The Yorkshire Dales & Harrogate Guide

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One visit is never enough

The Yorkshire Dales are a truly unique region of contrasts and beauty. They straddle the Pennines, spanning North Yorkshire, the southern fringes of rural Cumbria and urban outskirts of West Yorkshire. This area is so spectacular that large parts of it lie in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, one of only 15 areas in Britain preserved and maintained for their natural beauty, wildlife, and cultural heritage. The Dales is home to some of the prettiest villages and friendliest people in Yorkshire. There are over twenty Dales, including the more dramatic and upland areas of Arkengarthdale, Wensleydale and Swaledale. The lower southern areas of Airedale, Wharfedale and Nidderdale are gentler with rolling hills and pastureland. Early farmers cleared the woodland and developed the trademark patchwork of fields enclosed by dry stone walls that are such a recognised feature of this stunning area.

The beautiful spa town of Harrogate has a lively atmosphere, Victorian architecture, and cosmopolitan streets full of interesting shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes – all surrounded by the 200 acres of grassland known as The Stray.

During your visit here, you will discover stately homes, magical castles, sleeping abbeys and family-fun filled attractions, all amid the backdrop of fabulous scenery. To make sure that you get the best out of your visit, we have highlighted some of the best places to visit and many of the events which take place each year but do visit our website www.goyorkshire.com for the latest information. Yorkshire is a county that suits all tastes, be it for a long weekend or longer and one thing we are sure of is one visit is definitely not enough!

Images left to right: Boating in Knaresborough, walking near Keld

EXPLORING THE CHARMS OF HARROGATE

Nestled in the heart of Yorkshire, Harrogate beckons visitors with its elegant Victorian and Georgian architecture, lush gardens, and rich history as a spa town dating back to the 17th century. But beyond its picturesque facade lies a vibrant cultural and entertainment hub, offering a plethora of experiences for visitors to enjoy.

HISTORICAL CHARMS

Harrogate's history as a spa destination dates from the 17th and 18th centuries when visitors flocked to the area to experience the healing properties of its mineral-rich waters. The Royal Pump Room Museum preserves this heritage, showcasing artefacts from the town's heyday as a spa retreat. Among them are old-fashioned drinking glasses used to sip the spa waters, legend has it that some visitors took the waters not just for health but for love, as it was believed those who drank together would soon marry. Just 4 miles from Harrogate lies Ripley Castle, a historic stately home cocooned within stunning gardens and parkland. Steeped in a rich history dating back over 700 years it is intertwined with the Ingilby family's legacy.

MODERN DELIGHTS

Today, Harrogate exudes a vibrant atmosphere, enticing visitors with its independent shops, pavement cafes, and culinary delights. The Montpellier Quarter stands out as a hidden gem, its cobbled streets lined with antique shops, cosy pubs, and charming eateries. For those with a penchant for cheese, The Cheeseboard of Harrogate is a mustvisit destination. This specialty shop boasts a tantalizing array of artisanal cheeses from around the world, offering cheese enthusiasts the opportunity to explore and indulge in their passion. Another must-visit spot is Baltzersen's, a Scandinavian-inspired Cafe serving delicious brunch and specialty coffee. For a taste of local cuisine, visitors can head to William & Victoria, an elegant restaurant housed in a former Victorian coach house, known for its seasonal British dishes and extensive wine selection. No visit to Harrogate

would be complete without indulging in the delights of Betty's, the town's most iconic tearoom, renowned for its elegant surroundings and delectable treats. Harrogate also boasts a vibrant nightlife scene with pubs, bars, and live music venues.

LEISURE AND RECREATION

Escape the hustle and bustle of the town centre and take a trip to RHS Harlow Carr where visitors can explore lush greenery and captivating landscapes. This renowned botanical garden offers a serene retreat, featuring a diverse array of plants, flowers, and themed gardens. Families can also enjoy leisurely strolls amidst the scenic paths and charming pavilions of Valley Gardens, or explore the sprawling open parkland of The Stray, providing ample space for picnics and outdoor activities.

CULTURAL AND ENTERTAINMENT HUB

Harrogate isn't just a picturesque town with historical charm; it's also a vibrant cultural hub, offering a wealth of entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. The town's renowned Harrogate Theatre, founded in 1900, stands as one of the oldest provincial theatres in the UK. Adjacent to the theatre lies the exquisite Royal Hall, a jewel in Harrogate's cultural crown, serving as a prestigious venue for concerts, orchestral performances, and special events. Throughout the year, Harrogate plays host to a series of internationally acclaimed festivals, collectively known as the Harrogate International Festivals, celebrating literature, music, crime writing, and more. Beyond its tranquil beauty, Valley Gardens also serves as a venue

for a variety of events and festivals throughout the year. Harrogate is home to several art galleries and exhibition spaces, showcasing works by local and international artists. The town's literary connections run deep, with notable authors such as Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle having visited or been inspired by Harrogate.

Harrogate has welcomed a host of notable figures, including the esteemed author Charles Dickens, who famously described the town as "the queerest place with the strangest people."

Delving into its past, Harrogate reveals its surprising Viking origins, with the town's name believed to originate from Old Norse.

Harrogate boasts a unique modern claim to fame - as the birthplace of Yorkshire Tea.

Each year, Harrogate blooms into a hub of horticultural splendour with the prestigious Harrogate Flower Shows.

Harrogate hosts the annual Great Harrogate Cake Off, a sweet celebration of culinary artistry.

Whether indulging in a leisurely afternoon tea at Betty's or exploring the town's historical landmarks, Harrogate offers something for every visitor to enjoy. With its blend of old-world charm and modern amenities, Harrogate continues to captivate travellers from near and far, inviting them to experience the timeless allure of this Yorkshire gem.

KNARESBOROUGH

Perched on top of a hill above the river Nidd, the idyllic, historic market town of Knaresborough is a warren of medieval streets and spectacular views. Towering above the gorge is Knaresborough Castle, situated in a commanding position with stunning vistas across the valley. The imposing four arched railway viaduct across the gorge is also a famous landmark of a town that is full of quaint shops, cafes and tea rooms. Knaresborough has been attracting visitors for centuries and Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well situated by the river is thought to be the oldest entrance-charging tourist attraction

in England, open since 1630 and once home to a mysterious prophetess who died in 1561, the well turns objects left there to stone.

The market square in the centre of the town is a quaint and beautiful place to stroll around with a lovely Market Cross monument and a statue of the famous, local legend Blind Jack. The Square is also venue of a popular market on most Wednesdays.

DON’T MISS

St Robert’s Cave - on the outskirts of the town lies a medieval hermit's dwelling and grave that can be visited. Robert of Knaresborough had a reputation for being visited by kings due to his holy reputation.

Knaresborough Town Window Trail – many of the houses in the centre of Knaresborough are decorated with illusionary window paintings known as trompe I’oeil. They cover windows that were bricked up to avoid paying a window tax in Georgian times. The Tourist Information Centre has Window Maps so that can enjoy your self-led hunt. A warning, finding them all can be a pain.

Mother Shipton’s Cave – a fantastic attraction with family events throughout the year. 2024 may even see the introduction of their first pagan wedding packages.

Take a riverside boat trip - along the riverside there are the iconic green and red rowing boats to hire and of course, ice cream to buy.

Knaresborough at Christmas – there is something for everyone at this time of year with Christmas Trails in the Castle Grounds, carols by the waterside, panto at the Frazer Theatre and Mother Shipton’s Christmas Experience events.

Knaresborough

Castle was built in the 12th century and King Richard II was held prisoner here.

Knaresborough has England’s oldest chemist shop, trading since 1720 and the interior still features original fixtures.

Legend has it that Mother Shipton predicted both the Great Plague of London and The Great Fire of London.

Knaresborough recently finished in 3rd place in top 10 most 'instagrammable' places in Yorkshire. With more than 183,000 posts, it ranked only behind York Minster and the North York Moors.

The small, attractive Bebra park, with its meandering pathways is named in honour of Knaresborough’s twin town Bebra in Germany.

