Top 15 Activities in Helmsley, North Yorkshire

With its charming stone buildings, vibrant marketplace, and flourishing spring foliage, Helmsley in Ryedale embodies the essence of a classic English market town.

Remarkably, there is an abundance of historical heritage nearby, including the medieval ruins of Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley Castle, as well as the landscaped terraces and architectural follies in Duncombe Park.

A remnant of this estate is the Walled Garden, which originally provided produce for the mansion’s kitchen and features a cafe housed within a Victorian vinery.

Situated on the cusp of the North York Moors National Park, Helmsley serves as a trailhead for the 110-mile Cleveland Way National Trail, enabling immediate access to the expansive natural environment.

Let us delve into the top attractions to explore in and around Helmsley:

1. Rievaulx Abbey

Situated in a secluded wooded dale beside the River Rye, the remnants of the Cistercian Rievaulx Abbey illustrate the monastic wealth and influence prior to its dissolution by Henry VIII in 1538. A view of the magnificent abbey church reveals the prosperity derived from the wool trade and the extraction of iron ore and lead.

At its zenith, Rievaulx Abbey managed 6,000 acres and established daughter houses across England and Scotland.

The ruins are exceptionally well-preserved, and English Heritage has developed an audioguide narrating nine centuries of history, detailing how the monks navigated the river and balanced spiritual obligations with economic power.

The museum on-site showcases intricate stonework and notable everyday artifacts, including ceramics, gold coins, and chess pieces.

2. Helmsley Castle

Perched on a rocky outcrop commanding the River Rye, Helmsley Castle was established in the 12th century, with stone constructions emerging in subsequent decades.

At one point during the 15th century, the castle was under the ownership of Richard III, and during the Tudor period in the 16th century, the site was renovated to enhance comfort, converting the old hall into a mansion.

In 1644, during the English Civil War, the castle endured a three-month siege by Parliamentarian Sir Thomas Fairfax. Although the defensive structures were dismantled, the mansion remained intact, now housing an interactive exhibition regarding the historic site.

Similar to Rievaulx Abbey, an informative audio tour of the castle is available, and English Heritage has instituted a scenic two-mile walk linking the abbey to the castle.

For enthusiasts of antiquities, the regular free tours of the Helmsley Archaeology Store, which archives artifacts recovered from various English Heritage sites across Northern England, should not be missed.

3. Helmsley Walled Garden

This walled garden, positioned near Helmsley Castle, was constructed in 1756 as a kitchen garden for the Duncombe Park mansion.

It provided vegetables, fruits, and flowers for the Duncombe family until shortly after World War I, when it transitioned to a local market garden.

In the 1980s, the garden fell into disrepair until restoration efforts commenced in 1994, emphasizing sustainable practices.

Visitors can now appreciate the beautifully restored Victorian glasshouses, serene Garden of Contemplation, orchard, and the extensive double herbaceous Hot Border.

Additionally, there is a vegetable garden, a clematis garden featuring 100 varieties, and a new edible flower garden.

The garden’s fresh produce is featured in dishes at the acclaimed Vinehouse Café, where 19th-century vine cultivars gracefully climb above the dining areas.

4. National Centre for Birds of Prey

This esteemed wildlife attraction is located within the landscaped grounds of the Duncombe Park estate, as discussed further below.

The centre houses over 40 aviaries containing numerous hawks, owls, eagles, and falcons from more than 60 species.

Visitors can enjoy spectacular flying and handling demonstrations held three times daily (twice in winter). Each demonstration features different species, making it worthwhile to stay longer to witness as many birds as possible in flight.

Should inclement weather occur, there is an indoor flying area available.

Your entry ticket to the centre also includes access to 300 acres of historic parkland on the Duncombe estate, ideal for tranquil walks amidst beautiful scenery.

5. Duncombe Park

Although the 18th-century Palladian mansion at Duncombe Park is not accessible to the public, 450 acres of the estate, encompassing parkland and a nature reserve, remains open year-round, except for Christmas and the early days of January.

From late April to the end of August, visitors can access the 35-acre gardens, established between 1713 and 1730 on a plateau more than 50 meters above Helmsley Castle and the River Rye.

The gardens feature expansive grass terraces adorned with classical temples designed by John Vanbrugh and serene woodland walks that provide breathtaking views.

Be sure to observe the sundial sculpted by the Flemish artist John van Nost, representing Father Time.

Subsequently, in the 19th century, Charles Barry, renowned for his work on the Houses of Parliament, made contributions to Duncombe Park’s design, including forecourt pavilions adjacent to intimate formal gardens.

6. Rievaulx Terrace

The Duncombe family also conceived another artistic landscaping project, this one overlooking the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey.

Constructed in 1758, the Rievaulx Terrace follows the sinuous lines of a wooded escarpment, commissioned by Thomas Duncombe II, the son of the individual behind the terraces at Duncombe Park to the southeast. It seems there were even intentions to connect the two sites.

The Rievaulx Terrace is framed by two classical temples.

The southern temple is a Doric structure adorned with Medieval flooring from the abbey, while the northern temple showcases an Ionic design inspired by the Temple of Portunus in Rome, intended for banquets and still featuring Georgian-style furnishings and opulent ceiling paintings.

7. North York Moors National Park

Helmsley attracts visitors due to its location in the southwestern part of the North York Moors National Park.

Covering over 550 square miles, this landscape offers tranquility, refreshing air, and abundant natural beauty.

Notably, the scenery can change dramatically within just a few miles.

In the southern section of the national park, the geology primarily consists of limestone, characterized by rolling valleys, wildflower meadows, and a canopy of woodlands.

