It is the largest settlement in the civil parish of Bransdale, in the North York Moors national park.

The settlement, under the southern tip of the ridge, is a mere 738 feet (225 m) above sea level, according to the Ordnance Survey.

Cockayne is at the head of Bransdale, a southward facing valley cut into the moors.

[4] The small church of St Nicholas, now a grade II listed building,[5] was built about 1800 as a chapel of ease in the ancient parish of Kirkby Moorside.

When the moorland is burnt the peat dries out and flakes, but when the peat is allowed to grow back, it acts like a natural sponge to retain water and release it slowly over days and weeks, which helps to prevent flooding further downstream.