Category: Activities

Castleberg

Image: Steve Amphlett

Imagine being so wealthy you could afford a large mansion with its own pleasure grounds (sounds so much grander than just a garden!), filled with exotic trees and plants. Castlebergh Plantation was part of the grounds of Town Head in Settle, owned by a succession of rich families.

One owner was so well-off he built a walkway from the house under the High Road so he could enjoy the gardens in complete peace and privacy.

Town Head was eventually demolished and the once beautiful grounds became neglected until the woodland was restored some years ago. However, the years of neglect were good in one way though: they created a haven for wildlife.

Town Head’s most famous inhabitant was Tot (short for Thomas) Lord, a well-known archaeologist who excavated Victoria, Jubilee and Attermire ‘bone caves’, discovering a harpoon head, skull of a bear, and mammoth bones.

Nowadays anyone can enjoy parts of what was once Castlebergh Plantation, by following the Tot Lord Trail out of Settle market place up Constitution Hill (you'll see why it's so named once you've puffed up it!), through the woodland and to the top of Castleberg Rock, a limestone knoll with fine views over Settle and beyond. You'll be able to enjoy a birds-eye view over the town, and see the Settle-Carlisle railway line which looks more like a model train set from that perspective.

Image: Steve Amphlett

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A Swaledale secret garden

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It's a wonderful feeling to step away from the world and into a special little haven. Reeth is stunning, one of those places where you find layer upon layer of beauty.

One of my favourite little spots is missed by many who're perhaps understandably distracted by the Ice Cream Parlour, pubs, or Swaledale Museum.

Hudson House stands proud on the edge of the green, and offers visitor information and a programme of changing exhibitions in the Orchard Gallery.

To the side is a gate that leads to a little patch of paradise - the Orchard and community garden.

This lovely little retreat is open free of charge (donations welcome) all year round. It isn't very big, but it does have variety.

Hudson House is at the heart of the Swaledale Festival, hosting numerous events, but most of the time it's simply a beautiful tranquil spot.

You can sit and enjoy the peace and birdlife on one of the benches, or wander and notice the sculptures dotted about the place, some half hidden by overhanging foliage. The longer you rest, the more you'll gradually notice.

The borders are full of well-established perennials and the kind of cottage garden flowers our grandparents would have grown.

The 'hot' border is full of brightly coloured flowers such as penstemon and geraniums, attracting bees and butterflies, while the 'cool' border uses white and blue campanula and delphinium to create a peaceful, more muted area.

There are several apple and pear trees, next to a small wildflower meadow, similar to those on farms through out Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.

In a building that was once the Old Privy is a small exhibition telling of the history of the site, how the garden was created and what you can see now.

The building used to be a bank, with a very over-grown garden so it's remarkable what the community group volunteers have achieved.

Once you've enjoyed the garden, you might like to treat yourself to an ice cream in the nearby Parlour, browse in Fleece which is full of locally handmade items.

You could also enjoy a treat from Two Dales Bakery, look around Scenic View Gallery or simply sit and enjoy a drink or meal in the garden of Burgoyne Hotel, drinking in the incredible view.

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Cricket

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When we were little, one of our greatest treats was to go to a nearby village to watch the cricket on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Of course in those days it was always sunny and the days were much longer...

The sound of ball on bat, rounds of applause and gentle cheers, together with the sight of all the cricket whites are forever bound in my mind with some other associations.

Cricket meant sitting with my parents and sister to watch the quintessentially English game, in a gorgeous village.

It also meant not actually sitting for very long, getting sidetracked by the expanse of very green grass that was cut to the perfect length to practice cart-wheels and roly-polies. It meant paddling in the ice cold stream next to the cricket pitch, accompanied by "don't go too far" warnings from parents. Best of all, it meant lemonade and a packet of crisps from the pub overlooking the village green where the cricket was played.

The Yorkshire Dales have some pretty perfect cricket pitches. I can't vouch for the quality of the wicket but there are some wonderful settings. Viewed through the eyes of a visitor to England, cricket is at once charming and confusing. I still like the rather cheesy “Rules of cricket as explained to a foreign visitor”, an anonymous explanation seen on souvenir tea towels: You have two sides, one out in the field and one in. Each man that's in the side that's in, goes out, and when he's out, he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out. When they are all out the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out. Sometimes you get men still in and not out. When both sides have been in and out including the not-outs, that's the end of the game”.

Cricket's traditionally a summer sport, but I was intrigued to learn there are those who apparently love it so much they place in Winter, even in snow. This is the case for cricketers from Appletreewick and Malhamdale who have an 'annual Winter tour'. I don't think it's a long tour, possibly limited to one trip through the Dales, and quite a long, warming visit to a pub afterwards, but the theory's there!

