About
Kirkbymoorside
Gateway to the Moors
Nestling between the Howardian Hills and the North York Moors, the historic market town of Kirkbymoorside is one of North Yorkshire’s best kept secrets. Located halfway between the tourist towns of Helmsley and Pickering, you need to turn off the A170 at the roundabout to discover the delights of this charming town. Take that small detour and you will find a beautiful little town with its independent shops, Wednesday Market, pubs, cafes and a long and fascinating history.
Called the ‘Gateway to the Moors’, this historic market town was first mention of Kirkbymoorside was in the Domesday Book, and when in 1254, Henry III granted the town a Market Charter it was the biggest market town in the area with cattle being brought from Scotland to sell at the market. Nowadays it’s a bit quieter, an unspoilt warm and welcoming community where people take the time to say ‘hello’.
Home of the Famous Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band
For over 200 years it has been the home of the award winning Kirkbymoorside Town Brass Band, and more recently, the home of the annual Kirkbymoorside 10k race, where the whole town turns out to support the hundreds of runners.
Spot the TV location
Kirkbymoorside is the home of Ryedale Auctioneers, a Yorkshire auction house with an international audience run by Kirkbymoorside resident and TV star Angus Ashworth, aka the 'Yorkshire Auctioneer'. Grace Lane Vets in Kirkbymoorside have also featured on the Yorkshire Vet series, and the town was featured on Escape to the Country. The local TV connections continue with Mathewson's Classic Car Auctions (featured on Bangers and Cash) which is only up the road in Pickering with their museum in Thornton-le-Dale.
Perfect Holiday Location
Surrounded by stunning countryside, Kirkbymoorside is the perfect base for a holiday or short break whilst enjoying the lovely community atmosphere of Kirkbymoorside at the heart of it all. It’s 45 minutes by car to the historic City of York and the same to visit lovely Scarborough or Whitby (and then onto the other wonderful beaches of the Yorkshire Coast).
You can be on the stunning North York Moors in 10 minutes and its only 15 minutes to Flamingo Land Resort, 30 minutes to Go Ape and Dalby Forest and 40 minutes to the North Yorkshire Water Park.
If you like to visit historic houses and gardens, its less than 25 minutes to stunning Castle Howard and the Yorkshire Arboretum, 15 minutes to National Trust Nunnington Hall, 20 minutes to Ampleforth Abbey, 15 minutes to Duncombe Park and the National Centre for Birds of Prey and just 10 minutes to the Ryedale Folk Museum in picturesque Hutton-le-Hole.
With the ancient Manor Vale Woodland a few minutes’ walk from the town centre, the beautiful and challenging Kirkbymoorside Golf Course and the Kirkbymoorside Sports Field right on the edge of town, the nearby Helmsley Open Air Swimming Pool and many wonderful walks and cycle rides all around the town there is plenty for the more energetic to enjoy here.