SNOOZE YOU LOSE - The Great Knaresborough Bed Race will take place on 8 June in 2024. The gruelling fancy dress race is a time trial over a 2.4 mile course allowing one lucky person to be the passenger on a home-made bed with the race ending with a swim in the Nidd.

GO YORKSHIRE PUN ALERTfamous celebrities that have allegedly participated in the event include Wet Wet Wet’s Marty Pillow, Bruce Springsteen, Wayne Sleep, Dream Martin, Snoozy Quatro, PJs and Duncan and the cast of Band Aid singing ‘Duvet know it’s Christmas time’.

Visit goyorkshire.com for even more places to visit, stay and eat, plus more great discount offers.

Discover 90 sculptures set in stunning woodland gardens.

ONLINE BOOKINGS ONLY. DOGS WELCOME

www.himalayangarden.com

The

TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Taking part in an activity or tour is a great way to meet the locals as well as learning a new skill and Yorkshire has plenty to offer. There is something for everyone and listed below are just a few that offer a unique and memorable experience.

MOTHER SHIPTON’S CAVE

Visitors from all over the world have been enchanted by the park’s natural beauty, mesmerised by the Petrifying Well and fascinated by Mother Shipton’s story. The park has several scenic picnic areas, an adventure playground and museum and gift shop. During a visit it is an old tradition to make a wish. The Wishing Well is fed by the same magical waters as the Petrifying Well and has been wished upon for over 300 years. Many visitors have been in touch to tell us their wishes have come true!

www.mothershipton.co.uk

YORK COLD WAR FORBIDDEN CORNER

The Forbidden Corner is a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created within a four acre garden in the heart of Tupgill Park and the Yorkshire Dales. A tourist visitor attraction unlike anywhere that you have been before, ideal for the adventurers and those young at heart! The temple of the underworld, the eye of the needle, a huge pyramid made of translucent glass, paths and passages that lead nowhere, extraordinary statues – at every turn there are decisions to make and tricks to avoid. This is a day out with a difference which will challenge and delight adults and children of all ages.

www.theforbiddencorner.co.uk

INGLETON WATERFALLS TRAIL

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail, in the Yorkshire Dales, offers spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery and is noted for its geological interest. Hugely popular with groups and school trips thanks to its varied wildlife and wealth of fascinating geological features.

www.ingletonwaterfallstrail.co.uk

Top Left: Mother Shipton’s

INGLEBOROUGH ESTATE NATURE TRAIL

Discover 1.3 miles of beautiful Yorkshire Dales woodland, en route to the imposing entrance to Ingleborough Cave. The trail is the gateway to some of the U.K’s most stunning limestone scenery including Ingleborough Cave, Trow Gill gorge, Gaping Gill pothole, limestone pavements, the Norber Erratics and ultimately the summit of Ingleborough. Click below to access walking routes for a variety of abilities.

www.ingleboroughcave.co.uk

YORKSHIRE DALES GUIDES

Based in the heart of the Dales, Yorkshire Dales Guides provide a wide range of outdoor activities led by an expert team of instructors who are passionate about inspiring and educating visitors of all ages and abilities. Choose your adventure from caving, abseiling, hiking, mountain biking plus much more.

www.yorkshiredalesguides.co.uk

EMBSAY AND BOLTON ABBEY STEAM RAILWAY

Take a Ride behind one of the vintage steam locomotives for a special journey back in time. Breathe in the evocative smells of a real steam railway, while your eyes and ears thrill to the puffing and hissing of the steam engine. Settle back in beautifully restored Victorian and Edwardian carriages and enjoy a unique view of some of Yorkshire’s finest countryside. Special events run throughout the year.

www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

PENNINE CRUISERS

Pennine Cruisers run 30 minute boat trips on the Leeds Liverpool canal and part way down the historic Springs Branch, a short arm off the Leeds Liverpool Canal. Or alternatively if you’re looking for a holiday or short break, narrow boat hire is available all year round.

www.penninecruisers.com

THE WENSLEYDALE CREAMERY

Set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales you’ll find the Wensleydale Creamery, home of the famous creamy, crumbly Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and fantastic Visitor Centre; the UK’s flagship Cheese Visitor Experience. The interactive experience takes you on a journey through the art of cheese making to discover a fascinating insight into the thousand-year history of cheese making in the Dales, with the opportunity to watch Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese being crafted from a viewing gallery.

www.wensleydale.co.uk

DARK

SKIES

ANY BUDDING ASTRONAUTS?

Time to get Starstruck by the Yorkshire Dales

Images: Stephen Pemberton

Shooting stars are not stars but small pieces of rock and dust burning in the sky.

Large areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park are completely free from local light pollution making it a fantastic place to do some stargazing. 2020 was a historic year for the Yorkshire Dales with the area designated an International Dark Sky reserve by the International Dark-Sky Association. The fact that there are only 20 of these in the whole world makes this even more amazing and this is predominantly down to the fact that the Yorkshire Dales is home to some of the darkest skies in the country.

■ North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival

You can see up to ten times as many stars as you would in the city in our area and every year, the Dark Skies Festival celebrates the night’s sky. The North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales Dark Skies Festival’s inaugural event was in 2016 and every year (usually February) there are amazing activities as part of the festival including stargazing safaris, mindful experiences, night navigation and even night runs.

■ Best places to stargaze in the Yorkshire Dales National Park Dark Sky Reserve

The whole of the Yorkshire Dales National Park has been designated a Dark Sky Reserve, the largest in the UK. There are four designated Dark Sky Discovery Sites in the Dales which are locations defined as accessible and open to the public:

Hawes National Park Visitor Centre

Malham National Park Visitor Centre

Buckden National Park Car Park Tan Hill Inn

■ Lime Tree Observatory, Grewelthorpe

A unique experience we thoroughly recommend. A group of amateur astronomers from the York observatory club rescued an old telescope and transformed a barn on a field at Grewelthorpe near Ripon into an observatory and planetarium. A fascinating night out. Booking essential. www.limetreeobservatory.com/ planetariumplanetarium

■ What can you see?

Planets, the Moon, and Stars –obviously! On a clear night you can see as many as 2000 stars with the Pole Star (Polaris) being the brightest. Mercury, Mars, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn are all visible and always remember the quick rule of thumb to distinguish between stars and planets when looking through a telescope. Stars Twinkle, Planets don’t.

Best Time to see - when the sky is at its darkest during the new moon period (two weeks after a full moon).

Meteor Showers – Meteor showers are quite predictable, and August sees the annual Perseid meteor shower when hundreds of meteors an hour can be seen.

Best Time to see – throughout the year but some of the best are Perseids (August), Orionids (October), Leonids (November) and Geminids (December).

International Space Station (ISS) –

The ISS is the largest modular space station currently in low Earth orbit, orbiting the Earth every 90 minutes and appearing in the sky as a white dot.

Best Time to see – passes overhead throughout the year - check the Nasa website.

The Milky Way – a river of light streaming through the Cygnus and Cassiopeia constellations caused by the light from millions of dim stars.

Best Time to see – Autumn/Winter.

The Northern Lights – also known as the Aurora Borealis, this phenomenon is caused by sun particles interacting with the magnetic field of the earth.

Best Time to see - you can get a few hours of notice of possible displays through various Aurora Apps.

Need a little help? There are lots of smartphone apps and websites that will help you on your astronomy journey of exploration including:

Stellarium planetarium

GoSkyWatch

Heavens-Above

Sky Guide

Star Walk

SkySafari

Universe2go Celestron SkyPortal Scope Nights

Night Sky

Sky Tonight

Cosmic Watch

RIPON

Ripon, one of the smallest cities in the country, may be small in size but it is big in its possibilities. Eleven miles north of Harrogate, Ripon has a charming market square and a bustling high street which saw over a 50% rise in footfall in 2023. The city is over 1300 years old and sitting in the centre is the magnificent Ripon Cathedral with a history dating back to its foundation by St Wilfrid in 672AD. The market square sprouts quaint streets and snickets, filled with cafes, pubs and specialist shops. The city’s historic manufacturing trade led to the building of a canal which in turn means that you can now enjoy beautiful riverside and canal walks that reach out into the countryside. Ripon is also home to Ripon Races, an outstanding racecourse nicknamed ‘The Garden Racecourse’ which has been hosting prestigious racing for more than 300 years.

