If you've ever travelled along the A684 between Leyburn and Hawes you'll almost certainly have spotted signs for Berry's Farm Shop and Cafe at Swinithwaite. I love that name. Swinithwaite. I always assumed it meant swines or pigs in a clearing, which is now very apt (more of the pigs later) but I just looked it up and apparently it means "clearing made by burning" from the Old Norse, which isn't as pleasing. The location is beautiful though.
Adrian and Bridget Thornton Berry created the cafe and farm shop a few years ago, bringing ancient but redundant farm buildings back into life. It's a great stop-off point, offering a chance to buy a few provisions as well as lovely loos (I really like the rain maps) and a cafe which is now run by Guy Fairhurst. There have been more additions to the original cafe and farm shop, with the business now known as the Wensleydale Experience so you might want to plan to stay longer.
Close to the cafe, you'll notice plenty of animals, which I can't help thinking of as "Bridget's Menagerie" as she seems to constantly be adding to the collection. You'll spot pigs, cattle, llamas, hens, goats and sheep in the fields. Adrian and farmer Tim have offered periodic offer have offered farm tours for several years and taken part in the Hay Time festival with tours of the meadow. I remember several years ago that Adrian pointed out the very straight drystone walls climbing the hillside and explained they were probably built by Napoleonic prisoners of war. The farm tours were popular so now this Spring they've got a full programme of both farm tours and farm experiences, mainly led by the very knowledgeable and friendly Tim. Visitors can either enjoy a wander around learning about farming, or spend a little longer with Tim, actually feeding some of the animals and taking part in routine-farm tasks.
There are also numerous beautiful walks from the cafe, many suitable for young children. I particularly recommend the one down through the undulating meadow which leads down to the River Ure and Redmire Falls, with a short wander through the woods and then back up the steep lane with a wonderful mossy drystone wall, to the cafe for cake!
Set a little apart from the barns are five yurts, each with stunning views of surrounding Wensleydale.
Adrian and Bridget Thornton Berry created the cafe and farm shop a few years ago, bringing ancient but redundant farm buildings back into life. It's a great stop-off point, offering a chance to buy a few provisions as well as lovely loos (I really like the rain maps) and a cafe which is now run by Guy Fairhurst. There have been more additions to the original cafe and farm shop, with the business now known as the Wensleydale Experience so you might want to plan to stay longer.
Close to the cafe, you'll notice plenty of animals, which I can't help thinking of as "Bridget's Menagerie" as she seems to constantly be adding to the collection. You'll spot pigs, cattle, llamas, hens, goats and sheep in the fields. Adrian and farmer Tim have offered periodic offer have offered farm tours for several years and taken part in the Hay Time festival with tours of the meadow. I remember several years ago that Adrian pointed out the very straight drystone walls climbing the hillside and explained they were probably built by Napoleonic prisoners of war. The farm tours were popular so now this Spring they've got a full programme of both farm tours and farm experiences, mainly led by the very knowledgeable and friendly Tim. Visitors can either enjoy a wander around learning about farming, or spend a little longer with Tim, actually feeding some of the animals and taking part in routine-farm tasks.
There are also numerous beautiful walks from the cafe, many suitable for young children. I particularly recommend the one down through the undulating meadow which leads down to the River Ure and Redmire Falls, with a short wander through the woods and then back up the steep lane with a wonderful mossy drystone wall, to the cafe for cake!
Set a little apart from the barns are five yurts, each with stunning views of surrounding Wensleydale.
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