Discover Settrington

Settrington brings together the long-distance Yorkshire Wolds Way with a rural setting and a layered local history. The village lies below the northern end of the Yorkshire Wolds; the Yorkshire Wolds Way crosses Settrington Beacon, its highest point. There are also well-preserved remains of a medieval settlement and the Church of All Saints, with sections dating from the late 12th and 13th centuries. If you are looking for a hotel in Settrington, you can shape your stay around your own interests: walking, landscape, or historic buildings and settlement patterns.

Walking and Landscape

The Yorkshire Wolds Way is a long-distance walking trail; its highest point, Settrington Beacon, gives the area a clear connection to walking. The village’s location below the northern end of the Yorkshire Wolds provides a broader landscape setting. A stream runs through the central village green. These refer to different scales: the trail is a long-distance route, while the green is a feature of the village centre. When planning a stay, you can consider a love of walking and the atmosphere of a rural village as separate but complementary reasons to visit Settrington.

Medieval Settlement Remains

Settrington’s history includes a medieval settlement with well-preserved earthworks and other remains. These include a chantry chapel and associated farmsteads and enclosures. The site is therefore characterised not only by a single building, but also by traces in the landscape and spatial features. It is thought that the settlement developed from a two-row village on either side of Settrington Beck, which flows north, giving it an L-shaped plan. This proposed development links the village’s location by the stream to its shape, but remains a possible interpretation.

Church and Historic Architectural Styles

Different building phases can also be distinguished at the Church of All Saints. Its core dates from the late 12th to early 13th century; the arcade dates from the early 13th century. A square late-13th-century font represents a later period. Its inset corner colonnettes are small columns at the corners of the font, giving this detail a distinctive geometric form.

The stable block stands about 20 metres west of Settrington House and bears the date 1791 on a datestone. Its U-shaped plan and round-arched carriageway with a clock add specific architectural features to the date. Medieval church architecture and settlement remains thus sit alongside a later-dated stable building as distinct historical points of reference.

Planning Your Journey

Settrington is easily accessible via the A64. Nearby Malton has a railway station with hourly services to York and beyond, as well as in the opposite direction. Check the current timetable before travelling; if you are driving, it is also worth checking road conditions. For planning purposes, the two options can be considered separately: the A64 provides road access to Settrington, while the stated train services run from Malton.

Discover more destinations: Thirsk, Well, Cawood, Hebden, Hovingham, Coxwold, Felixkirk, Malham.

For the wider travel guide: North Yorkshire.