■ DON’T MISS

Newby Hall - a beautiful Grade I listed Georgian House with exquisite gardens that are a joy to visit. There is also lots to keep your young ones entertained with an enchanting woodland walk and a miniature railway, a doll house exhibition and the Bear House Museum.

Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal Water Garden - a recognised World Heritage Site four miles away from Ripon with ancient abbey ruins that were founded in 1133 by thirteen dissident Benedictine monks. With over 800 acres of parkland, water gardens, ponds, statues and follies, it really is a tranquil haven.

Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park – unsurprisingly inspired by the Himalayas, these are a regular winner of the Yorkshire in Bloom Tourist Attraction Award and are home to over 85 Contemporary Sculptures set within 45 acres of breathtaking gardens.

A 20-year mystery surrounding wonky roads in Ripon city centre was recently solved when it was discovered they were made with sand. A £630,000 resurfacing programme is planned for 2024 to get rid of the ‘wonks’!

King Alfred the Great visited Ripon in 886AD and gifted the city a horn to be used to alert the locals to the danger of invaders. A Wakeman (night watchman) patrolled from dusk til dawn sounding the horn at each of the four corners of the marketplace at 9pm every night to let people know he was on duty. The ritual has continued every night at the Obelisk for 1100 years.

West Tanfield near Ripon is the site of Yorkshire’s ‘Stonehenge of the North’. The English Heritage run Thornborough Henges are three giant, circular earthworks, each more than 600 feet in diameter, which date from between 3000 to 2500 BC.

Brimham Rocks (4 miles east of Pateley Bridge) – once known as Brimham Crags, these are maintained by The National Trust and open to the public all year round. They are an amazing collection of rocks sculpted by weather and 320 million years of entire continents moving.

Gouthwaite and Scar House reservoirs are within a short distance of Pateley Bridge and attract around 100,000 visitors and walkers a year.

Pateley Bridge is famous for having the oldest and longest continuously trading sweet shop in England dating back to 1827.

Pateley Bridge was only granted town status in 1986 and was once a major centre for lead mining and quarrying, with many of the town’s buildings constructed from locally sourced stone.

PATELEY BRIDGE

The market town of Pateley Bridge stretches up the hillside making it an ideal and popular place for walkers, cyclists and explorers. Indeed, the famous Nidderdale Way and Six Dales Trail both pass through the town. The town lies on the river Nidd and is the main commercial centre in the Nidderdale National Landscape (formerly Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) which in turn, is often called ‘Little Switzerland’ due to the area’s lovely scenery. A walk up Pateley Bridge high street is the best way to get a real feel for what the town is all about with independent shops, delis and bakeries, complemented by galleries, souvenir shops, glassmakers and chocolate shops. Lying just 14 miles northwest of Harrogate and 13 miles west of Ripon, Pateley (as it is known by the locals) is perfectly located as a base to enjoy the whole of what the area has to offer.

■ DON’T MISS

Long Course Weekend – an international multi-sporting event will take place in Masham and Pateley Bridge 6-8 September 2024. 5,000 swimmers, cyclists, runners and triathletes of all abilities will descend on the area along with an estimated 20,000 spectators so plan ahead!

Nidderdale Show - the Nidderdale Show or Pateley Show as it is affectionately called, is a traditional Dales agricultural show held in the beautiful surrounds of Bewerley Park, Pateley Bridge with 15,000 visitors annually. The 2024 Show will be held on Sunday 22 September and it is traditionally the last Dales agricultural show each year.

Recreational Ground Park – a lovely place to walk off a hearty breakfast, the park has a traditional bandstand and plenty of activities to keep the kids entertained.

BEDALE – GATEWAY TO THE DALES

Bedale Hall is home to the local museum and council offices with the large ballroom used for functions and weddings. It is worth popping inside to marvel at the wonderful frescoes and paintings that frame the grand ballroom. Opposite is Bedale Church that dates back to the 12th century, although a church was recorded on the site in the Doomsday book. The church contains a bell which is over 400 years old and was rescued from Jervaulx Abbey after the dissolution of the monasteries in the 1530s!

The Bedale Hoard - Discovered in May 2012 by a group of metal detectorists in a field near Bedale, this find of 48 gold and silver items dating back to the late 9th and early 10th centuries was acquired by the Yorkshire Museum for £50,000 following a successful public funding campaign.

For centuries the attractive Georgian town of Bedale has always been the perfect stopping off point for those travelling North.

Situated just off the A1M, Bedale is ideally positioned to break your journey and to stock up on supplies if renting a cottage nearby with an excellent greengrocer, two good butchers and a decent Co-op. There are also many interesting and independent shops that line the high street for you to browse. There is still free parking available on the high street (limited to two hours using a parking disk) and 95% of shops are independently owned.

Markets are a big thing in Yorkshire, especially in Bedale and the Tuesday market is one of the longest established in the county. There has been a market here since King Henry III granted a Market Charter to Alan, son of the Manor of Bedale and a market cross dating back to the early 14th century stands at the crossroads in the centre of the town. Yorkshire markets are well worth visiting and you will find it an excellent place to source fresh local produce and goods made by local craftsmen and women.

Another popular event is the Saturday car boot sale held weekly from March until October in Bedale Park. With the stunning back drop of Bedale Hall, the park is packed with all sorts of stalls and is one of the largest car boot sales in Yorkshire.

Above: Bedale Right: Bedale market cross

Bedale Park featured in the latest series of ITV crime drama, Vera starring awardwinning actress Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope,

■ DON’T MISS

Thorp Perrow Arboretum

The ever-changing beauty of Thorp Perrow’s seasonal colours provide a stunning 100-acre backdrop for relaxing strolls, well-being and inspiration. Home to five National Plant Collections and a leading centre for raptor conservation, the Arboretum offers a year-round experience with guided tours, creative learning workshops, open air concerts, seasonal trails and special events. There is also a Tea Room specialising in homemade cakes and home cooked fare. www.thorpperrow.com

Mount Grace Priory

Just a half hour drive away, you can easily miss this hidden gem situated off the A19 near Northallerton. Set in woodlands within the North York Moors National Park, it is represented today by the best preserved and most accessible ruins among the nine houses of the Carthusian Order, which existed in England in the Middle Ages and were known as charterhouses. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/mount-grace-priory

Wensleydale Railway

Ride the Heritage Railway running through the Wensleydale countryside, from Leeming Bar to Leyburn, on the edge of the spectacular Yorkshire Dales. www.wensleydale-railway.co.uk

Big Sheep & Little Cow

For a fun family day out come and meet the animals. Hands on handling experiences, and indoor and outdoor play areas. Pre-booking essential. www.bigsheeplittlecow.co.uk

Top Left: Thorpe Perrow Arboretum Left: Wensleydale Railway

Below: Mount Grace Priory

MINI-GUIDE

Featuring top attractions and places to visit, it includes discount vouchers to use throughout the year

Mini Guide available from accommodation providers, Tourist Information Centres, cafes, pubs and anywhere displaying visitor information.

Visit goyorkshire.com for even more places to visit, stay and eat, plus more great discount offers.

One of the largest and most varied selections of silver jewellery in the North. Customers love our affordable prices and unusual designs, not found in a typical high street store.

Whatever the season you will find something here to brighten any area of your garden. Spring bedding, autumn colour, stunning blooms and shapely shrubs - there’s always something to catch the eye!

We have a beautiful selection of trees, shrubs, alpines, herbaceous plants, fruit trees and much much more We have been growing the plants for North Yorkshire’s gardens for 125 years.

Call in and see what we have for yours. Local delivery is available on all items.

MASHAM

The picturesque town of Masham (pronounced Massem) is an ideal base for touring the Yorkshire Dales and wider Yorkshire area. It is 20 minutes’ drive from the A1 and places like Harrogate are only 40 minutes away while you can also be in the cities of York, Leeds and Newcastle in an hour.

The Market Square with its beautiful Georgian houses was created in the 18th century and would have originally been surrounded by thatched cottages. It is still the location for Masham’s Wednesday and Saturday weekly markets, still going strong over 750 years since the first Market charter. There is also a Farmers’ market the first Sunday of the month in Spring and Summer.