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Create at Broadrake

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Imagine the satisfaction of learning a new skill - or rather an old, traditional one - creating something special to take home with you, and being able to enjoy some of the most iconic Yorkshire Dales scenery. That's exactly what Rachel and Mike Benson can offer you at Broadrake at the foot of Whernside.

There's definitely renewed interest in opportunities to slow down and hand-make something more lasting and distinctive than the items you'll find on any high street.

Visitors to Broadrake welcome the chance to learn skills as diverse as spoon carving and weaving a willow curlew. Thanks to Poldark, there's always interest in their practical scything course (handy for Rachel and Mike as they get their grass cut that way!), and many people love the challenge of doing something completely different like being a blacksmith for a day.

The one day courses take place not far from Ingleton, in beautiful converted farm buildings with expert tuition, and lunch. As if that's not enough, Broadrake enjoys some of the most glorious views in the Yorkshire Dales. You could be working on an anvil as a Settle - Carlisle steam train whizzes by on Ribblehead Viaduct, or sit and enjoy your lunch on picnic tables by a wild flower meadow, perhaps watching sheep graze. No wonder then that Broadrake is also a great destination for art courses, whether for individuals or those who want to bring a small group to enjoy the amazing location.

The bunkbarn is also used by walkers who want to take their time to enjoy each of the Peaks, or those who want to explore some of the best caves in the country. For more details of courses and accommodation please see www.broadrake.co.uk All images thanks to Broadrake.

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Kirkby Lonsdale

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The south western side of the Yorkshire Dales National Park is less well-known than other areas, but visitors are gradually starting to visit it following the extension of the National Park.

One of my favourite spots is the pretty market town of Kirkby Lonsdale. It's attractive and well-kept, thanks to some very green-fingered residents.

It has a different feel, perhaps revelling in its more exotic location at the intersection of Yorkshire, Lancashire and the Lake District.

The collection of 17th and 18th century buildings, coach yards, cobbled lanes and passages all add to the very welcoming atmosphere of Kirkby Lonsdale.

Both Turner and Ruskin declared the panoramic view over the River Lune towards the 14th century Devil's Bridge to be one of the loveliest in the country.

You can walk down to the river by going down the steep steps from Church Brow, after enjoying 'Ruskin's View' The steps are known as the Radical Steps, built by Dr. Francis Pearson in the 1820s.

Dr. Francis Pearson was apparently known for his strong political views, and courted local controversy when he diverted a public footpath that originally ran through his garden, hence the name of the his steps.

I really like Kirkby Lonsdale because it's got such a great collection of independent shops, good pubs and restaurants, but particularly for its many interesting corners with odd names and unexpected architectural features.

Nowadays a 'gazebo' is a flimsy half tent hastily erected in case of rain during an event. The Kirkby Lonsdale version of a gazebo in St. Mary's churchyard is a two storey stone-built octagonal affair, standing proud over the meadow.

Streets still have no-nonsense names, depicting the activities that used to take place. It's pretty clear what happened in Swine Market. You can still spot the old market cross, and little weigh-house with the outline of the weighing platform.

Salt Pie Lane is fairly clear too: those pies must have been quite special to have a road named after them. Jingling Lane is less obvious: I think it's from the sound made by small bells or coins being rubbed together but maybe some one will correct me?

Part of the reason Kirkby Lonsdale has so many fine inns and places to eat and drink is because of its location as an important river crossing, on drover and packhorse routes.

At one time there were numerous mills in the town, carding wool, making snuff, bobbins and cloth as well as grinding corn.

Don't miss the new, free attraction, The Vaults, in the Tourist Information Centre. It's a great place to uncover some of Kirkby Lonsdale's fascinating past.

Image by Paul Harris

The attractive Devil's Bridge dates back to medieval times, with a curious story to add to its fame.

An old woman lived on the riverbank with her small collection of animals. One night one of her cows wandered across to the other side of the river and wouldn't return.

The devil appeared and said he'd build a bridge in exchange for the soul of the first body to cross it. She agreed, and the devil built the bridge, leaving his own hand-mark in the stone, which can still be seen today.

As soon as the bridge was built, the woman met the devil, pretending to be interested in seeing who was the first to cross. She threw food across the river and a small dog ran to get it, meaning the devil felt cheated, became enraged and disappeared in a cloud of his own making.

Perhaps some in Kirkby Lonsdale still regret the treatment of that poor dog and want to make amends. Outside the Sun Inn is a dog drinking dish and a very smart shower for boots and dogs!

