Town End Farm, holiday accommodation in Yorkshire

A luxurious escape to the North York Moors

Tel: 01751 417960 Email: relax@townendfarm.org.uk

Helmsley – the Park’s only market town

by | Sep 16, 2025 | Latest, Local Businesses

Four white paper plates, each holding six pea pods, are arranged on a table with a gray tablecloth. A red card next to one plate indicates a "FIRST PRIZE" win, a blue card next to another plate says "SECOND PRIZE," and a yellow card next to a third plate says "THIRD PRIZE." A pink card at the top of the display indicates the class is "CLASS 20 6 PODS PEAS."

Welcome to Helmsley

Helmsley just has a lovely feel about it.  Maybe it’s the strong community spirit, the gorgeous old buildings, or just a town full of happy people. Whatever the reason, this pretty market town (the only one in the North York Moors National Park) is incredibly welcoming the moment you step into its impressive market square.

It has a feeling of “hunting and fishing” (there’s lots of tweed for sale here) that rubs shoulders with weekend bikers who hang out in the village square.

Exploring the Town Centre

Parking in the main square can be a bit of a bun fight, so head to the car park at the back of the town. It’s down the road opposite the Feversham Arms and walk back into town past the castle.

The old sandstone buildings add to that warm feeling as you wander the lanes branching off the square. You’ll find a great mix of independent shops, cozy cafés, and delicious restaurants just waiting to be explored.

Cross the bridge over the River Rye and you’ll quickly spot the amazing medieval castle, standing like a guard on a grassy hill. Right below it, the beautiful Helmsley Walled Garden offers a perfect escape from the hustle and bustle.

A close-up shot of a rustic wooden table piled high with a superb selection of baked goods. In the foreground, there are cupcakes decorated with icing and edible flowers, as well as slices of different cakes and brownies. In the background, there is a large wooden bread trough filled with baguettes and croissants, and on a shelf against a stone wall, there are bags of organic flour in various colors.
A man with short brown hair, a blue sweater, and a relaxed smile is seated at a wooden table in a cafe, looking directly at the camera. In front of him is a tall burger with a skewer holding bacon and other toppings, a bowl of french fries, and a small dish of sauce. In the background, another person is partially visible, leaning over a table. A chalkboard menu is on the wall behind them.

A Treat for Your Taste Buds

There are lots of shops, galleries and eateries to explore. Here are just a few of our favourite ones:

Hunters of Helmsley  – an award winning family run shop that sells a massive range of food and produce. Lots of local produce as well as international hard to find items. Downstairs they do a roaring trade in sandwiches, pies, ice creams and local cheeses. Upstairs is an Aladdin’s cave of gourmet treats from fancy chocolates to herbs and spices. A perfect place to stock up for a picnic.

The Bakers House  – check out the table piled high with a fantastic selection of fresh baked goodies. Showcased in an old wooden bread trough, are delicious loaves of organic white, wholemeal, and rye bread. The best part? The grain is grown and milled just down the road from Appleton. You’ll also find rustic loaves made with ancient grains like spelt, emmer, and einkhorn.

Mannions & Co Kitchen – great for a coffee, brunch or a bistro style lunch. The busy main dining room upstairs gets full quickly, but in fine weather, there is seating outside.  There are a number of grazing plates;  the “Bits and Bobs” grazing board is huge. And there are always some interesting dishes on the specials menu. 

Ryeburn of Helmsley – this place is dangerous for your waistline if you are a lover of ice cream. Like a lot of places locally, Ryeburn of Helmsley was set up by the Otterburn family when trying to find out ways to use up the milk quota from the family herd. It grew from then as word spread, and now it is all they do.

There are 48 flavours on sale, from Cookies and Cream to Peach and Brandy. Look out for Liquorice and Fruits of the Forest to Gin and Lavender, as well as a dozen or so sorbets (milk protein-free) You can sample in the cafe, or buy a tub(s) to take home. We recommend the Pistachio, and also (slightly randomly) the Christmas Pudding. 

Something to drink

Helmsley Wine.  – Helmsley Wines is a family run wine shop with a great selection of wine and spirits from reasonably priced to higher end. Call in and mention you are staying at the Long Barn to Mal; he’ll be happy to suggest the perfect wine for you. And he’ll also give you a 10% discount. They also have a good on line shop and can deliver to the barn if you give them 48 hour notice. 

Helmsley Brewing Company crafts artisan beers available to sample in their Brew Tap as well as buy in bottles and gift packs. We love their ale, especially Yorkshire Legend and Striding the Riding.

A field of wildflowers in full bloom, with a variety of colors including red, blue, yellow, and white. A single red poppy stands out prominently in the foreground. In the distance, a green, rolling landscape with trees extends to the horizon under a dramatic, cloudy sky.

Other places to visit

Croweberry Wood Unique and fabulous independent boutique run by an amazing group of warm and friendly Yorkshire women. Their passion about their clothes shines through from their epic mad videos on social media to their fantastic customer service in store.

The Flower Belt  – just a short drive south of Helmsley (or you can walk from the town in 15 minutes) is this lovely pick your own flower farm. The views are idyllic, they sell Roost Coffee and Hunters cakes. And the most delicious pizzas. They open seasonally, so check out their social media before visiting.

Helmsley Walled Garden   – this historic walled garden run by volunteers is a true gem. You can explore the colourful borders, vibrant glasshouses, and peaceful apple orchards. And when you’re ready for a break, stop by The Vine House Café for a delicious lunch or a coffee and a slice of homemade cake.

Thanks to North York Moors and the following photographers for the use of some photos: Polly Baldwin, Olivia Brabbs.