Masham has long been known as being the centre of brewing in Yorkshire with both Theakston and the Black Sheep Breweries based here. These are great places to visit after a walk to discover Masham and the surrounding area, the best way to experience the beauty of this town that borders the Nidderdale National Landscape.

■ DON’T MISS

Masham Steam Rally – not just for steam engine enthusiasts, this takes place every July (20-21 July in 2024) and has Fair Organs, Steam Engine parades, live bands, funfair rides, Tug o’ War and even motorbike stunts.

Masham Sheep Fair – an action packed two-day annual event every September that has everything you need to keep you entertained including a Craft Market, Sheepdog Demonstrations, Hand Bell Ringers, Morris Dancers, Art Exhibition, Children’s Fair and even sheep racing (wooly good fun to watch!)

Masham Town Hall - hosts a full programme of events and performances throughout the year including live music, comedy and pantomimes.

Masham Gallery – the home of renowned artists Josie Beszant and Ian Scott Massie, Masham Gallery is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024. The exhibition room changes regularly with different exhibitions taking place in every month between March and December this year.

Above: Masham Druids Temple Right: Masham Steam Rally

MASHAM EAT AND DRINK

Cafes – Johnny Baghdad’s, Bordar House Teas, The Old Station Pubs and Restaurants – Black Sheep Bistro, The White Bear, The Black Bull Inn, Where There’s Smoke, The Bruce Arms, The King’s Head Hotel, The Bay Horse

MUST SEE NEARBY ATTRACTIONS

Druid’s Temple Stone Circle

Brymor Ice Cream

Swinton Park Estate

In 1988, human skeletal remains were discovered during the building of the new public toilets near St Mary’s Church and excavations yielded 58 burials from an original Christian burial ground.

Below: Masham Gallery

A TALE OF THREE DALES

Three very different dales, this is ideal walking country with walks to suit all levels of fitness.

COVERDALE

Wensleydale sheep

The distinctive Wensleydale sheep with their long curly coats and shaggy mains, are renowned for the soft wool they produce.

WENSLEYDALE

Many people associate the name of Wensleydale with the famous crumbly cheese produced in Hawes, where you can visit their factory and enjoy sampling the cheese. Wensleydale is known for many other things; it lies in the heart of Herriott country where the famous Yorkshire vet practiced, and the original television series was filmed in 1977 and aired to great acclaim in 1978. (Now neighbouring Wharfedale is the location used).

Wensleydale sheep

The distinctive Wensleydale sheep with their long curly coats and shaggy mains, are renowned for the soft wool they produce.

Wensleydale is one of the widest valleys in the Yorkshire Dales and the only dale not to be named after its river or the river named after the valley. Wensley, which the valley is named after, was once the centre for trade until the plague arrived in 1563 wiping out the population and the main centres of trade then moved to Leyburn and Hawes. The River Ure, unlike other rivers, does not take its name from the valley but retains the old name of the valley Yoredale.

■ DON’T MISS

The Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton was one of only 2 restaurants to feature in the Open Table’s top 100 restaurants in 2023.

SWALEDALE

In contrast, Swaledale is a steep u-shaped valley characterised by the stone barns that stud the sloping hills and valley floor. The Coast to Coast walk, a 190 mile walk through Cumbria across North Yorkshire, transverses the valley from west to east and is a busy route throughout the year keeping the many guest houses and inns occupied. At Reeth, the main hub of the valley, the remote dale of Arkengarthdale branches off northwards. An area designated one of Natural Landscape, it spans the counties of Cumbria, Northumberland, County Durham, North Yorkshire and Teesdale.

Across the valley of Wensleydale lies the town of Middleham, reputed to be the smallest town in Yorkshire. Middleham Castle, once home to Richard III, is tucked behind the market square and is a fine example of a Norman Castle and one of the most recognisable landmarks of the town. The other is the number of racing stables here and it is no wonder that Middleham is often referred to as the ‘Lambourne of the North’. Guests staying in Middleham will wake up to the sound of clip clopping horses on the cobbles as the stable lads and lasses take their charges up to the gallops on the moor above the town. Follow the moor road towards Kettlewell and after a couple of miles you will come to the Forbidden Corner, an extraordinary attraction based around a garden full of follies, tunnels and surprises created by the owner Mr C R Armstrong CMG O.B.E for his children. Due to public demand this was subsequently opened to the public. (Booking is essential as tickets are limited).

Below: Middleham Castle

PLACES TO FALL FOR

To keep the little ones interested, visit a series of waterfalls and encourage them to walk. Wensleydale and Swaledale have plenty to choose from.

Wensleydale

Aysgarth Falls – triple flight of waterfalls, surrounded by woodland and farmland.

Redmire Force - multi drop waterfall a couple of miles downstream from Aysgarth Falls.

West Burton Falls – also known as Cauldron Falls because of the beautiful plunge pool.

Mill Gill Force – just outside the village of Askrigg, best known as the setting for All Creatures Great and Small in the first series filmed in 1978.

Hardraw Force - England`s largest single drop waterfall set within the grounds of the historic Green Dragon Inn near Hawes.

Swaledale

Wain Wath Force – a great place for a picnic on a sunny day and the most accessible, it is also a popular spot for a dip.

Kisdon Force – two spectacular waterfalls set in a woody gorge where there are two plunge pools you can swim in. Not easily accessible with a short climb down holding onto a rope.

East Gill Force – Situated on the confluence of the River Swale, this impressive waterfall with a 15-foot drop, is situated just under East Gill Bridge.

Catrake Force – Not visible from the road, it is only accessible through a private campsite.

Richmond Falls – Lying beneath the castle, the falls are a popular spot.

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

Middleham Castle

Explore this magnificent castle and learn about the childhood home of Richard III.

Forbidden Corner

Bring out the inner child in you and explore this magical secret garden. Great for kids and adults alike.

Jervaulx Abbey

Former remains of one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire. There is an honesty box system in place.

Bolton Castle

This medieval castle was once one of the finest and most luxurious homes in the land. In 1568, Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned here for six months out of her 19 years of incarceration before being beheaded at Fotheringhay Castle in 1587.

Wensleydale Creamery

See how this famous cheese is made and sample the many varieties in their tasting shop.

Richmond Castle

With its breathtaking views, Richmond Castle towers above the River Swale below and fully deserves its place as one of the finest tourist attractions in North Yorkshire. The castle was originally built to subdue the unruly North of England and is one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain.

Tan Hill Inn

Visit the highest pub in Britain. a magnet for cyclists, bikers, and tourers.

PREBOOKING REQUIRED PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO BOOK

Come and explore the incredible work of Michael Kusz

Michael produces an exclusive range of handmade numbered sculptures in recycled copper for indoor and outdoor enjoyment.

10-5(ish)

FASCINATING FACTS

The Settle to Carlisle line is often referred to as ‘England’s most scenic railway’ and is 72 miles long. The station at Dent Head is the highest mainline station in England.

Hardraw Force is the longest single drop waterfall in England.

The Yorkshire Dales has its very own annual Cheese Festival that celebrates the incredible produce of the Dales.

Wensleydale has its own Red Squirrel Reserve at Snaizeholme where you can get superb views of endangered red squirrels in a woodland clearing.

The Yorkshire Dales are part of the 3 Counties cave system, the longest system in Britain. It’s possible to go underground in the Dales, pass under Lancashire and emerge in Cumbria!

Mary Queen of Scots was held prisoner at Bolton Castle for six months.

The Dales are so called because they are a collection of river valleys with ‘dale’ being the Danish word for valley.

The Yorkshire Dales has approximately 8,000 archaeological sites dating from the prehistoric period to the post-medieval era. The Dales is home to England’s highest freshwater lake, Malham Tarn at 377 meters above sea level.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park has a population of around 20,000, but receives over 3.8 million visitors each year. It is also home to a variety of stone circles, the most famous of which is probably the ‘Druids’ Circle’ in Appletreewick, near Skipton.

The Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes produces the famous Wensleydale cheese and a staggering 4000 tons of cheese a year.

