Places to Visit

Great Ayton


Great Ayton

Great Ayton is a village on the edge of the North York Moors National Park in North Yorkshire and was home to James Cook FRS RN in his childhood.

 

 

There are two lovely greens in Great Ayton : High Green is in the village centre which hosts a statue of James Cook aged 16 looking towards Staithes, Low Green is by the very picturesque Ayton Beck where children fish for tiddlers and feed the ducks.

The village has a rural feel with small shops and a couple of pubs - there are no high street names here! You can buy duck food and fishing nets in the local shop. The James Cook Schoolroom museum is housed in the old charity school where James Cook went to school.

 

River Leven at Great Ayton

River Leven at Great Ayton

Great Ayton James Cook Schoolroom Museum

James Cook Schoolroom Museum

Just above the village stands Roseberry Topping - a distinctively shaped hill which can be seen for miles around at the edge of the Cleveland Hills. It's distinctive shape was formed after a collapse due to mining on the site. You get a wonderful view from the top over the Vale of York - definitely worth the climb up!

 

Roseberry Topping Great Ayton

Roseberry Topping Great Ayton

View from Roseberry Topping

View from Roseberry Topping