One of Britain's prettiest villages where visitors really don't want to leave
Thornton-le-Dale, a village sat on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, has charming thatched cottages and a bubbling beck running through it. Visitors love it
The UK is home to many picturesque villages, but if you're willing to venture the spots you may not have heard of, there are even more gems to discover. One such place, in North Yorkshire, consistently ranks among the top spots to visit.
Nestled on the fringes of the North York Moors National Park, Thornton-le-Dale is a quintessential English village that has won accolades for being the most beautiful in Britain. During my family's recent Easter trip, it was easy to see why this village is so beloved, writes Emma Gill from the Manchester Evening News.
Located a few miles east of Pickering, Thornton-le-Dale is renowned for its idyllic beauty, complete with charming thatched cottages and a gently flowing beck. On Easter Monday, the village hosts its annual duck race, where 1,000 rubber ducks are released into the water to raise funds for Christmas lights display.
The 17th Century Beck Isle Cottage, tucked away from the main street and adjacent to the beck, is one of Yorkshire's most photographed landmarks, frequently featuring in postcards, posters and calendars.
After parking at the main village centre car park in Maltongate, a short walk to the main street, past the verdant duck pond, is a delight in itself. If time permits, there's also a nature trail around the pond.
Walking or cycling routes can be accessed directly from the village - with Dalby Forest only a couple of miles away - but our visit was primarily to explore the shops and enjoy some local cuisine.
The area is predominantly home to independent traders, giving it a unique feel and even boasts its own Chocolate Factory on the village square where you can purchase handmade treats.
Following a visit to the nearby Selbys Antiques and Fine Art showroom and a leisurely walk down the beck, where our dog enjoyed a paddle, we discovered the perfect spot for lunch.
Baldersons is a bakery, tearoom and gift shop all in one, with a charming tea garden at the back where dogs are welcome too.
This family-owned business began as a bakery in Ampleforth in 1895 and has been passed down through generations, with traditional family recipes for cakes, breads and pastries still thriving.
The menu is quite diverse so we had no trouble deciding what to order - we chose a variety of paninis, chicken and salad, along with fresh milkshakes and refreshing Fentiman's Victorian Lemonade.
We decided to skip desserts at the cafe and instead headed to the Baldersons Ice Cream Parlour next door, which offers a plethora of flavours, from coconut and lemon cheesecake to bubblegum and Turkish delight.
The location isn't overrun with shops, which was just how we liked it, but there's enough to keep the entire family entertained for several hours, especially if the weather permits some fun in the stream.
We were staying in the area, rather than a day trip, and it's around two hours from Manchester.
But it's one of those places that's so beautiful, we really didn't want to leave.
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