Middleham Castle was the childhood home of Richard III and Middleham itself continues to be a centre for the training of successful racehorses.

The Yorkshire Dales have over 2,500km of rights of way in the National Park.

The dramatic Gordale Scar in Malham was featured in the film ‘The Dark Crystal’ and in the TV series ‘The Witcher’.

Reeth’s primary industry was lead mining and it was responsible for over 10% of the UK’s lead when the industry was in full swing.

The 2003 film ‘The Calendar Girls’ is based on eleven women from the Skipton area who bared all to produce a charity calendar. The movie was shot on location in Skipton and Kettlewell and starred Helen Mirren and Julie Walters.

Harrogate born Olly Alexander, lead singer of Years and Years, will represent the UK at May’s 2024 Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden.

The Georgian Theatre Royal in Richmond came out in first place in the 2024 Times list of best boutique theatres.

Left: Artengill Viaduct Below: Courtesy of Stephen Pemberton

SKIPTON, MALHAMDALE AND WHARFEDALE

SKIPTON

Known as the southern gateway to the Dales and situated on the Settle-Carlisle line, the vibrant town of Skipton has great links with the cities of West Yorkshire and is easily accessible by motorway to Manchester. As a result, many people who work in the cities choose to live here for the quality of life it affords. The town grew wealthy as a trading centre for wool and sheep and now has a thriving creative community with galleries and art venues. Skipton Town Hall on the High Street is very much the hub for culture and heritage in the Craven area with an Exhibition Gallery, Museum, Visitor Centre and Gift shop.

The town has two distinguishable features; the Norman Castle which is over 900 years old and is one of the most complete medieval castles in England and the traditional Skipton market that lines the high street four days a week. Skipton Castle is a great place to start when exploring the town as it gives a sense of the history and heritage of Yorkshire and is a great vantage point to view the high street and canal below. The strategic location of the castle helped the town grow in stature and gain a Market Charter in 1204 and the popular High Street market continues to this day.

Afterwards, there are plenty of cafes and bars where you can enjoy a meal. One of our personal favourites is the award-winning fish and chip restaurant, Bizzie Lizzie’s who have two restaurants in town.

DON’T MISS

Skipton Town Hall

Skipton Canal Cruises

Skipton Castle

Skipton Woods

Skipton Market

Skipton's original name ‘Sceap Tun’ means sheep town.

Unsurprisingly, Skipton’s major local employer is Skipton Building Society.

Skipton has had a biennial puppet festival since 1997 showcasing puppetry from all over the UK. Skipton Town Hall now organise the festival, so I guess that means they are pulling the strings!

You can view William Shakespeare’s First Folio, dated 1623, in the Craven Museum.

The Leeds-Liverpool Canal arrived in Skipton in 1770, bringing industrial development in corn milling and clothmaking.

MALHAMDALE

Malham is a very popular village on the Pennine Way that is popular with walkers. With beautiful limestone scenery, the area is famous for the soaring limestone ‘amphitheatre’ of Malham Cove with its almost’ lunar like’ landscape which can be reached by climbing the 400 stone steps up the left-hand side of the Cove. This pavement has an expanse of clints (slabs) and grykes (clefts) created by water seeping through weaker lines in the limestone rock and truly is a sight to behold. In a magical wood along the footpath from Malham village towards Gordale Scar, you will find Janet’s Foss waterfall which takes its name after a legendary fairy queen who supposedly inhabited a cave behind the waterfall.

DON’T MISS

National Park Visitor Centre

Malham Cove

Malham Tarn

Janet’s Foss waterfall

Gordale Scar

The Lister Arms in Malham was winner of the 2023 Yorkshire’s Post Dog Friendly Accommodation/ Attraction of the Year.

Peregrine Falcons nest in the crevices of Malham Cove.

Before 20th century boundary changes, the village of Malham was part of the Settle District in the West Riding of Yorkshire. Going further back, Malham was mentioned as ‘Malgun’ in the Domesday book and traces of the Iron age can still be found in the area today.

Above: Malham Cove

Right: Malhamdale

Below: Skipton Castle

WHARFEDALE & BOLTON ABBEY

Wharfedale is a stunning valley with miles of drystone walls and picturesque villages like Grassington, Burnsall and Kettlewell. Some of our favourite parts are in southern Wharfedale which offer breathtaking scenery and riverside walks for those that love the outdoors. Another must visit location is the Bolton Abbey Estate which has a stunning Priory Church and Ruins of an Augustinian Priory and of course, the famous 60 stepping stones These were originally used by Priory Workers to cross the River Wharfe but are now used by big and small kids to cross as a bit of a challenge. If you fancy a trip into Wharfedale an enjoyable and scenic way is to take the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, a preserved Heritage railway with steam locomotives that runs from Embsay village to Bolton Abbey Station. From here you can walk the half mile to Bolton Abbey Estate.

Bolton Abbey has three fallen trees that are all laden with coins that that have put in the bark by visitors. Follow the path from Stepping Stones Bridge up stream through the woodland to find them.

The pretty riverside village of Kettlewell hosts an annual Scarecrow Festival where residents display homemade scarecrows.

The Wharfedale valley was cut into the shape we see today during the last ice age.

Raven Tree Top Adventure

Have you ever Fancied walking the high wire? Balancing on wobbly logs high in the trees? We are Raven Tree Top Adventure, a high ropes adventure course aimed at both adults and teenagers although we can accommodate most children over 7 years old (Please note this is an approximate age only and is dependent on the child and adult supervising). Use zip lines, suspended bridges, balance beams, high wires and lots of other features to complete our exhilarating woodland tour.

Gargrave Road, Skipton, BD23 1UD 07729 572974

general@ravenadventure.co.uk

www.ravenadventure.co.uk

Above: Bolton Abbey Left:: Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Below: Weir at Grassington

Don’t miss Skipton’s charming High Corn Mill with its historic Waterwheel House, a fun and free educational attraction where you can get a close-up view of the giant wheel and even pull the handle to make it turn.

The mill complex features a mix of quality independent retailers. A place of wellbeing having a working water wheel and now the home of ‘Harry the Bee’.

Tucked away in a picturesque corner of town but close to the High Street, the medieval mill is also home to ‘Skippy’, the iconic camper van featuring pictures of well-known landmarks from around the town.

Nestled on the edge of Skipton Castle Woods, High Corn Mill is a hidden treasure for all the family to enjoy. You simply haven’t seen Skipton if you haven’t been to High Corn Mill!

Open 7 days a week | Car park at the rear | High Corn Mill, Chapel Hill, Skipton, BD23 1NL

DON’T SETTLE FOR SECOND BEST

SETTLE AND THREE PEAKS COUNTRY

The market town of Settle offers an ideal base for exploring the Southern Dales and the picturesque Forest of Bowland. The town attracts walkers, rock climbers and cavers drawn to the dramatic scars and limestone landscape of Upper Ribblesdale. Underground, the labyrinth of caves is a wonder world that cavers worldwide seek out. Rock climbers too are in their element tackling the rocky crags and walkers of all levels enjoy the many walking routes from low level walks to the most challenging three peaks. The iconic Settle-Carlisle Heritage Railway runs through the town and is an excellent way to enjoy the wonderful landscape for those that like a more sedentary pace of life but still enjoy magnificent views of dramatic scenery.

CLAPHAM

The charming village of Clapham nestles below Ingleborough, 6 miles northwest of Settle. On the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it is home to two famous icons, the playwright Alan Bennett and Ingleborough Cave! The village has a lovely 650-year-old church, St James’, and is extremely popular with walkers and cyclists due to the nearby stunning walks and trails. The Old Sawmill café, at the entrance of Ingleborough Nature Trail in Clapham village, is a beautifully preserved listed building with a picturesque garden and ever-changing menu making it a great place to eat and drink before and after a nice walk.

INGLEBOROUGH ESTATE NATURE TRAIL

Ingleborough Estate Nature Trail is a beautiful walk through 1.3 miles of woodland with walking routes for all ages and abilities. The Trail is the gateway to some of the UK’s most stunning limestone scenery including Ingleborough Cave, Trow Gill Gorge, Gaping Gill pothole, limestone pavements, the Norber Erratics and ultimately the summit of Ingleborough, one of the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks.

