Helmsley

Helmsley is a market town in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, with a population of 1348 in 2021. The main attraction in town is Helmsley Castle, while Rievaulx Abbey is 3 miles west; the North York Moors surround the town.

Get in
East Yorkshire Bus 128 runs from Scarborough via Seamer, Brompton, Thornton-le-Dale, Pickering and Kirkbymoorside to Helmsley. It takes just under two hours and runs hourly M-F, every two hours Saturday. Pickering also has buses from Malton and in summer has heritage steam trains from Whitby.

Reliance Bus 31X runs two or three times M-Sa from York via Easingwold, Coxwold, Byland Abbey and Ampleforth to Helmsley, occasionally continuing to Kirkbymoorside.

The Moorsbus runs in July and August. M4 runs twice on Saturday from Redcar and Guisborough via Stokesley and Rievaulx Abbey to Hemsley and Sutton Bank. M5 runs once on Saturday from Stokesley via Northallerton, Thirsk, Byland Abbey and Ampleforth to Helmsley.

By road the usual approach is on A170 east from Thirsk, but caravans and heavy vehicles must not attempt Sutton Bank, where the road clambers up the scarp of the moors. Another scenic route, popular with motorcyclists, is B1257 from Stokesley near Middlesbrough.

Get around
The town is compact and Rievaulx is about an hour's hike. You need wheels to reach Nunnington Hall or to get around the countryside.

See

 * Market Place is well-preserved and lined with buildings mainly from the early 19th century.
 * The Walled Garden is behind the castle. It's open Apr-Oct: daily 10AM-5PM, adult £8, child free.
 * National Centre for Birds of Prey is at Duncombe Park. It's open Feb-Dec: daily 10AM-5:30PM; adult £9, child £6.50, no dogs.
 * Rievaulx Terrace is the Duncombe family's 1750s prettification of the site. It's a long grassy terrace on the hillside, with a couple of mock Doric temples, from which to gaze down at the abbey ruins. It's run by the National Trust and is a separate ticket from the abbey itself. Adult £7.35, child £3.70, NT free. Enter off B1257 half a mile east of the abbey.
 * See Thirsk for Byland Abbey a little further west.
 * is even more modern. It hosts a community of Benedictine nuns who relocated here from Stanbrook in Worcestershire in 2009. You can attend their church services.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard a few miles south.
 * See Pickering for Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole.
 * is even more modern. It hosts a community of Benedictine nuns who relocated here from Stanbrook in Worcestershire in 2009. You can attend their church services.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard a few miles south.
 * See Pickering for Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole.
 * See Malton for Castle Howard a few miles south.
 * See Pickering for Ryedale Folk Museum at Hutton-le-Hole.

Do



 * Helmsley Arts Centre puts on music, theatre, comedy etc.
 * Walk: The Cleveland Way starts at Helmsley castle. It heads west to Rievaulx Abbey; to loop around the abbey and return to Helmsley is seven miles. The trail continues to Sutton Bank, then turns north along the edge of the moors through Osmotherley, Guisborough, Saltburn, Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. The whole trail is 110 miles.
 * Walk: The Cleveland Way starts at Helmsley castle. It heads west to Rievaulx Abbey; to loop around the abbey and return to Helmsley is seven miles. The trail continues to Sutton Bank, then turns north along the edge of the moors through Osmotherley, Guisborough, Saltburn, Whitby, Scarborough and Filey. The whole trail is 110 miles.

Buy

 * The market is in the main square every Friday, plus often a craft fair upstairs in Town Hall.

Eat

 * Town centre choices include Helmsley Spice, La Trattoria, Bantam (below), the hotel bars, and several tea shops.
 * Vinehouse Cafe is within the walled garden, open Tu-Su 10AM-3PM.
 * Vinehouse Cafe is within the walled garden, open Tu-Su 10AM-3PM.

Drink

 * The Black Swan on Market Place also has rooms.
 * Helmsley Brewing Company on Bridge St is a micro-brewery with a range of five ales. Tours are available on Wednesdays, £8.
 * Helmsley Brewing Company on Bridge St is a micro-brewery with a range of five ales. Tours are available on Wednesdays, £8.

Sleep

 * Others in town include The Royal Oak and The Garden Cottage where you can stay in a converted railway carriage.
 * Others in town include The Royal Oak and The Garden Cottage where you can stay in a converted railway carriage.
 * Others in town include The Royal Oak and The Garden Cottage where you can stay in a converted railway carriage.
 * Others in town include The Royal Oak and The Garden Cottage where you can stay in a converted railway carriage.
 * Others in town include The Royal Oak and The Garden Cottage where you can stay in a converted railway carriage.

Connect
As of June 2020, Helmsley and its main approach roads have a decent mobile and 4G signal, though EE and Three may be scratchy indoors. 5G has not reached this area.

Go next

 * Thirsk is best known as the home of vet "James Herriot", and for its racetrack.
 * Scarborough is a Victorian seaside resort. Cliffs stretch north through picturesque Robin Hood's Bay to Whitby; south are Filey, Bridlington and Flamborough Head.
 * York retains its medieval walls and has a great collection of sights and attractions.