Beck Dale

Valley in Yorkshire Ryedale

England

Beck Dale

Fountain at Helmsley Walled Garden Water feature in the centre of the gardens <span class="nowrap"><a title="https://helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" href="https://helmsleywalledgarden.org.uk/">Link</a><img style="margin-left:2px;" alt="External link" title="External link - shift click to open in new window" src="https://s1.geograph.org.uk/img/external.png" width="10" height="10"/></span> with the ruins at Helmsley Castle visible in the background. — Fountain at Helmsley Walled Garden Credit: Paul Harrop

Beck Dale, Yorkshire, also known as Beck Valley, is a picturesque valley located in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park in England. The valley is situated near the village of Goathland and is renowned for its stunning natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Beck Dale is characterized by its lush greenery, rolling hills, and the presence of a meandering river, known as Beck. The valley is surrounded by dense woodlands, creating a sense of seclusion and serenity. It is a popular destination for nature enthusiasts, hikers, and photographers who are drawn to its unspoiled landscapes.

The valley is home to a diverse range of flora and fauna, including various species of birds, mammals, and wildflowers. Visitors can often spot deer, rabbits, and a variety of bird species while exploring the area.

Beck Dale is also known for its historical significance. The valley has been inhabited for centuries, and evidence of ancient settlements and archaeological sites can be found in the vicinity. The area was once a hub for the local mining industry, and remnants of the mining infrastructure can still be seen today.

The tranquil beauty of Beck Dale has also made it a popular filming location. It gained international recognition as the fictional village of Aidensfield in the television series "Heartbeat," attracting fans from around the world.

Overall, Beck Dale, Yorkshire, is a hidden gem within the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, offering visitors a chance to immerse themselves in the breathtaking natural surroundings and rich history of the area.

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Beck Dale Images

Images are sourced within 2km of 54.255622/-1.0775783 or Grid Reference SE6084. Thanks to Geograph Open Source API. All images are credited.

Fountain at Helmsley Walled Garden

Water feature in the centre of the gardens Link

with the ruins at Helmsley Castle visible in the background.

Paul Harrop

Helmsley Walled Garden borders

Part of the central border at the southern end of the gardens Link

with the ruins at Helmsley Castle visible in the background.

Paul Harrop

Rose arbour at Helmsley

Covered path leading off from the centre of Helmsley Walled Garden Link

Paul Harrop

View from the arbour, Helmsley

Looking towards the central fountain from one of the arbours in the centre of Helmsley Walled Garden Link

. Part of the ruins at Helmsley Castle are just about visible in the background.

Paul Harrop

Kitchen garden at Helmsley

Part of the gardens given over to food crops Link

. The garden originally would have been an entirely practical space, growing fruit, vegetables and flowers for the adjacent Duncombe Park. This area retains that part of the garden's heritage.

Paul Harrop

'Hot' border at Helmsley

Part of the central border at the northern end of Helmsley Walled Garden Link

. It features more brightly coloured planting flanking the central path, with the orchid houses in the background.

Paul Harrop

Borogate, Helmsley

As a tourist centre, Helmsley has a much wider variety of shops than might be expected for a settlement of its size. These include Libby Butler Jewellers here on Borogate.

Stephen McKay

Borogate, Helmsley

Borogate has a number of independent businesses including Bantam, a restaurant (although the front entrance is on Bridge Street).

Stephen McKay

Bridge Street, Helmsley

The A170 heads south out of this small market town towards the bridge over the River Rye. The post office is on the left.

Stephen McKay

Dukes & Rose, Helmsley

In a corner of Helmsley's Market Square is this niche retail outlet, specialising in a curious combination of handmade 'soaps, lotions, potions & creams' and vintage furniture.

Stephen McKay

Borogate, Helmsley

Borogate leads south-east from the Market Square with the Helmsley Bookshop on the corner. Officially the Boxing Day bank holiday, plenty of people were taking the opportunity to wander the streets in a leisurely fashion and maybe take in a bit of shopping.

Stephen McKay

Carlton Road view

Looking SE from Carlton Road.

T Eyre

Path between conifers

The path ascending Ash Dale, seen from a similar spot to one taken in November 2016 looking in the opposite direction.

Gordon Hatton

Ash Dale Plantation

The tree covered slopes on the east side of Ash Dale. Despite the name, there seems to be a distinct lack of ash trees in the valley. The dominant species here appears to be beech.

Gordon Hatton

Ash Dale track

There's a good path cum track most of the way up Ash Dale with indication of hard surfacing and parking areas for pheasant shooters further down. This is footpath number 25.45/051

Gordon Hatton

Towards the end of Ash Dale

The steep wooded sides of this dry valley are lower here as one approaches the southern end of Ash Dale.

Gordon Hatton

Recent housing development at Helmsley

Helmsley is an attractive place to live and has easy access to the North York Moors National Park. There have been recent housing developments on the east side of the little town and I suppose one should award a few points for the builders using stone for facing [either real or artificial] and pantiles for roofing. As is usual these days, there seem to be too many houses crammed into a relatively small area.

Gordon Hatton