INGLEBOROUGH CAVE

If you want to follow in the footsteps of early Victorian explorers, try venturing 500 metres underground into one of the UK's most jaw dropping natural wonders. The caves were first discovered in 1837 by candle bearing Victorian explorers who drained away a lake and went on to discover 1/2 km of previously unexplored passages delving deep beneath Ingleborough mountain. Now, the cave is well lit and you can follow in the footsteps of those pioneers on an awe-inspiring voyage of discovery. A concrete footpath leads visitors past breath-taking stalactites, stalagmites and flowstones. Led by expert guides through a kilometre of passages, you will experience formations and artefacts dating back millions of years!

THE PENNINE WAY AND THREE PEAKS WALK

Enjoy this inspiring landscape on foot with plenty of walks available to you here. The Pennine Way crosses the summit of Pen-y-ghent and the Ribble Way follows the River Ribble from its source at the foot of Whernside. Of course, the most most famous walk is the Three Peaks, a 23-mile circular route taking in the three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent.

INGLETON, INGLETON WATERFALLS AND WHITE SCAR CAVE

Ingleton is nestled in the foothills of Ingleborough and is known as the ‘Gateway to the Three Peaks’. Dominated by the imposing 11 arched viaduct, the legacy of the railway that brought the first visitor to the area, it is still one of the most visited villages in the Dales. Ingleton was mentioned in the Domesday Book and its name means ‘Beacon Town’ and was originally settled in the Iron Age by the Brigantes. The Ingleton Waterfall Trail is a beautiful 4½ mile circular walk past tumbling waterfalls and rushing water which you can extend by 1½ miles to visit White Scar Cave, the longest show cave in Britain.

The walk to Ingleborough from Clapham has been named amongst the top best mountain walks in the UK. The Sunday Times included the route in a list of seven best mountain walks for a weekend away, alongside Quiraing circuit, Skye, Highland; Vale of Edale circuit, Peak District, Derbyshire; and Mosedale Horseshoe, Lake District, Cumbria.

A THRILLING TRAIL AND CAVE ADVENTURE

CAFE: providing a fascinating backdrop for visitors to immerse themselves in whilst enjoying use of the cafe.

the heritage & history of this listed building has been beautifully preserved,

CAVE: an exhilarating underground adventure exploring 500 metres of ancient passages, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, deep beneath Ingleborough.

TRAIL: gateway to the UK’s finest walking country, including Trow Gill Gorge, Gaping Gill and Ingleborough summit.

TEL: 01524 251242 SOCIAL: www.ingleboroughcave.co.uk

www.ingleboroughestatenaturetrail.co.uk

www.oldsawmillcafe.co.uk

THE WONDERS OF WILDLIFE IN THE YORKSHIRE DALES NATIONAL PARK

We need nature and it needs us. The Yorkshire Dales National Park is home to a wide variety of amphibians, reptiles, birds, butterflies, fish, mammals, and other animals. Flower rich meadows, rare limestone habitats, vast moorland and broadleaf woodland areas mean that the Park is a natural asset in terms of ecosystem and biodiversity. So keep your eyes peeled and see how many of these you can get checked off your list next time you venture out into our beautiful natural park.

Two species of conservation concern in the Yorkshire Dales are the Bilberry Bumblebee and the Moss Carder Bee. The meadows of the Dales can be home to thousands of species of pollinators and to help, the Yorkshire Dales Millenium Trust aims to improve nature conservation and increase the extent of hay meadows and wildflower-rich habitats across the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

The Snaizeholme red squirrel viewing area lies in the Widdale Red Squirrel Reserve near Hawes. Although coniferous woodland is an ideal habitat for red squirrels, they are difficult to see in densely planted woodlands so the viewing area has been created so we can see them in the wild. The viewpoint and surrounding woodland offer superb views of red squirrels as they visit a feeder in a woodland clearing.

■ SPOT THEM IF YOU CAN!

Golden plover, red grouse – fell tops

Skylarks, black grouse, ring ouzel – edges of moorland

Green woodpeckers, pied flycatchers – lower slopes

Yellow wagtails – pastures and meadows

Salmon, Brown Trout – main Dales rivers

Dormice, Brown hares - riverside fields and pastures

Bats – 9 species of bat across the Park Kingfishers – Cotter Force waterfalls wet of Hawes

SEDBERGH, DENT AND THE HOWGILLS

The Western Dales are amongst some of the most beautiful and remote areas of Britain and are often missed by visitors driving to the Lakes or touring the more popular dales.

The main town in the area is Sedbergh and it is the largest town that lies within the Yorkshire Dales. Technically, since the Government’s reorganisation of the county boundaries in 1974, it lies within Cumbria but rather has the feel of a border town lying on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District. Sedbergh still retains its old-world charm with its cobbled high street, handsome houses and the backdrop of the magnificent Howgill Fells. Situated on the confluence of four rivers, the town historically has been an important meeting point where trade routes converged and was the economic centre of the area. Several woollen mills were established where yarn for hand knitters was spun as well as woollen cloth being woven. The town continued to prosper and grow well into the 19th century.

South of Sedbergh is Dentdale, situated on the River Dee, a narrow valley characterised by white and grey stone cottages. The ten-mile drive from Sedbergh along a single-track road offers breath taking views. In spring and summer, the fields are full of wildflowers and in the autumn and winter months, the colours are equally stunning. In the heart of the valley lies Dent one of the prettiest and quaintest villages in the Yorkshire Dales. Lying in the centre of the village is an enormous memorial stone that stands in memory of Adam Sedgwick, the renowned 18th century Geologist who was born in Dent and educated at Sedbergh School.

■ DON'T MISS

Farfield Mill - see artists at work and see the superb display of artistic crafts for sale with regular exhibitions of different crafts and demonstrations. Learn about the heritage of the mill and the history of the wool industry and the people that lived here. It also has a lovely restaurant with homemade goodies!

Westmoreland Bookshop is a large, independent, family-run bookshop in Sedbergh. They stock over 70,000 books across two floors, mainly second-hand with some new and some antiquarian. In 2023 they were voted by the Booker Prize as one of the best dressed windows displays of independent bookshops in the UK. In 2009, The Guardian voted them as one of the top ten second hand bookshops in the country and author and travel writer author Bill Bryson is a huge fan.

Cautley Spout is a spectacular waterfall tumbling down the side of the hills.

Dent Heritage Centre - Dent Knitters: the tale of the "terrible knitters of Dent" - they were the most famous hand knitters of the Dales and their amazing dexterity is recounted in full at the Dent Heritage Centre. Men, women, and children all knitted and could multi-task whilst knitting, cooking, churning butter or cleaning at the same time.

INTERESTING FACTS

Dent Station , on the Settle-Carlisle line is the highest mainline station in England. Impressive viaducts at Dent Head and Arten Gill carry the railway high above the valley and offer great views.

The Howgills , the unusual, rounded hills which walker and writer Alfred Wainwright described as “looking like a herd of elephants”, were ancient pre-carboniferous rocks that were laid down as marine sediments where on the summit some fine alpine flora can be found. You may not see any elephants, but if you are lucky, you may spot the wild fell ponies instead!

The Calf is the highest point of the Howgill Fells at 678 (2218 ft).

Sedgwick Trail – a leaflet about 18th century Dent-born geologist Adam Sedgewick is available from National Park Centres. It also contains a geology trail based at Longstone Common on the Garsdale road out of Sedbergh where there is also an interpretation panel. Here the Dent Fault can be seen in rocks beside the river.

Cautley Barrow is a Bronze Age burial site.

Cautley Iron Age Settlement - Archaeologists discovered houses and fields of an Iron Age farming community in the valley below Cautley Spout. Families likely lived by grazing cattle and growing crops close to their houses.

