Thornton le Dale is a picture-perfect village in North Yorkshire known for its idyllic riverside scenery and thatched-roof cottages.

It was voted the prettiest village in Yorkshire in the 1920s and 30s, and is often still regarded as one of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire today. The 'le' was added into the name to give the village a bit more marketability in the early 1900s.

There are a number of great cafés, restaurants, pubs, shops and galleries in the village.

RichD

November 14, 2025

Welcome to Yorkshire, the region’s official tourism site, prominently refers to Thornton-le-Dale as the “Jewel of the Moors”, highlighting its scenic village pond, thatched cottages, and meandering beck.

The name “Thornton” likely comes from the Angles who settled Yorkshire around AD 500–540, meaning “farmstead among thorn bushes”.

In the know? Log-in to add a tip for other adventurers!

Details

Informations

Elevation 40 m

Weather

Today

Saturday 6 December

10°C

6°C

40 %

If you start your activity now...

Max wind speed: 14.0 km/h

Most visited during

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

See hikes here

Take Me There

Location: Thornton-Le-Dale, Ryedale, North Yorkshire, Yorkshire And The Humber, England, United Kingdom

Other Popular Places to Check Out

Beck Isle Cottage

Levisham Railway Station

Stream Near Hole of Horcum

The Bridestones

Dundale Griff

Grain Slack Gorge

View of Newtondale from Newton Banks

Ellerburn Bank Nature Reserve

Heck Dale Trail

Highland Cattle in North York Moors National Park

Blue Berms, Dalby Forest

Thornton-le-Dale Village Highlights

Thornton-le-Dale village

1. Dalby Forest Visitor Centre – Thornton-le-Dale village loop from Thornton-le-Dale

2. Dalby Forest Visitor Centre – Thornton-le-Dale village loop from Lockton

3. Thornton-le-Dale village – Thornton Beck Footbridge loop from Lockton

Other Popular Places to Check Out

We value your privacy ⛰️

We value your privacy ⛰️