Discover Helmsley
Helmsley is a town located in North Yorkshire, governed by the North Yorkshire Council (formerly Ryedale). With a population of approximately 1,700, it is situated within postcode area YO62. Notable for its historic Helmsley Castle and the scenic North York Moors, the town is a focal point for visitors exploring the region's heritage and landscapes.
Explore the map below to discover accommodation, attractions, restaurants, and live events across Helmsley. Scroll down to browse featured listings and plan your perfect visit.
Stay in Helmsley
Forge Cottage, Helmsley
Host & Stay - Willow Cottage
Host & Stay - Buckingham Square
8 Pottergate Mews
Things to Do in Helmsley
Yorkshire In Style
YHA Helmsley
YHA Helmsley offers a comfortable and friendly youth hostel experience in a superb location, perfect for exploring the North York Moors.
National Centre for Birds of Prey (NCBP)
Experience the awe-inspiring world of raptors with spectacular flying displays and educational talks at this top-rated centre.
Food & Drink
Forest Espresso
Discover Forest Espresso, a highly-rated coffee shop in Helmsley celebrated for its exceptional brews and friendly service.
Cocoa Tree Cafe
Enjoy delicious, freshly made food, superb hot drinks, and amazing cakes in this warm, dog-friendly Helmsley cafe.
The Black Swan Tearoom
Interactive Map
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Geographic Facts
This town is geographically within the following regions:
- Population
- 1,699
- Postcode
- YO62
- Administrative area
- North Yorkshire Council (formerly Ryedale)
- Dialing code
- 01439
- Timezone
- UTC±00:00
Data sourced from Wikidata and verified public records
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Walkshire in Helmsley
More Walks in Helmsley →
Walk: Helmsley and Beck Dale
Helmsley and Beck Dale is a 10.3 kilometer loop trail located near York, North Yorkshire, England that features a great forest setting and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and trail running. The Route what3words for start point: ///slope.deserved.swoop Start Point: Market Pl, Helmsley, York YO62 5BH Distance: 6 Miles GPX Route Map helmsleyandbeckdaleDownload Walk Description A circular walk from the market town of Helmsley in Ryedale. The route heads north through the beautiful woodland belt of Beck Dale, following an idyllic babbling brook, before crossing a few fields and returning via another woodland belt, Ash Dale. The walk has just gentle slopes for the most part, with one steep climb about half way round. Whilst some of the tracks are firm stone, many of the other stretches through woodland can be muddy in winter and after periods of rain. You will need to negotiate several single bridle gates throughout plus one stile (which can easily be avoided if necessary). You will be sharing a few of the fields with sheep so take particular care with dogs. One field could also be holding a mixture of cattle and sheep (although this one field can also be avoided if necessary). Allow 3 hours. There are public toilets in Borogate (just south of Helmsley Market Place at the start and end of the walk). If you are looking for refreshments, you will be spoilt for choice with pubs, cafes and restaurants in Helmsley at the start or end of the walk. OS Map: Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area. This walk follows public footpaths and bridleways which cross private and public land. Please respect people's privacy, keep dogs under control and remember the Countryside Code.
Walk: Helmsley and River Rye
Helmsley and River Rye is a 6.4 kilometer loop trail located near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and running. The Route what3words for start point: ///caked.appraised.lunge Start / Finish Point: Helmsley Distance: 4 Miles GPX Route Map helmsleyandriverryeDownload Walk Description A circular walk from the market town of Helmsley in Ryedale. The route heads south along the banks of the River Rye, through pastures and crop fields, crossing the river via the footbridge alongside the fish farm and then returning on a higher farm track giving glorious long-reaching views. The walk is flat for the most part, with just a couple of steady climbs. The riverside grass paths can get muddy at times. You will need to negotiate several single gates, a couple of kissing gates, some footbridges and 4 stiles. The first stile has a very generous adjacent dog gate, but the following 3 have tighter wooden fence surrounds (suitable for small dogs to squeeze through but larger dogs may need a lift over). You will be sharing the riverside pastures with a mixture of horses, sheep and cattle, so take particular care with dogs. If you want to avoid the cattle and tight-surround stiles, a more dog-friendly option would be to follow just the first 1.5 miles, a 3 mile there and backwalk (with only sheep, horses and a generous dog gate to contend with). At the end of the walk you will need to cross the A170 river bridge (which does not have a pavement) so take particular care of traffic at this point. Allow 2 hours. There are public toilets in Borogate (just south of Helmsley Market Place at the start and end of the walk). If you are looking for refreshments, you will be spoilt for choice with pubs, cafes and restaurants in Helmsley at the start or end of the walk. OS Map: Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area. This walk follows public footpaths and bridleways which cross private and public land. Please respect people's privacy, keep dogs under control and remember the Countryside Code.