If visiting in spring, the daffodils blooming a few miles away in Farndale are a delight.

The nearby Dalby Forest features extensive outdoor activities, including walking and cycling routes (bike rentals available) and high ropes courses at Go Ape.

As one heads north within the national park, the environment transforms into an untamed expanse of vast heather moors, exhibiting subtle purple hues at the conclusion of summer, with scarcely any trees in sight.

8. Church of All Saints, Helmsley

In the 1860s, Helmsley’s medieval parish church underwent reconstruction in a Gothic Revival style, while still retaining features dating back to the 1100s.

Visitors enter through surviving Norman Romanesque arches on the south porch and doorway, the latter showcasing chevron moulding in its archivolts, alongside scalloped and volute capitals.

Further Norman stonework from this period can be found in the 12th-century chancel arch, adorned with chevrons and beakheads, also supported by capitals featuring volute interlace and zigzag patterns.

Within the nave’s north arcade, take note of the 13th-century foliate capitals, in addition to a 15th-century brass dedicated to a knight located in the tower, which also features a beautiful 13th-century arch with clustered columns.

9. Helmsley Discovery Trail

Despite the remarkable sites surrounding the town, it is advisable to allocate an hour or two to explore the picturesque town center.

An independent business consortium and Ryedale District Council have cooperated to establish a series of walking routes throughout Helmsley and its vicinity.

The shortest path, the Helmsley Discovery Trail, exceeds one mile in length and highlights the town’s primary attractions, including the vibrant Market Place, the castle, the Walled Garden, and the charming Borobeck stream adjacent to Castlegate.

During spring, the grassy banks of this gentle stream come alive with vibrant daffodil blooms.

After visiting the Walled Garden, the trail merges with a section of the Cleveland Way National Trail, ascending a stone path to a vantage point offering picturesque views over Duncombe Park and the surrounding pastoral landscape.

10. Helmsley Open Air Swimming Pool

Few towns in Yorkshire have preserved their 20th-century lidos, but Helmsley’s heated outdoor pool is located just north of the town along Baxton’s Sprunt.

Opened in the 1960s, the pool measures 20 x 8 meters and is overseen by the Feversham Memorial Committee, a local charity.

Open during spring and summer, this pool offers children a delightful way to enjoy a few hours during the summer holidays, serving as a significant community facility that also hosts dawn swimming sessions for the Summer Solstice and nighttime swims for celestial events such as meteor showers and lunar eclipses.

11. Nunnington Hall

This splendid National Trust property boasts a richly diverse architectural heritage, originating from several eras.

The earliest structures are Elizabethan and Jacobean, while following damage during the Civil War, the residence was remodeled in the Carolean style at the close of the 17th century.

While the architect responsible for this phase remains unknown, the gabled south front and the impressive Oak Hall were constructed to the highest standards of the period.

The majority of the interior embellishments are from this era, characterized by luxurious paneling and stone-flagged floors, with the Oak Hall celebrated for its intricately designed chimneypiece.

Staircases provide access to family quarters, a nursery, and the attics, while the grounds are adorned with vibrant borders, blooming meadows, and an orchard of historic fruit varieties.

12. Helmsley Arts Centre

Despite being a small town, Helmsley enjoys a vibrant performing arts scene, centered around the Helmsley Arts Centre.

Originally a Quaker meeting house from the early 19th century, this centre hosts a variety of performances, including theatre, dance, live music, comedy, lectures, and film screenings, along with exhibitions, classes, workshops, and numerous activities for children.

The 140-seat auditorium also showcases live broadcasts and recordings from the National Theatre, Royal Shakespeare Company, Bolshoi Ballet, and Glyndebourne.

The Studio Bar offers refreshments during events and serves as an alternative performance space, accommodating 55 guests for theatre and cabaret performances.

13. Helmsley Brewing Company

Situated in an unassuming building on Bridge Street, the Helmsley Brewing Company operates as a microbrewery, producing a range of traditional ales and innovative craft beers.

While the brewtap may not resemble a conventional pub, it is a lively and welcoming space to engage in conversation and absorb the local atmosphere.

You can enjoy a pint of Helmsley Honey, a golden ale, or H!PA, a fusion of American IPA and traditional English ale, while Striding the Riding combines English, American, and Slovenian hops with a subtle malt character.

For those interested in the brewing process, guided tours of the brewery are available, delving into mashing, boiling, and fermentation methods, concluding with a complimentary bottle, pint, or tasting paddle.

14. Cleveland Way

Helmsley serves as a trailhead for the Cleveland Way, a 110-mile National Trail encircling the North York Moors and extending to the coast.

This path traverses remote upland moors, offering distant vistas, and passes by castles, ancient stone crosses, and idyllic rural villages.

Your journey culminates at Saltburn-by-the-Sea, from which you will begin heading south along the North Sea coastline, wandering along lofty cliff-tops that plunge into quaint coves and fishing villages.

For an introduction, consider walking the initial leg west to Cold Kirkby.

Differing from the stark moorland further north, this walk guides you through ancient woodlands and cultivated fields, where honesty boxes by the path offer fresh produce and homemade flapjacks.

15. Ryedale Show

On the final Tuesday of July, one of the largest one-day agricultural shows in the UK takes place a few miles from Helmsley at Reagarth Farm.

The event features livestock exhibitions for sheep, pigs, goats, and cattle, along with sheepdog trials, a horse show, a dog show, and competitions for produce and crafts.

A vintage section spotlighting restored historic tractors adds to the charm of the event.

More than 200 trade stands offer an array of goods, from equestrian equipment to agricultural machinery.

This showcase celebrates the rural traditions and skills of North Yorkshire, ensuring there are activities to engage attendees of all ages.