Nestled in the heart of the North York Moors, the village’s community hub (affectionately called “the Hut”) is a modern multi-purpose village hall and sports pavilion. Set on nearly four acres overlooking open moorland, it enjoys a tranquil setting (broken only by the distant hiss of the vintage steam train on the nearby North Yorkshire Moors Railway) goathlandhut.co.uk. The venue is a Charitable Incorporated Organisation run entirely by local volunteers goathlandhut.co.uk. It was built to replace an ageing pavilion and meet the needs of Goathland’s 450 residents (and the many walkers and tourists who visit) by providing community services, sports facilities and cultural events all in one place.
The idea for the hub grew from a long local history of village sports and tradition. Goathland’s original cricket club dates back to 1874 (initially at Beck Hole, before moving to the current playing field in 1876) goathlandhut.co.uk. By the early 2010s the old pavilion had fallen into disrepair, the mobile library service had ended, and the village’s long-sword dancing team (the Goathland Plough Stots) needed a permanent home for its collection of historic artefacts. In response, villagers formed a charity (recognized in 2014) to build a new facility. Over about three years of planning and fundraising – with help from councils, folk-dance societies and numerous charitable trusts – the new community centre and adjacent pavilion were constructed on land beside the cricket field.
The official opening was held on 23 September 2017 after almost three years of effort goathlandhut.co.uk. Thanks to grants (from the Heritage Lottery and LEADER funds) local schoolchildren even planted a Twelve Oak War Memorial on the site. Twelve English oaks were planted around the new playing fields, each accompanied by a corten-steel statue commemorating a Goathland soldier who fell in World War I goathlandhut.co.uk. In July 2018 a nearby footpath was renamed the Centenary Walk to honour the centenary of the Great War goathlandhut.co.uk. To protect the playing fields for future generations, the charity also signed them over to Fields in Trust; they are now dedicated as the Goathland Centenary Cricket Field and Playing Field in memory of the fallen goathlandhut.co.uk.
Key points of the building’s history:
Goathland cricket club was founded in 1874 and needed a new pavilion by the 2010s goathlandhut.co.uk.
The new Centre (the Hut) was planned from 2014 with community input to include a library, sports pitches, a pavilion, and an arts/heritage space goathlandhut.co.uk.
It opened in September 2017 and includes a memorial project of oaks and statues (planted in 2018) to honour villagers lost in WWI goathlandhut.co.uk.
Today the venue offers a warm, accessible space for locals and visitors alike. The building is energy-efficient and single-storey (useful for older villagers), with under-floor heating, solar panels, and bright, well-lit interiors goathlandhut.co.uk. It includes a main hall with café-style seating for around 100 people, plus an adjacent marquee for special events (room for another 80) goathlandhut.co.uk. A fully equipped kitchen, changing rooms, showers and baby-changing facilities serve sports teams, class groups and private hire needs goathlandhut.co.uk. Outside there is parking for about 40 cars (with overflow on the sports field) and picnic-style bench seating made from recycled plastic goathlandhut.co.uk. The centre is fully licensed for alcohol, live music, films and dancing, and is wheelchair-accessible throughout goathlandhut.co.uk. It also offers free WiFi, a portable stage, quality acoustics and a projector, making it suitable for anything from wedding receptions to cinema nights goathlandhut.co.uk.
Importantly, the venue serves as a village meeting place and service hub. A volunteer-run village library operates here every Wednesday (over 1,600 books available to all) goathlandhut.co.uk. The Hut is also designated as an official Warm Space, open to anyone on winter Wednesdays for tea and companionship goathlandhut.co.uk. A programme of wellbeing and fitness classes (yoga, tai chi, reiki, etc.) runs regularly, taught by local practitioners. The cultural heritage of Goathland is celebrated here: a permanent display tells the story of the Goathland long-sword dancing tradition and the Plough Stots team, and the WWI memorial oaks and statues stand outside for all to see goathlandhut.co.uk.