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Ingleton Lido

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As temperatures start to rise, you might think about taking the plunge and going for a swim.

There's no shortage of excellent swimming spots in the Yorkshire Dales, particularly if you're keen to try some wild swimming in one of the many rivers.

If you fancy something a little warmer, take a trip to Ingleton Lido, a heated open air pool in a lovely location. It was first built in 1933 and is now staffed, cleaned, and maintained by a team of volunteers.

Numerous lidos were built in England in the 1930s, perhaps inspired by the trend towards glamorous cruise-liners and foreign travel. The original pool took about a year to dig out by volunteers, ably assisted by striking miners from a local colliery. It was filled by a gravity fed pipe from the nearby river, taking 25 hours to fill.

Ingleton Lido was updated and practically re-built in the 1970s, and is now heated and open three months a year from May to early September. It's thanks to some very committed volunteers who fundraise and lifeguard that the pool has continued to operate for almost a century.

The pool is in the centre of the village in a riverside park setting. Please check opening times before setting out on a long journey. All images thanks to Ingleton Rural Community Association.

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Country shows

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Image by Stephen Garnett

Have you been to one of the many agricultural shows in the Yorkshire Dales? They're not just for farmers - everyone is welcome.

During the Summer months, you'll find them taking places in every corner of the Yorkshire Dales: Birstwith, Lunesdale, Brough, Gargrave, Wensleydale, Reeth, Kilnsey, Malham, Bentham, Muker, Nidderdale & Masham.

Each one is different but has a similar celebratory atmosphere, a chance for farmers to gather and visitors to get an insight into another life. Find out which show takes place when here.

As soon as the first marquees and tents appear, the excitement builds. You'll spot people scurrying around as they place their carefully tended onions in their allocated place in the show tent, see farmers making final tweaks to their sheep, ensuring there are no stray white hairs in a black muzzle. Horse-riders tentatively enjoy a last-minute practice round the show ring. Farmers clap each other on the back in greeting, grunt a few words to each other, then tend to their animals - banter will come later, once the rosettes have been handed out. The air is full of a mixture of manure, leather and straw bales.

Yorkshire Dales country shows are a chance to see the best of the countryside: cattle at their finest and fattest; cabbages at their greenest; cakes at their lightest and most moist deliciousness. Many shows include fell-running races and other feats of determination and strength.

In the show-rings you'll see sheep, cows, horses, dogs, ferrets and other animals primped and paraded. Judges carefully scrutinise every detail, sometimes to the bemusement of onlookers. The rear end of a prize tup (ram) will be considered just as carefully as its face. The crowd will ooh and aah as decisions are made and skills demonstrated. Onlookers don't always understand why one sheep wins over another but if you go and ask the proud winners to explain their livestock's best features, they'll happily do so. Winning at some of these agricultural shows can vastly increase market prices and secure breeding lines.

In the tents you'll find gorgeous displays of flowers, vegetables, cakes and handicrafts. Children's competition categories almost always include "made an animal out of a vegetable". At almost every show you'll notice certain family names appearing again and again on prize certificates. Friendly rivalry is strong, resurrected each year.

These fantastic photos by Stephen Garnett give a taste of what you can expect to find - these were all taken at Malham Show.

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Fell running

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I am very content with my life and rarely envious of others - until I see a fell runner taking long confident strides over uneven ground up one of the Yorkshire Dales hills. I'm unable to do that but just love the sense of freedom it evokes.

There are many running clubs in and around the Dales, as well as plenty of people who use a run around 'the tops' to re-energise and top up their inspiration levels. I'm thinking here particularly of printmaker Hester Cox and Julia Chapman (if you see Julia running around Settle, beware - she's planning murder as part of the Dales Detective series!).

With such stunning countryside, it's no surprise that there's a long tradition of fell racing in the Yorkshire Dales. There are well over 50 races to choose from, ranging from short bolts up some of the steepest hills to longer endurance runs. Classics include Burnsall and the Three Peaks, as well as many runs that take place as part of the programme of Dales agricultural shows. Some of these are fiercely contested, with records standing for years and years before they're finally broken by young bloods keen to have their name ingrained on the cups passed down over the generations. Nowadays most runners wear the latest running shoes and train for the events. In times gone by, fell races were run in whatever clothing and footwear competitors happened to be wearing at the time. Imagine running up some of those hills in heavy hob nailed boots! Some of the shorter races will accept entries on the day so anyone can try this sport. You can find details of some of the fell races on the Dales Active page or look out for races at Dales country shows.

The best known fell race is the Three Peaks which covers 24 miles of really rugged countryside, and goes up to 2500 feet above sea level. The fastest competitors do it in about 3 hours!

