Villages & Places
Littlebeck
By Jon Cosson · Updated 29 October 2026 · Checked 29 October 2026
Littlebeck is a hamlet of a few houses and a ford, in a sheltered wooded valley about six miles south of Whitby. It is the quiet back door to Falling Foss: the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's Little Beck Wood nature reserve runs south from the ford, past the carved boulder known as the Hermitage, to the 30 foot waterfall.
Before you go: the practical facts
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- Parking
- the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust suggests the car park at Littlebeck Village Hall, with a suggested donation, then a short, steep walk down to the reserve entrance. Otherwise use the Forestry England car parks at May Beck or Falling Foss in Sneaton Forest. See /things-to-do/falling-foss and /plan/parking.
- Toilets
- none. The nearest public toilets we can confirm are in Goathland, at the National Park car park.
- Shop and cash
- none in the hamlet.
- Buses
- no regular bus serves Littlebeck or Falling Foss.
- Railway
- Sleights, on the Esk Valley line, is the nearest station.
- Dogs
- must be kept on a lead in the nature reserve.
Little Beck Wood nature reserve
the reserve covers 26 hectares of mainly oak, ash, alder and cherry woodland, split by the beck, and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust took on the lease in 1970 and bought the wood in 1986. Look for dippers and grey wagtails on the water, nuthatch, treecreeper and great spotted woodpecker in the trees, and bluebells, wood anemones and early purple orchids in spring. The National Park says autumn is the best time to come, for fungi and golden leaves. Entry is free and the reserve is open at all times, but the paths are steep, uneven and unsurfaced, can be muddy, and are not suitable for wheelchairs.
The Hermitage and the walk to Falling Foss
paths through the wood lead to the Hermitage, a single boulder hollowed into a small room with a seat carved round the inside, dating from the 1700s. A short walk on brings you to Falling Foss, where the water drops about 30 feet into a pool. The Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's circular walk is 4.3 miles (7km) from May Beck through Little Beck Wood and back past Falling Foss, with hills, boardwalks, stiles, fields and one steep drop beside the path. It passes a 17th century alum mine on the way.
Where to eat and drink
Falling Foss Tea Garden, Midge Hall, beside the waterfall: open-air and seasonal, closed in winter. There is no pub in Littlebeck; Goathland and Sleights are the nearest villages for pubs and cafés.
Nearby
Littlebeck FAQs
- Where do you park for Little Beck Wood?
- At Littlebeck Village Hall (suggested donation), or at the Forestry England car parks at May Beck or Falling Foss.
- Can you walk from Littlebeck to Falling Foss?
- Yes, through Little Beck Wood and past the Hermitage. The paths are steep and muddy in places, so wear boots.
- What is the Hermitage at Littlebeck?
- A large boulder hollowed into a small room with a carved seat, dating from the 1700s, on the path between Littlebeck and Falling Foss.
- Are dogs allowed in Little Beck Wood?
- Yes, on a lead.
- Is Little Beck Wood free?
- Yes. Entry is free and the reserve is open at all times.
Sources checked 29 October 2026: Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, Little Beck Wood and Falling Foss circular walk guide; North York Moors National Park, Little Beck Wood Nature Reserve; Forestry England, Sneaton Forest.
Where to stay in the North York Moors
Self-catering cottages, village inns and farmhouse boltholes right across the moors, from the southern villages to the coast.
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