Above: Dent heed Left:: The Howgills Bottom Left: Adam Sedgewick Memorial Bottom Right: Cautley Spout

Open 7 days a week from 10:30am

Family run, independent bookshop

Over 80,000 new and secondhand books on most subjects Collectors room, rare and antiquarian books

Gifts, cards, jigsaws, games, maps & guidebooks

Large selection of secondhand classical, jazz, and folk CD’s

We accept National Book Tokens

Westwood Books, Long Lane, Sedbergh,Cumbria LA10 5AH

Telephone: 015396 21233

books@westwoodbooks.co.uk

www.westwoodbooks.co.uk

Howgills Hideaway lies in a special place nestled on the edge of both the Yorkshire dales and The Lake District making it a great place to explore the outstanding beauty of both National parks.

Relax and recharge in one of the three cosy glamping pods whilst admiring the breathtaking views from your own private decking, make yourself at home in one of our spacious static caravans or try out our beautiful bell tent!

Visit goyorkshire.com for even more places to visit, stay and eat, plus more great discount offers.

A TASTE OF

Part of the pleasure of being in the Yorkshire region is the quality of the food that’s produced here. Here is just a sample of the delights you can find.

1. THE WENSLEYDALE HEIFER

In the heart of the village of West Witton, here the chefs create dishes ranging from luxury classics such as steak and lobster through to their very famous Fish and Chips - there’s something for everyone whether they prefer fine dining or a casual meal. www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk

2. HANSOM RESTAURANT

A modern British restaurant in the heart of Bedale, opened by award-winning chef Ruth Hansom. A contemporary tasting menu experience, combining only the finest produce. www.hansomrestaurant.co.uk

3. THE WHITE BEAR, MASHAM

Offering everything from sandwiches and soup to a full menu served in both the dining room and bar – both lunch and dinner. Menus are varied and, because they use locally sourced produce, they are seasonal too. www.whitebearmasham.co.uk/dine

4. THE SANDPIPER, LEYBURN

The Sandpiper Inn has achieved many accolades, including Yorkshire Life Dining Pub of the Year, making this charming little inn an undoubtedly desirable place to dine whilst visiting the Dales. www.sandpiperinn.co.uk

5. LA CAVEAU, SKIPTON

Offering Yorkshire produce with a French twist. Whether it’s a romantic dinner for two or larger groups, Le Caveau has so much to offer including; The 5 Course tasting menu, fixed price menus or daily changing specials. www.lecaveau.co.uk

6. THE SADDLE ROOM, COVERHAM

Grand honest food, served to perfection. A truly unique dining experience, with sumptuous food, handpicked wine from our award winning cellar and a relaxing atmosphere. www.thesaddleroom.co.uk

Images: We have used stock images due to ever changing menus as most of the restaurants featured

7. THE TRADDOCK, SETTLE

The Traddock’s 3 AA Rosette chefshave a passion for sourcing and preparing the finest foods found on their door step and we have partnered with many local artisan producers who supply the kitchens with the best ingredients Yorkshire has to offer. www.thetraddock.co.uk/restaurant-bar

8.

BRYMOR ICE CREAM, MASHAM

Brymor have been making the finest Real Dairy Ice Cream for over 30 years. The secret lies in the high butter fat content milk from a local herd of cows. Sourcing only the best ingredients they make the most delicious dairy ice cream for miles around. www.brymordairy.co.uk

Whether it’s coffee and cake or a Michelin Star evening meal, Yorkshire has some amazing options

9. DRUM AND MONKEY

A haven for fresh seafood lovers, The Drum and Monkey is located in the Montpellier Quarter and is Harrogate’s only decicated seafood restaurant. www.drumandmonkey.co.uk

10. LOVE BROWNIES, HARROGATE

A little bakery with a BIG mission - to bring you the world’s best tasting brownies. Baked individually by hand, the awardwinning brownies use only the best possible ingredients. www.lovebrownies.co.uk

11. FAIRHURST’S FARM SHOP

Located just outside Leyburn, all products are hand picked (and tasted of course) by Guy using his pure love for quality and flavour. The Fairhurst’s brand is everexpanding with their range of homemade ready meals, chutney, jam, cakes, gin and much more... www,fairhurstsfarmshop.co.uk

12. THE CHEESEBOARD, HARROGATE

The Cheeseboard of Harrogate boasts itself as one of Yorkshire’s finest cheese shops, stocking over 200 types of speciality cheese, hampers and cheese wedding cakes; local, British and Continental cheese. www.thecheeseboard.net

8270 BC

The first signs of human activity are found in Victoria Cave in Settle.

71 AD

The Romans arrived and built forts, including ones at Doncaster and York.

407

The last Roman soldiers left Britain and the Roman way of life disappeared from Yorkshire.

750

In the mid 8th century York sprang to life. Craftsmen went to live there and weekly markets began.

866

The Vikings captured York and founded a separate kingdom of Yorkshire.

954

The English recapture York from the Vikings.

1066

Harald Hardrada, the king of Norway, invaded England.

1086

The people of Yorkshire rise in rebellion leading to the ‘Harrying of the North’ which left many people starving to death.

1132

Fountains Abbey was founded. The Cistercian abbey operated for over 400 years, until 1539, when Henry VIII ordered the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

1315

The start of seven years of exhausting famine partly due to changing climate conditions.

1318

Robert the Bruce plundered Northallerton, Boroughbridge, Ripon and Scarborough.

1349

Yorkshire was devastated by the Black Death, which killed about a third of the population.

1536

Henry VIII calls for the closing of all the smaller monasteries, this provoked an uprising known as the Pilgrimage of Grace.

1539

Fountains Abbey ceases operation due to the Dissolution of the Monasteries.

1642

Yorkshire was divided by The First English Civil War.

17c

The popularity of Spa towns begins, people believe the mineral water could cure illness. Scarborough and Harrogate benefit from the boom.

18c

The wool industry begins to flourish in Yorkshire and continues to grow rapidly.The construction of a network of canals begins.

1832

Outbreaks of cholera plague the new industrial towns for years to come, it was introduced via newly organised shipping routes through Europe.

1834

The Gristhrope Man, the tallest prehistoric skeleton to date, was found by the Scarborough Philosophical Society, his remains are preserved at Scarborough’s Rotunda Museum.

1837

Ingleborough Cave is first discovered.

1840

Railway networks were built to help communication to the more rural areas of Yorkshire.

1850

The Yorkshire Terrier first originates, bred by mill operatives in the mid-1800s.

1941

Hull was severely bombed in the Second World War. One of the worst attacks was in May and resulted in 400 deaths.

1969

The Cleveland Way is created – an impressive 109-mile-long route from incredible coastlines through to thick heather moorland.

1975

August 1st is chosen as Yorkshire Day to celebrate the rich culture and contributions made to the world.

1984

York Minster suffers from a catastrophic fire caused by lightning.

1988

After four years of restoration, York Minster is returned to its former glory at the cost of £2.25m.

2012

At the London 2012 Olympics, Yorkshire athletes won more medals than Australia.

2013

The First Direct Arena in Leeds officially opened its doors on 4th September with a concert by Sir Elton John.

2019

The Tour de Yorkshire cycle race continues for a fifth year, inspired by the Tour de France stage of 2014.

The Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate Events 2024

Listed here are some of the key events happening in the Yorkshire Dales and Harrogate in 2024. Whilst we have tried to ensure all information is correct at the time of printing some events are subject to change so please check with the venue before making a special journey.

