“Thornton le Dale”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/place/209340 is a very popular honey pot village and is always busy with day trippers. Many seem to spend all their time looking in the shops, eating ice creams or deciding which of the many cafes to patronise. What they miss is one of the best short walks in the area to the tiny isolated settlement of Ellerburn.
The walk starts from the bridge across the Thornton Beck and follows the narrow Beck Isle footpath past the thatched cottage which must be one of the most photographed spots in Thornton le dale.
Turning left onto Priestman’s Lane, the walk continues along the road, past many expensive C19th houses, to a bend by the Victoria Mill, a large C19th mill building and the only mill building to survive in the village. It has now been restored to provide apartment accommodation.
Just before the building is a signpost on the right to Ellerburn, about 1 mile away. It is a very easy walk along a well made footpath following the Beck. There are several weirs once serving the mill and described on the Thornton le Dale Map as ‘sculptured waterfalls.’
The path follows the Burn and across a field to Low Farm and Ellerburn.
For those not wanting to walk, there is an unclassified road to Ellerburn up the other side of the valley.
There isn’t much at Ellerburn – a farm, couple of houses, “St Hilda’s Church “:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/attraction/156832-review-st-hildas-church and the “Tea Cosy Tea Room.”:https://www.silvertraveladvisor.com/review/restaurant/209349-review-tea-cosy-tea-room
Ellerburn is very much the end of the road, which continues as a track into Dalby forest. You have to want to come here! Possibly the main reason is for the Tea Cosy Tea Room in the end cottage…
This is a lovely short and easy walk and popular with locals. It can be done as a “circular walk”:https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/visiting/enjoy-outdoors/walking/our-walks/walking-routes/thornton-le-dale-and-ellerburn but following the river is much more fun than walking along the road.