The village is an ideal spot for walkers, as it’s perched just on the outside of the breathtaking North York and still falls within the boundaries of the National Park
The village draws in walkers keen for a place to rest their legs (Image: © English Heritage Trust)
As far as villages go, this Yorkshire gem, sitting 20 miles away from York, makes for the picture-perfect exploration, with it’s honey-stone cottages and rolling hills.
Coxwold draws in plenty of visitors as they take on long walks and cycles through the North York Moors, in one of England’s most scenic open spaces.
Beautiful woodland, rivers and rich heather moorland surround the village and offer a lot of room for adventure as you pass through and make a stop here.
As you enter the village you can’t help but notice the impressive 15th century church, St Michael’s, which sits on top of a hill – proving a lovely walk. As you reach the top, you can look out at the expansive views of the village in all of its cobblestone glory.
The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 (Image: Getty Images)
The Fauconberg is a pub at the heart of Coxwold, which serves both locals and travellers alike in a traditional Yorkshire pub setting with wholesome, hearty food.
It also acts as a long-established Inn with the cosiest of log fires, wooden beams and flagstone floors, offering an ideal escape after a day of walking.
A customer shared their experience on TripAdvisor, saying: “Sunday lunch was very tasty with generous portion sizes. The service was quick, efficient and very friendly. I would thoroughly recommend a meal here in this lovely pub/restaurant. We will definitely be returning.”
A pleasant way to pass the time is by taking a walk from the village, through the Beacon Banks to Husthwaite – an easy route with little to no struggle. It’s advised that you park on the main street, head past the church for half a mile before you see a footpath to your left, where the walk begins.
The buildings in the village are on a slight incline, with the church sitting at the top(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
Both villages have a pub, and so provide the perfect pit stop, whilst the real gem of the walk is the mile and a half along Beacon Banks, offering spectacular views.
You return back to Coxwold through rolling farmlands, in what should total up as a three and a half hour walk, over five miles long.
Sitting close by is the stunning Byland Abbey, which was once famed as one of the greatest Cistercian monasteries in the north and stands impressively tall.
The remains mark it as one of the earliest of Gothic architecture, and boasts significant medieval floor tiles, which hold it in high regard internationally.
On the site, travellers can experience the museum, which houses numerous artefacts found on the site. Along with it are beautiful illustrations that provide further insight into the life of the monastery before its demise.
A recent visitor claimed: “Absolutely blown away! English heritage site which was free admittance. We spent over an hour exploring this stunning 12th-century church, nothing was out of bounds and a real feel for this wonderful construction. Car parking was free and opposite the church.”
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