaxing and entertaining ambience with the sound of local bands being heard throughout the village.
We have a very spacious car park that is sympathetically screened behind trees and a stream, access to it is on Malton Gate and from here, you can take a two-minute short cut to the centre of the village via the picturesque and well-known duck pond.
Walks and strolls to suit all abilities can be taken from the village, with bridle paths and bike trails opening the gateway to beautiful countryside views and the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Our popular walks booklet is available to download on the ‘Walks’ web page.