Great Ormside is a small village in the Vale of Eden set around a triangular village green, and was formerly the seat of the Viking warrior Orm. The narrow road through Great Ormside village leads to Ormside Hall, with its 14th Century pele tower, and to St James's Church.

The church of St James is one of the oldest in Cumbria and is now a scheduled ancient monument, with parts dating from about 1140, and stands on a hill beside the River Eden. In the churchyard is an ancient cross socket dated 1643, and here in the early 19th century, the Ormside Bowl was found. This is an outstanding piece of Saxon metalwork dating from the 9th century, which is now in York Museum. A viking burial of a warrior with his sword (now in Tullie House Museum in Carlisle) was found in the churchyard in 1898. The Danes may have settled here and established a pagan burial ground.

There is a large sycamore tree growing out of the centre of a flight of steps, which is throught to replace a preaching cross.

Ormside Hall is now a farm.

The ten arched Ormside Viaduct, built between 1870 and 1875, carryies the Settle to Carlisle Railway across the River Eden. The nearest railway station is Appleby.

A short distance south of the village is the Underground House, built in an old quarry on a slope of the Eden valley and commanding beautiful views.

A viking burial of a warrior with his sword (now in Tullie House Museum in Carlisle) was found in the churchyard in 1898. The Danes may have settled here and established a pagan burial ground. 'The Ormside Bowl' (now in York Museum) was found here, and is the subject of a small exhibition in the Hilton Chapel within the Church.