Additional events are being confirmed all the time so for more things happening, please check out our website www.goyorkshire.com

www.facebook.com/GoYorkshire www.twitter.com/Go_Yorkshire

Skipton Artisan Markets

April-December (first Sunday each month)

Coach St, Skipton

www.welcometoskipton.com/eventscalendar

The Sculpture in The Landscape Exhibition

18 April-3 November

Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park

www.himalayangarden.com/whats-on

Sedbergh Spring Show

20 April

People’s Hall, Sedbergh

www.sedbergh.org.uk/sedberghspring-show

Yoto Carnegies Book Town Takeover

23 April

Sedbergh

www.yotocarnegies.co.uk

Harrogate Spring Flower Show

25-28 April

Great Yorkshire Showground

www.flowershow.org.uk/spring-show

Majesty – Queen Tribute Band

The Garden Rooms at Tennants

27 April

www.tennantsgardenrooms.com/what-son/events/queen-tribute-band-majesty

Richmond Mayfest

3-6 May

Various venues in Richmond

www.richmondmayfest.org/mayfest-2024

Ripon Cathedral Beer Festival

6 May

Ripon

www.riponcathedral.org.uk/whats-on

Otley Show

18 May

The Showground, Bridge End www.otleyshow.org.uk

GoGreen Yorkshire

18-19 May

Harrogate Convention Centre

www.harrogateconventioncentre. co.uk/whats-on/go-green-yorkshire

Enchanted Fairy Trail

18 May – 3 June

Thorp Perrow Arboretum www.thorpperrow.com

Traditional Family Day

19 May

Ripon Races

www.ripon-races.co.uk/family-days

Meet the Guvnor

25-26 May

Skipton Castle

www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Swaledale Festival

25 May-8 June

Across Swaledale

www.swalefest.org

Classic Car, Vintage Vehicle & Motorcycle Show

26 May

Thorp Perrow Arboretum www.thorpperrow.com

The Great Knaresborough Bed Race

8 June

Knaresborough

www.bedrace.co.uk

Skipton Gala

8 June

Skipton

www.facebook.com/SkiptonCharitiesGala

Tractor Fest

8-9 June

Newby Hall

www.newbyhall.com

Father’s Day Weekend

15-16 June

Thornton Hall Country Park

www.thorntonhallcountrypark.co.uk

Tournee Re-enactment 15-16 June

Skipton Castle

www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

North Yorkshire County Agricultural Show

16 June

Camp Hill, near Bedale www.camphill.co.uk

Father’s Day Special Dining Train

16 June

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org. uk/events

Sedbergh Music Festival 16-27 June

St Andrew’s Parish Church, Sedbergh www.sedbergh.org.uk/view-event/ music-festival

Ripon Theatre Festival 2-7 July

Ripon Town Centre

www.visitharrogate.co.uk/events/ ripon-theatre-festival

1940s Homeguard Weekend 5-7 July

Ingleton

www.thisisingleton.co.uk/whats-on

Richard III Festival

6-7 July

Middleham Castle

www.facebook.com/middlehamcastle

Great Yorkshire Show 9-12 July

Great Yorkshire Showground www.greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

ABBA Sensation

13 July

Thorp Perrow Arboretum

www.thorpperrow.com

Yorkshire Highwayman Re-enactment

13-14 July

Skipton Castle

www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival

18-21 July

Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate

www.harrogateinternationalfestivals. com/crime-writing-festival

Yorkshire Dales Food and Drink Festival

19-21 July

Funkirk Farm

www.yorkshiredalesfoodanddrinkfestival.com

Ingleton Gala

20 July

Ingleton

www.thisisingleton.co.uk/whats-on

Masham Steam Engine and Fair Organ Rally

20-21 July

Masham

www.mashamsteamrally.com

Historic Vehicle Rally

21 July

Newby Hall

www.newbyhall.com/event/historicvehicle-rally-2024

Deer Shed Festival

26-29 July

Baldersby, Topcliffe

www.deershedfestival.com

Buckingham’s Retinue Re-enactment

27-28 July

Skipton Castle

www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Aldborough and Boroughbridge Show

28 July

Newby Hall

www.newbyhall.com/events

Yorkshire Day

1 August

Various events throughout Yorkshire

Osmotherley Show

3 August

Home Farm, Thimbleby

www.osmotherleyshow.co.uk

Hells, Fells Family Music Festival

9-11 August

Birks Farm Campsite

www.sedbergh.org.uk/view-event/ hells-fells-family-music-festival

Flores Dec Chevalerie Re-enactment

10-11 Aug

Skipton Castle

www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

Ripley Show

11 August

Ripley

www.facebook.comripleyshow

Family Olympics

11 August

Ripon Races

www.ripon-races.co.uk/family-days

Wensleydale Agricultural Show

24 August

Wensleydale Showground, near Leyburn

www.wensleydaleshow.org.uk

Fireworks Championships

24 August

Newby Hall

www.fireworkchampions.co.uk/chooseyour-event

Malham Show

24 August

Chapel Gate

www.malhamshow.co.uk

Bank Holiday Family Day

26 August

Ripon Races

www.ripon-races.co.uk/family-days

Kilnsey Show

27 August

Kilnsey

www.kilnseyshow.co.uk

Long Course Weekend

6-8 September

Pateley Bridge and surrounding areas

www.longcourseweekend.com/eventnews/announcing-lcw-yorkshire

Grassington 1940s Festival

20-22 September

Grassington Main Street and Town Hall

www.grassington1940sweekend.co.uk

Harrogate Autumn Flower Show

13-15 September

Newby Hall

www.flowershow.org.uk

Nidderdale Show

22 September

Bewerley Park, Pateley Bridge

www.nidderdaleshow.co.uk

Masham Sheep Fair

28-29 September

Masham

www.visitmasham.com/mashamsheep-fair

Yarndale

28-29 September

Skipton Auction Mart www.yarndale.co.uk

Apple Day & Apple Throwing Championships

29 September

Newby Hall

www.newbyhall.com/events

Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival

11-14 October

Yorkshire Dales National Park

www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/things-todo/whats-on/shows/cheese-festival

Polar Express

15 November – 24 December

Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway www.thepolarexpresstrainride. embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk

Skipton Christmas Market

1 and 8 December

Skipton

www.facebook.com/ skiptonchristmasmarket

SELECTED TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRES/INFORMATION POINTS/NATIONAL PARK CENTRES

Always check before visiting as opening times vary and some are seasonal. Please be aware that many of the Information Points stock tourist leaflets as opposed to being a staffed Information Centre.

Aysgarth Falls

National Park Visitor Centre, Aysgarth DL8 3TH aysgarth@yorkshiredales.org.uk

Bedale

Bedale Hall Community Centre, Bedale DL8 1AA info@bedaletic.org

Boroughbridge

1 Hall Square, Boroughbridge YO51 9AN info@boroughbridge.org.uk

Grassington

National Park Visitor Centre, Grassington BD23 5LB grassington@yorkshiredales.org.uk

Harrogate – from April 2024

Royal Pump Room Museum, Crown Place HG1 2RY tic@destinationharrogate.co.uk

Hawes

National Park Visitor Centre, Dales Countryside Museum DL8 3NT hawes@yorskhiredales.org.uk

MARKET DAYS*

Bedale Tuesday

Hawes Tuesday

Ingleton Friday

Knaresborough Wednesday

Leyburn Friday

Ilkley

Visitor Information Centre LS29 8HB ilkley.vic@bradford.gov.uk

Ingleton

Community Centre, Main Street, Ingleton LA6 3HG ingletontic@btconnect.com

Knaresborough

Courthouse Museum, Castle Yard, Knaresborough HG5 8AG kntic@destinationharrogate.co.uk

Malham

National Park Visitor Centre, Malham BD23 4DA malham@yorkshiredales.org.uk

Masham

Community Office, Little Market Place, Masham HG4 4DY visitmasham.com

Pateley Bridge

Nidderdale Plus Community Hub, King Street, Pateley Bridge HG3 5AT admin@nidderdaleplus.org.uk

Reeth

Hudson House, The Green, Reeth DL11 6SZ reeth@yorkshiredales.org.uk

Richmond

Market Hall, Richmond DL10 4QL richmond.org

Ripon

Town Hall, Market Place, Ripon HG4 1DD ripontic@harrogate.gov.uk

Sedbergh

72 Main Street, Sedbergh LA10 5AD tic@sedbergh.org.uk

Settle

Town Hall, Cheapside, Settle BD24 9EJ settle@ytbtic.co.uk

Skipton

Town Hall, High Street, Skipton BD23 1AH skiptontownhall.co.uk

Masham Wednesday & Saturday

Reeth Friday

Richmond Wednesday and Saturday (indoor market every day)

Ripon Thursday (smaller market on Saturdays)

Sedbergh Wednesday

Settle Tuesday

Skipton Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday

Farmers Markets

Many of the locations above, as well as places including Harrogate and Grassington, additionally have Farmers Markets on selected days each month.

*Information to the best of our knowledge at time of printing but markets subject to change.