Among its many uses, the centre is home to the annual Long Sword Dance exhibition and to the Sword Dance Union. Over the year it hosts everything from children’s sports days and youth group meetings to craft fairs and historical talks. As one local news report notes, “Goathland Hut is a community hub run by volunteers” that highlights traditions such as sword dancing thisisthecoast.co.uk. Indeed, organisers deliberately planned this venue to serve the village library, provide the first-ever football pitch in Goathland, build a new cricket pavilion and encourage local arts and sports goathlandhut.co.uk. The trustees make it available for local clubs (like the fire brigade volunteer unit) and societies to meet, and have even set aside it as a year-round base for live-in care and craft groups.
Facilities at a glance:
Main hall (100-seat café area) with bar and dance space goathlandhut.co.uk.
Adjoining marquee (capacity ~80) and projector/sound system goathlandhut.co.uk.
Fully equipped kitchen, showers, changing rooms and accessible washrooms goathlandhut.co.uk.
Free WiFi throughout, stage, PA system, warm lighting.
Registered Warm Space, open weekly for community drop-in goathlandhut.co.uk.
Volunteer-run library open Wednesdays goathlandhut.co.uk.
Access to local wellbeing and craft classes (massage, meditation, arts and crafts).
The hall’s location makes it an ideal base for exploring Goathland’s countryside. Footpaths radiate out from the site across heathery moorland, through wooded valleys and past historic landmarks. A local circular trail (recently named the Centenary Walk around the playing fields) passes right by the building goathlandhut.co.uk. Detailed maps of five easy walking routes in the area are available locally; one highlights the nearby Wheeldale Roman Road, another links Goathland to the famous 3½-mile Rail Trail up to Grosmont northyorkmoors.org.uk. (This trail follows the old North Eastern Railway line first used by George Stephenson’s steam trains.)
Scenic highlights are close at hand. For example, the 70-foot Mallyan Spout waterfall – once a Victorian “spa” attraction – is just a short walk away. Villagers and visitors often stroll through Goathland village to Goathland Station (the former Heartbeat village and Harry Potter “Hogsmeade” station) and then on to the woods and waterfall beyond northyorkmoors.org.uk. The surrounding moors are rich in heather, wildlife and open skies; it’s not uncommon to see golden plovers or hear skylarks on the nearby moorland. In winter, the “Warm Space” invite makes returning to the hall after a crisp walk extra welcoming.
Walking connections:
Centenary Walk: a 1½-mile circular path around the sports fields (named by the Bishop of Whitby in 2018) goathlandhut.co.uk.
Rail Trail (Goathland–Grosmont): 3.5-mile walk along the historic railway embankment northyorkmoors.org.uk.
Wheeldale Roman Road route: part of local walk leaflets (6-mile loop) northyorkmoors.org.uk.
Local footpaths: linking to Beck Hole, Ellerbeck and onto the wider moorlands.
Points of interest: Goathland Station, Mallyan Spout waterfall, St. Mary’s Church (with its famous carved mice), and Dartmoor ponies on the high moor.
Maps and guides for these walks are available in Goathland shops and at the Hut. (The North York Moors National Park even publishes a “Walks around Goathland” leaflet covering five village circuits northyorkmoors.org.uk.)
Goathland’s community hall also caters to touring visitors. It is an approved motorhome stopover (a Clamping-Licensed site) all year round. There are 5 hardstanding pitches on-site, with 28-day maximum stays goathlandhut.co.uk. The field has fresh drinking water and full waste disposal (grey and chemical) points, and even a purpose-built sluice for emptying toilets goathlandhut.co.uk. (Generous owners of the pub and cafe down the road allow campers to use their wifi and order takeaway meals.) Dog owners are welcome to stay, though pets must be on lead and not allowed on the playing field.
Bookings are required in advance. At arrival, guests get a code for the locked gate, so 24‑hour arrival is possible goathlandhut.co.uk. Nighttime access is easy and secure, yet the site feels tucked away amid greenery. The cost is modest – about £10 per night – and payments directly support the centre, so campers help fund local services. In summer months, tents can use the grassy field in front of the hall, otherwise all pitches are on hardstanding. Onsite, motorhome guests are invited to use the hall’s bar (when open) and may join any public events or classes.
