Things to do in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales

Wensleydale is one of the few dales not named after its river - the Ure. Instead its name after the pretty village of Wensley which used to be a larger market town until the plague diminished its importance.

Wensleydale’s best-known market towns are Hawes, Leyburn and Masham. England’s shortest river, the Bain links Semer Water to the River Ure at Bainbridge. Visitors love Wensleydale's waterfalls at Hardraw Force, Aysgarth Falls, Whitfield Gill Force and West Burton.

Image by Sally Goodman

Wensleydale has many popular attractions. The Dales Countryside Museum is a great starting point for any trip to the Dales, giving an insight into the area's history, traditions and life of farmers and former lead miners.

The Wensleydale Creamery draws visitors in search of cheesy delights, and you can see how rope is created at Outhwaites, also in Hawes. Visitors can give their car a rest and enjoy a journey on the Wensleydale Railway which runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire, near Castle Bolton.

Bolton Castle in the contrarily named village of Castle Bolton is a fantastic vantage point from which to admire the Wensleydale countryside and you can learn more about farming at Wensleydale Experience. Jervaulx Abbey is a delight, a lovely restful place to explore and where monks sheep-farming prowess brought such wealth to this area.

Wensleydale is also the name of the local sheep breed, known for its lustrous fleece with silky ringlets. It's still easy to find very tranquil places to rest and admire the scenery, such as on the Buttertubs Pass and in the villages strung along Coverdale, the small dale branching off Wensleydale.