Ultra-running is becoming more and more popular. I'm really in awe of the competitors in one of the country's most gruelling endurance fell races - the Spine Race. It takes place in the Winter and sees competitors run the length of the Pennine Way (268 miles!) carrying their kit throughout, and only sleeping when absolutely necessary. Jasmin Paris recently won the race and set a new overall record, beating the previous best time set by a male runner by 12 hours. She covered the 268 miles across some of the toughest terrain in Britain in just 83 hours, 12 minutes!

If you'd like to try fell running but want to start more gently, you could try a guided trail run with JelleyLegs, accompanied by a qualified physiotherapist and experienced runner, or buy Cicerone's recently published book Trail and Fell Running in the Yorkshire Dales with 40 runs in the National Park.

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Kilnsey Park

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If you've ever driven along the B6160 from Grassington to Kettlewell, you'll have seen the iconic Kilnsey Crag on your left and probably spotted one of the fishing pools.

It's hard to imagine that this small road was once an important coaching route between London and Richmond.

Nearby Mastiles Lane links Kilnsey with Malham and was once a key drovers' route, probably used by Romans, and then the monks from Fountains Abbey who used to farm sheep on the estate here.

In 1911 the Roberts family took over the Kilnsey Park Estate and it's now run by Amy and Jamie Roberts who have created a beautiful setting to appreciate nature and enjoy outdoor activities. They have a strong commitment to the conservation, with a red squirrel breeding programme, their own electricity generator using renewable sources and wonderful hay meadows. If you visit in late May/early June you could be lucky enough to see the UK's rarest orchid, the Lady's Slipper Orchid. Flowers may not appear until the plant is up to twn years old, and then it just produces a single flower which looks a bit like a yellow shoe, hence the name.

You could easily spend several hours at Kilnsey Park, understanding more about the Yorkshire Dales, and enjoying the glorious views. Kilnsey is particularly known for its fishing ponds - one for fly-fishing, and another for families where children can catch their first fish (rods and bait provided).

The ponds are well-stocked so there's a high chance of success!

You can see the various trout breeding areas and see the frenzy when they're fed. It's thought that Kilnsey once supplied carp to Fountains Abbey.

Children (and adults) will delight in spotting the many animals wandering around the Park. Ducks, geese and hens roam freely, and there are enclosures for the angora goats, pigs, pygmy goats and alpacas.

A butterfly garden and bee hive with a glass sided observation hive add interest to the walk up towards a magical spring and fountain of youth - Sikes Beck.

Take a look at the website for details of the events programme at Kilnsey Park which includes den building and nature walks, and for opening times of the onsite cafe.

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James Herriot TV locations

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I wonder how many visitors to the Yorkshire Dales first came because of James Herriot, and are still coming because of him? Many of today's vets were inspired by his books.

They were written in the 1970s and followed by the TV series All Creatures Great and Small which ran from 1978 to 1983. Many parts of Wensleydale and Swaledale are already familiar to visitors thanks to those evocative programmes.

The real James Herriot (Alf Wright) enjoyed several holidays in West Scrafton and Coverdale, where several episodes were filmed.

It's said that he first fell in love with the Yorkshire Dales after standing at the top of the hill above Grinton and looking at the surrounding view.

The opening credits of the programme featured the water splash between Langthwaite and Low Row. One of the places most associated with the TV programme is Askrigg which doubled as Darrowby using the Kings Arms as the Drovers Arms. You can still see the building known as Skeldale House by the market cross. James Herriot got married at another local inn: the Wheatsheaf in Carperby. He (or rather Alf Wright) proposed to his wife at Bolton Castle. In the TV series Holy Trinity Church in Wensley was used as the location for his wedding.

Simonstone Hall has become better known thanks to a different TV programme and Jeremy Clarkson, but was originally used as the venue for Darrowby Show. Nearby Hawes' auction mart was used as Darrowby Cattle Mart. The market town of Leyburn also featured, as 'Scarsburn', the home of Granville Bennett and where the Ministry of Agriculture was sited. Thornborough Hall behind the main market square was used as the Min. of Ag.

You can see a recreation of James Herriot's surgery in Richmondshire Museum or leave the Dales for a little while to visit Thirsk and the World of James Herriot small visitor attraction, in the building where the world's most famous vet lived, worked and wrote his books. Download the Herriot Trail and map for full details of the TV locations.

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Castleberg

A Swaledale secret garden

Cricket

Create at Broadrake

Kirkby Lonsdale

Ingleton Lido

Country shows

Fell running

Kilnsey Park

James Herriot TV locations

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