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Wharram Percy, Famed Deserted Medieval Village, Draws Visitors in North Yorkshire

Decades of excavation have made it one of Britain’s best‑documented deserted villages.

Overview

  • The site sits roughly halfway between Scarborough Castle and York’s Clifford’s Tower, offering an easy add‑on to regional itineraries.
  • Visitors can view the foundations of medieval houses along with a surviving church and manorial ruins.
  • Researchers trace occupation from an early settlement around 50 BC through a 5th‑century desertion to Middle Saxon reoccupation and life continuing beyond the 1500s.
  • Reaching the ruins requires a steep three‑quarter‑mile walk over rough, often muddy ground that reviewers describe as a sharp gravelled decline and unsuitable for wheelchairs or buggies.
  • Entry is free with parking about £2, and recent visitors praise the peaceful atmosphere and careful site management.