Danby

Contents:

You will find Danby nestling in a hollow, located towards the head of the Esk Valley. At the heart of Danby is the village green where Scotch Blackface sheep keep the grass down all year round (no need for lawnmowers here !).

Danby Parish Plan
A big thank you to all who contributed to the production of the Danby Parish Plan. If you would like to see the Report please click here to download a PDF file Click Here Now To Open The Report

Local Amenities

Situated in North Yorkshire, Danby is a busy little village at the westerly end of the Esk Valley

• village store
• bakery and cafe
• post office
• place of worship - St Hilda C of E
• self catering farm house holiday accommodation
• public house
• public phone box
• village hall
• public conveniences
• tourist information centre
• Station on the Middlesbrough to Whitby main line railway

The prefix of the Post Code for Danby is YO21-2.

Location map

Danby is located in grid B3

Accommodation in Danby

Below are details of accommodation listed with us in the North Yorks Moors village of Danby. The Esk Valley is situated at the heart of the North York Moors National Park where accommodation available includes self catering farm house holidays, Bed and Breakfast (B&B), holiday cottages, guest houses, hotels as well as static and touring caravan and camping sites.

Clitherbecks Farm - Self Catering Accommodation Clitherbecks Farm overlooks Eskdale, Danby Castle and Fryup Dale in the picturesque North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Situated at the head of it's own valley the farm is ideal for guests who wish to 'get away from it all' in a peaceful rural setting. Clitherbecks Farm is still run as a sheep farm in the traditional manner and offers self catering accommodation for up to six people. To visit our WEB Site CLICK HERE NOW

BUTTERWITTS FARM Bed & Breakfast Accommodation A tastefully converted barn providing superb en-suite accommodation with private lounge and stunning views. Lying in the beautiful valley of Little Fryup. Butterwitts is a working family farm, situated next to Historic Danby Castle, (Catherine Parr is said to have stayed here and it is home to one of the few remaining Manorial Court Leets in England). Situated in the centre of an excellent walking area, enjoying a quiet location making this the ideal place to relax and an ideal base for exploring the North Yorks Moors National Park. CLICK HERE NOW To find out more or to book your stay. Telephone us on: +44 (0)1287 669020 Or write to: Liz & Colin Smith Butterwitts Farm Little Fryup Danby WHITBY North Yorkshire YO21 2NP ENGLAND facilities available at Butterwitts Farm

Local Sights

A visit to the North Yorkshire Moors National Park visitor centre provides something of interest for the whole family. For the interested in walking there are a multitude of moorland pathways and tracks making this a great place to start and finish your walk.

The North Yorkshire Moors National Park has a visitor centre at the old shooting lodge just outside the village on the road to Lealholm. Here visitors can learn something of the history of area and be directed to all manner of walks from the short stroll to the trek for serious ramblers.

There are quite often demonstrations of local crafts and farming skills. North of the Moors' centre lies the valley of Clitherbeck where coal mining used to take place, until competition of the superior quality coal from the County Durham coal field forced the closure of the workings.

Overlooking all of this and a fine place from which to view the Esk valley on a clear day is the Beacon, Danby Beacon is an early warning station dating back to the time of the Stoneage.

The Danby Parish Plan Steering Group chose this day to launch the Parish Plan results, the full version of which is available on this website for public view.
All in all Danby Show was 'on form' providing the visitor with not only a good day out but being an excellent showcase for rural life in particular.

Community Groups

The following is are details of local none profit making Community Service Group or Registered Charitable Organisation, serving this community.

There are many community groups serving the area and it our intention to bring you details of their activities, if you are an organiser or member of a group or organisation and would like to see your details here, please contact us on enquiries@eskvalley.com

Whitby District/Esk Valley Youth Club.

Providing Youth Events and activities for the area, with past events including - Games and nonalcoholic cocktail bar in Danby village hall, Gospel concert in Whitby, skating at Billingham Forum and Sailing. For details contact Whitby District youth worker. Gaynor.hunt@care4free.net

Danby Parish Producers

Promoting the various businesses in the area from producers of honey to business services. Check out the rich diversity available in this small parish at www.danbyware.co.uk. Also note that there will be a Christmas Fair held in Danby Village Hall on Saturday the 26th of November from 10:00am till 4:00pm. Contact Don Watt on donwatt'AT'yahoo.com.

ABBEYFIELD ESK MOORS SOCIETY

GOOD NEWS FOR OLDER PEOPLE !

The ABBEYFIELD ESK MOORS SOCIETY was set up in 1999 by a group of local residents from the Upper Esk Valley. There is scant provision for older residents of the valley to remain in the valley when they become unable to manage by themselves or when, often by the loss of husband or wife, they become lonely, so having lived many years here, they have to leave familiar surroundings, their friends, their doctor and their minister. So the society was formed. The Executive Committee consists of 15 residents of the valley. The Chairman is Mrs. Linda Lloyd of Castleton.

CLICK HERE NOWIf you want to find out more about the society and what the can offer.

Esk Valley Lifeline

The main activities of the group are to Raise money for equipment for doctors and patients at Danby and Egton Surgery

Organised Event and Meetings
Several events are organised throughout the year, including a tombola stall at Egton Show and the group meets Quarterly at Danby and Egton Surgery. The next AGM will be at Danby Surgery on Thursday 26th November 2009 at 7pm.

With your support Esk Valley Lifeline has been able to buy lifesaving equipment for the Esk Valley residents and enables the doctors to give a more comprehensive cover, especially for accidents and cardiac problems.

Contact
Mrs Nicola Harforth (Secretary)
Chestnut Cottage
Commondale
Nr Whitby
North Yorkshire
YO21 2HG

nicola.harforth@btinternet.com

Heritage

A working watermill, ruined Castle and Manorial Courts reflect the historical importance of Danby to this part of North Yorkshire. Local hamlets and Botton village form part of a greater community.

There has been evidence of stone age settlements found near this high point and it earns it's name from later times when it was part of a nationwide network of points where fires were lit when communities were threatened, (such as the viking invasions).
In more modern times during the Second World War this was the site of one of the Radar Stations that tracked incoming enemy planes and indeed guided Group Captain Peter Townsend to locate and shoot down the first enemy aircraft of the War over Sleights.

Danby has a working water mill by the side of the River Esk which as well as grinding corn, has in the past, also been employed to provide Hydro - Electricity.
Across the valley from the Moors Centre lie the ruins of Danby Castle, where Catherine Parr is said to have lived before being one of the wives of King Henry the Eighth.
One of the few remaining Manorial Courts still in existence in England meets here to regulate the use of the commons and garths.

To the East of Danby Castle lies Fryup Dale which is divided into Little Fryup and Great Fryup. To the West of the Castle lies the Hamlet of Ainthorpe and then to the South, Danby Dale.
At the head of Danby Dale lies Botton Village, which is a community run by the Camp Hill Trust for people with mental & physical disabilities.

As the visitors climbs past Stormy Hall at the head of the dale and out onto Castleton Rigg, if they then head South they come to Ralph's, (Pronounced 'Rarvs'), Cross, where it was customary for travellers to leave a small amount of money as they passed for tramps and beggars.
Following that road the traveller will come to 'The Lion Inn' or which is always the first place to be blocked if there is any snow.
Heading North from Stormy Hall the traveller follows the road to Castleton.