When it rains in the Yorkshire Dales

We can't promise you that it won't rain while you're in the Yorkshire Dales. That's why the fields are so full of lush green grass!

We can promise you won't run out of things to do - there are plenty of indoor activities in the Yorkshire Dales.

Or maybe you can take a moment to appreciate the good things about rain in the Yorkshire Dales? 

Double-check details and opening times before setting off on a long journey. Some places close in the Winter. 

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Indoor attractions: explore castles, stately homes, quirky museums & caves

• Explore every corner of Skipton Castle, from the Banqueting Hall, the Kitchen, the Bedchamber, and discover the Long Drop 
• Visit the Dales Countryside Museum at Hawes to discover the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, past and present 

• Swaledale Museum is a small museum crammed with fascinating items and has a great programme of events
• Join a tour and enjoy the Georgian Theatre Experience in Richmond, led by a knowledgeable guide who will tell you about the shows, actors and audiences from Georgian times
• Visit 17th century Kiplin Hall, built by George Calvert, Secretary of State to James I and the founder of Maryland, USA. There's also an award winning tea room!
• Venture underground and explore one of the show caves at  Stump Cross Caverns, Ingleborough, or White Scar Cave 
• There are plenty of indoor areas at Bolton Castle, including the armoury, dungeon, Great Chamber, old kitchens, nursery and bed chambers. Visitors can have a go at traditional medieval games and crafts including backgammon, cards, dice and spool knitting.​ 
• Nidderdale Museum in Pateley Bridge is a small museum that's a little like a tardis with room after room crammed with fascinating exhibits about Nidderdale life
• Learn the story of the Terrible Knitters of Dent at the Dent Village Heritage Centre
• Visit the Grade 1 listed Settle Folly, built in 1679, home to the Museum of North Craven Life
• Visit Craven Museum and Gallery and see Shakespeare’s First Folio​
• The Richmondshire Museum displays local history. They have ten galleries including: James Herriot's surgery; lead mining; Victorian grocer's shop; ironmonger's shop; and life in a cruck house
• The Green Howards Museum in Richmond is newly revamped and charts the 300 year history of this local regiment. With activity tables to explore, uniforms to try on, and colourful characters to discover,  there’s plenty for children to enjoy. Close by is The Station, where you'll find a cinema, restaurant, gallery, and several small businesses such as a micro brewery, bakery, ice cream seller, confectioner and vintage shop.

Watch others at work

How do they do that? Enjoy watching others at work! It’s great to get the inside track and see how things work, especially if it involves watching other people work while you’re enjoying your time off! Here are some places you can visit and see things being made

• See Annabelle Bradley, the blacksmith at work in her smithy in Malham
• The White Rose Candles workshop in Wensley may be tiny but has an amazing variety of candles for sale and you can often see them being made
• You’ll see several talented people at the Silver Street Studios in Reeth including sculptor, Michael Kusz at Graculus 
• See how the twist is put into the ropes at Outhwaites Ropemakers in Hawes
• Discover how the famous, delicious cheese is made at Wensleydale Creamery
• Watch cheese makers, bakers and brewers at the Station in Richmond, where you can also see a film, enjoy an art exhibition, meal in the café or an ice cream from Archers
• Take a tour behind the scenes at the Georgian Theatre in Richmond
• Learn how to make beer from the experts! Take a tour of Black Sheep Brewery or Theakstons in Masham
• Discover the life of monks at Fountains Abbey, where you can also see Fountains Mill working when it rains and have a go at grinding corn
• See chocolates being made at Inspired Chocolate near Leyburn, see a film about chocolate before returning to the shop where you can buy unusual pieces such as chocolate stilettos and drink hot chocolate in the cafe​
• Visit Farfield Mill on the edge of Sedbergh, where you can easily spend several hours looking at the exhibits, speaking to the craftspeople who work there and looking around the galleries before tucking into some cake in Weavers Cafe. 

Wonderful Yorkshire Dales waterfalls

Waterfalls are at their most spectacular when it's been raining. There's no shortage of them in the Yorkshire Dales. Take a look at some Yorkshire Dales waterfalls here. 

Revel in the rain

The Yorkshire Dales air is fresh whether it rains or not. And if you go for a walk and get wet, you’ll feel you’ve really deserved a bigger helping of pudding when you go for that treat in a cosy café. 

• Go for a swim at Ingleton swimming pool.  It is heated, so even in the rain it is a great experience
• Don’t let the rain spoil the fun – put on wellies and raincoats to follow the Studfold Trail in Nidderdale
• Go to meet the llamas at Nidderdale Llamas! Book an On Farm Experience or a Camelid Experience. 80% of the session is 'indoors' with all the animals! For the other 20% just wear a good waterproof, it's great fun in the rain and the llamas don't mind at all! 
• Brimham Rocks are amazing in the rain: you can still enjoy an excellent game of hide and seek, finding lots of sheltered and dry places to hide among the rocks. Not so far away are some lovely tea tooms in Pateley Bridge, all cosy with a cup of coffee and cake
• Call in at the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre and have a look round so you know more about the surrounding countryside. Then enjoy sploshing in your walk in your wellies (preferably flowery, spotty, stripey colourful ones) from Keld to Muker and see dozens of wildflowers (some quite rare), and birds including the oystercatcher. Look out for frogs, they love wet weather!  
• How long is it since you got properly muddy and stopped acting your age? Have some fun – swoop down some of the Swaledale hills on two wheels from the Dales Bike Centre, Fremington. You’ll really appreciate their excellent cake afterwards...
• Come rain or shine there's great fun to be had at Bolton Abbey. As you wander through the woods along the surfaced paths let nature’s giant umbrella, the tree canopy, shelter you from the rain and see if you can spot all of nature’s delights in the Strid Wood I Spy 
• Try geocaching – the rain can even make it more of an adventure. There are locations around the Dales but we love Hackfall and Hester Cox’s special geo cache art trail ​

"There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing" - Alfred Wainwright

If you're looking for some good waterproofs, here are some recommended outdoor clothing shops in the Yorkshire Dales.