Campervan site features:
CL-approved stopover site (up to 5 vehicles, year-round) goathlandhut.co.uk.
Drinking water tap, fresh grey/black disposal point (including sluice) goathlandhut.co.uk.
No electric hook-ups – but excellent countryside views and quiet nights.
24-hour code access (no on-site reception) goathlandhut.co.uk.
Dogs allowed on-lead (please no exercising on the playing fields) goathlandhut.co.uk.
Access to all Hut amenities: parking, restrooms, showers, WiFi and bar (when open) goathlandhut.co.uk.
Camping guides and reviews note that this site is “walking distance to shops, cafes, pubs & railway” and that it benefits the village hall through its low fee park4night.com. In short, the Goathland hub offers a secure, convenient stop for motorhomers exploring the Yorkshire coast and moors.
As a volunteer-run hub, the venue is at the heart of Goathland’s community events. A regular farmers’ market is held in the car park every third Saturday (10 am–2 pm), showcasing local producers of food, drink and crafts thewhitbyguide.co.uk. Organisers ensure most stalls are Yorkshire growers and artisans – everything from eggs, pies and cakes to honey, preserves and coffee – making it a popular draw for villagers and tourists alike thewhitbyguide.co.uk.
Beyond markets, the programme includes live music nights (folk, rock and tribute bands), film evenings, arts & crafts fairs, dance workshops, fitness classes, children’s parties, charity fundraisers and more. The hall’s good acoustics have made it a favorite venue for folk concerts and even opera workshops. In fact, the National Park description of Goathland notes that “the volunteer-run Goathland Hut runs events ranging from wellbeing to folk music and tribute bands” northyorkmoors.org.uk. Local traditions are also honoured here – for example, the famous Goathland Plough Stots dance troupe opens the year with its “Day of the Dance” event every January, often attracting large crowds.
The pavilion is available to hire by anyone: residents renting it for a family celebration or business using it for a meeting and even couples hosting a countryside wedding reception. The hall’s board notes, “We were honoured to host Sara and Ashley’s wedding. It was the most amazing venue…well done to all the volunteers who run the Hut!” goathlandhut.co.uk. (Feedback forms from users frequently praise the friendly staff and affordability.) Seasonal events – summer fetes, winter concerts, and school clubs – fill the calendar. For up-to-date listings one can check the Hut’s website or local noticeboards.
In short, the community space doubles as a social hub for the village and a friendly drop-in point for visitors. Its mix of services – from the Wednesday library to open mic nights – means there is always something happening. As one guidebook enthusiastically puts it, “Whether you are a resident or a visitor, the market’s friendly atmosphere and high-quality products make it a must-visit” thewhitbyguide.co.uk. Through these events and amenities, the Goathland community hub keeps both tradition and village life very much alive.
Sources: Local authorities and news (North York Moors National Park) and the official Goathland Community Hub site goathlandhut.co.uk
The Goathland community hub is open year-round for events, private hire, and weekly activities. Opening hours vary depending on bookings, but regular sessions like the village library and Warm Space run every Wednesday. Most events are free or low-cost, with venue hire and campervan stopovers starting from just £10 per night.
Free parking is available on-site, with space for around 40 vehicles and additional overflow parking on the playing fields during events. Please follow local signage and respect access routes for emergency and service vehicles.
The venue includes a large hall, kitchen, bar area, accessible washrooms, baby-changing facilities, showers, and changing rooms. Outside, there’s a picnic area, level access, and CL-approved motorhome pitches with waste disposal and drinking water. Free WiFi is available throughout.
The site is fully wheelchair-accessible and dog-friendly (dogs on leads, please). Local footpaths connect directly to Goathland village, the Rail Trail, and surrounding moorland. Event listings, walk leaflets, and updates can be found on local noticeboards and the venue’s website. All profits support community services.
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