I visited one of the UK's 'prettiest villages' and was surprised by one thing (2024)

Motorbikes travel through Hutton-Le-Hole

The rest of the UK was basking in glorious sunshine but as we ventured deep into the North Yorkshire Moors we were cutting through fog as thick as soup.

I’d decided to drag my husband and daughter to a village just 30 minutes from my doorstep as it’d been dubbed the north’s prettiest village and the UK’s second greatest - and I was very curious to understand why.

The area I live in has an absolute abundance of chocolate box villages and market towns - from Great Ayton, where Captain James Cook himself called home, through to Yarm, which has one of the most gorgeous High Streets in the country. Hutton-le-Hole was facing stiff competition before we even set foot in the place.

But by God...From the moment we passed its first ivy-covered house I could see why it'd attracted such admiration. Its babbling brook - where locals enjoy an annual duck race - its quaint, cosy pub which takes pride of place in its centre and acres of village green: this was the village idyll that so many dream about.

And so we did what any normal Brits would do - sat down in the now (thankfully) sunny pub garden and ordered a pint.

To give a bit of context, Hutton-le-Hole’s location seems very remote. It’s just five minute’s from the highest pub on the Moors, which is famous forits snowy lock-ins.

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Hutton-le-Hole landlord Jake Leonard runs village pub The Crown Inn (Image: Mieka Smiles)

However, despite the seclusion, and, refreshingly, zero phone reception - you’re also smack in the middle of the North York Moors National Park that walkers from all over the world flock to. You're also within 30 minutes of the glorious seaside resorts of Whitby and Scarborough and not far from the stunning city of York itself.

I took in the glorious surroundings of the village while sipping on an ice cold glass of white wine: cute Yorkshire stone houses gathered around the glistening stream and just one road cuts through its centre.

But it was then the blissful tranquillity was interrupted: with a more or less constant stream of roaring motorbikes. I thought it was just a one off. Perhaps an organised tour that had decided to take in Hutton as part of its route?

But no, every five minutes or so another group of motorbikes would blast through the village. Was it just me who found this surprising? I thought the best person to speak to would be the pub’s landlord Jake Leonard, 51, who has run The Crown Inn for 12 and a half years.

The village has been called the prettiest in the north (Image: Getty)

In between pulling pints for thirsty loyal customers Jake talked about why the village seems to have attracted so much attention.

He said: “It’s got to be the location - we are on the edge of the North York Moors in the middle of nowhere and if the sun’s out it’s like an ant’s nest. It’s a pleasure to wake up here every day.”

Jake says that the village boasts visitors from all over the country - and world - including Americans and Germans. But what about the motorbikes? Do they spoil the bliss?

“I embrace it,” explains Jake.As well as motorbikes, there are also vintage car enthusiasts who love a drive through - including an Aston Martin and MG club. Jake recently hosted around 60 Harley Davidson riders for “tea and biscuits.”

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Caroline Edwards, 53, and her husband Gareth, 52, run The Barn Guesthouse and Tearoom which is a little along from the pub. They relocated to the village around eight and a half years ago.

“We fell in love with this village,” said Caroline, “we have lived all over the country and this is one of the best views we have ever had."

Caroline explained why she thinks the village is so sought after. She said: “Personally I think it’s still very traditional,” explaining that children and their parents play at the stream for entertainment.

She says the older generation who have visited from being children themselves often say “it’s just how I remember it.” And the motorbikes? “That was quite unusual,” says Caroline talking about the morning’s onslaught.

Caroline and Gareth Edwards run The Barn Guesthouse and Tearoom (Image: Mieka Smiles)

Although there is one niggle that guests often ask about - the complete absence of mobile phone signal.She said: “It’s a positive. We promote it as [you can] ‘get away from it all’.

One frequent visitor to Hutton-le-Hole is Stuart Maxwell, 56, from Grimsby, who has been making the two hour drive to the tiny village for 20 years.

He had just one remark for me: “It’s beautiful.” And it really is! Motorbikes and all.

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