Many people drive through Wensley on their way through Wensleydale. Stay awhile and you'll quickly appreciate its hidden treasures that make it a very special spot.
Wensley used to be a much more significant place with its own market but plague in the 1500s meant many of its inhabitants fled.
Start your day with a wander along the River Ure and then take a moment to visit Holy Trinity Church which is a Grade 1 listed building dating back to 1300. It was James and Helen Herriot's wedding venue for the TV version of All Creatures Great and Small.
From there you'll see the village green, which leads to the open drive way of Bolton Hall whose gardens are open from to time to time. Just a little up the hill you'll see the Three Horseshoes which has fine views and is gaining a reputation for its homemade pizzas. Around the corner from the pub you'll find three small and beautiful hidden treasures!
To the left is the waterfall, which though small is perfectly formed and most people don't even know it's there. Next to the waterfall is the small rustic building (once a water mill) which has housed White Rose Candles since 1971. They're still making them, and you can usually watch the White family using their traditional methods to create a wide range of candles. It's hard to resist making observations about Heath Robinson-style contraptions and whole process is very soothing to watch, resulting in high quality candles.
The third small treasure is the Community Gardens, a tiny patch of land that's carefully tended by locals. There are several benches on which you can rest to enjoy the wildflowers and birdlife in this lovely tranquil spot.
If you'd like to extend your time near Wensley, Bolton Castle and Leyburn are just a short distance away.
Wensley used to be a much more significant place with its own market but plague in the 1500s meant many of its inhabitants fled.
Start your day with a wander along the River Ure and then take a moment to visit Holy Trinity Church which is a Grade 1 listed building dating back to 1300. It was James and Helen Herriot's wedding venue for the TV version of All Creatures Great and Small.
From there you'll see the village green, which leads to the open drive way of Bolton Hall whose gardens are open from to time to time. Just a little up the hill you'll see the Three Horseshoes which has fine views and is gaining a reputation for its homemade pizzas. Around the corner from the pub you'll find three small and beautiful hidden treasures!
To the left is the waterfall, which though small is perfectly formed and most people don't even know it's there. Next to the waterfall is the small rustic building (once a water mill) which has housed White Rose Candles since 1971. They're still making them, and you can usually watch the White family using their traditional methods to create a wide range of candles. It's hard to resist making observations about Heath Robinson-style contraptions and whole process is very soothing to watch, resulting in high quality candles.
The third small treasure is the Community Gardens, a tiny patch of land that's carefully tended by locals. There are several benches on which you can rest to enjoy the wildflowers and birdlife in this lovely tranquil spot.
If you'd like to extend your time near Wensley, Bolton Castle and Leyburn are just a short distance away.