Walk: Helmsley and Riccal Dale
Helmsley and Riccal Dale is a 13.0 kilometer loop trail located near Helmsley, North Yorkshire, England that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, walking, and running. The Route what3words for start point: ///caked.appraised.lunge Start / Finish Point: Helmsley, York YO62 5BH Distance: 8 Miles GPX Route Map helmsleyandriccaldaleDownload Walk Description A circular walk from the market town of Helmsley in Ryedale. The route heads out across sheep pastures and open fields to explore the woodland ravine of Riccal Dale, in the company of the beautiful River Riccal. The walk has several climbs and descents throughout, including a couple of steep sections within the woodlands. Whilst some of the tracks are firm stone, many of the other stretches through woodland can be very muddy in winter and after periods of rain so good boots are a must. You will need to negotiate several single bridle gates throughout plus one stile (with adjacent dog gap within the fence) and two footbridges with steps on the return leg. If necessary, you can avoid the stile and bridges by simply using the same paths for the outward and return leg. You will be sharing a few of the fields with sheep (and maybe horses) so take particular care with dogs. Allow 4 hours. There are public toilets in Borogate (just south of Helmsley Market Place at the start and end of the walk). If you are looking for refreshments, you will be spoilt for choice with pubs, cafes and restaurants in Helmsley at the start or end of the walk. OS Map: Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area. This walk follows public footpaths and bridleways which cross private and public land. Please respect people's privacy, keep dogs under control and remember the Countryside Code.
Walk: Rievaulx Abbey, Cold Kirby and Old Byland
The magnificent ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, wooded valleys and historic churches. The Route what3words for start point: ///crescendo.finders.charging Start Point: Rievaulx Bank, Rievaulx, Helmsley, York YO62 5LB Finish Point: Rievaulx Abbey Distance: 9 Miles GPX Route Map rievaulxabbeyDownload Walk Description Rievaulx Abbey is an architectural masterpiece set in stone, with soaring pillars, walls and windows. The impressive ruins have a romantic setting in the wooded valley of Ryedale, from which the abbey is named. Its history stretches back to 1132 when twelve monks came from Clairvaux in France to establish the first Cistercian abbey in the North. They had been given 1,000 acres of waste land by Walter Espec of Helmsley Castle, which met their requirements exactly as theirs was an Order of poverty and simplicity. Their land holdings soon increased as Norman lords sought favour with the monks and, they hoped, a passage into Heaven. It was during the mid 12th Century that the abbey prospered and when most of the major building work took place, with Rievaulx becoming the largest monastic establishment in England with 140 choir monks and over 500 lay brothers. By the early 13th Century Rievaulx Abbey had acquired several thousand acres of land predominantly in the North York Moors but also across the North of England on which they developed sheep farming. The fortunes of the abbey turned for the worse during the 13th Century due to poor wool prices as well as debts accrued due to land purchases and construction work. This was compounded in the 14th Century when Scottish raids became more frequent. When the abbey was suppressed in 1538 on the orders of Henry VIII there were only 22 monks left. From Rievaulx Abbey, our route heads south to reach the historic Rievaulx Bridge, built in the 13th Century by the monks. The beautiful wooded valleys of Nettle Dale and Flassen Dale lead to the village of Cold Kirby. The layout of this linear village has changed little since medieval times with cottages and farms lining the single street. St Michael’s Church dates from the 12th Century, although almost completely rebuilt in 1841, and was originally ministered by the Order of Knights Templars. Not far from Old Byland stands Tylas Farm where the monks of Byland Abbey first settled in the early 12th Century, having fled their previous home at Calder (Cumbria) due to Scottish raids. However, this new home was not suitable as they could hear the bells of Rievaulx a few miles down the valley so after four years they moved to Oldstead and then finally settled at Byland Abbey, where they built their magnificent abbey. Book Rievaulx Abbey tickets The abbey itself is managed by English Heritage and tickets can be booked online here. Book tickets