Things to do in and around Wharfedale
Kettlewell - as seen in "Calendar Girls"!
Wharfedale runs from the north at Cray down to the south of the Yorkshire Dales National Park boundary and Skipton. It encompasses limestone hills, moorland, waterfalls, rivers, and ancient woodland at the Strid, on the Bolton Abbey Estate. Steep hills and rocky crags make Wharfedale popular with walkers so it’s no surprise it’s known for the fell races at the Kilnsey Show and Burnsall Feast. This area is rich in wildlife and local folklore, such as the legend of the ghostly black dog of Troller’s Ghyll and the sad demise of the Boy of Egremont.
From the stony outcrop of Simon’s Seat it is possible to see much of the southern dales stretching before you. You can look down the Valley of Desolation (now full of life), to the pretty village at Appletreewick (pronounced “Aptrick”!), and along the river towards the beautiful ruins of Bolton Priory.
Wharfedale has many attractive and characterful villages such as Burnsall and Buckden where its five-arched bridge spans the Wharfe and is a popular paddling spot. You may recognise Kettlewell from the Calendar Girls film. It’s also where models of another kind can be found in August when its much-loved scarecrow festival takes place. At nearby Kilnsey Park you can see red squirrels, fish for your supper or simply marvel at the height of the crags and the climbers trying to scale them.
Grassington is a lively centre with plenty of atmosphere, particularly in December during its Dickensian festivities. It has an excellent summer arts festival and many small shops, including one that sells an amazing range of Yorkshire beers!
Don’t leave Wharfedale until you’ve…
From the stony outcrop of Simon’s Seat it is possible to see much of the southern dales stretching before you. You can look down the Valley of Desolation (now full of life), to the pretty village at Appletreewick (pronounced “Aptrick”!), and along the river towards the beautiful ruins of Bolton Priory.
Wharfedale has many attractive and characterful villages such as Burnsall and Buckden where its five-arched bridge spans the Wharfe and is a popular paddling spot. You may recognise Kettlewell from the Calendar Girls film. It’s also where models of another kind can be found in August when its much-loved scarecrow festival takes place. At nearby Kilnsey Park you can see red squirrels, fish for your supper or simply marvel at the height of the crags and the climbers trying to scale them.
Grassington is a lively centre with plenty of atmosphere, particularly in December during its Dickensian festivities. It has an excellent summer arts festival and many small shops, including one that sells an amazing range of Yorkshire beers!
Don’t leave Wharfedale until you’ve…
- Enjoyed a Penny Plain theatrical production in and around Grassington
- Caught a trout at Kilnsey Park
- Spotted a UFO at Carleton Moor (you may be here for a while….!)
- Gone to the Burnsall Feast, Kilnsey or Buckden shows and watched a classic fell race
- Seen the scarecrows at the Kettlewell scarecrow festival
- Watched the spring lambs being born at Hesketh Farm Park and joined farmer Chris on a trailer tour of the farm
- Eaten at one of the original gastro pubs focusing on local food - the Angel at Hetton
- Seen the landlet candle at The George, Hubberholme or seen the famous rood at Hubberholme Church and spotted the “mouseman” pews
- Discovered the Yockenthwaite Stone Circle near Buckden
- Breathed in the scent of the heather moorlands in flower
- Spent a day on the Bolton Abbey Estate where you can:
- press a coin for good luck into one of the money trees
- hop across the 57 stepping stones across the river Wharfe
- visit Bolton Abbey and discover the story behind 'Hey Diddle Diddle'
- collect a card from the Cavendish Shop for children to follow the I Spy trails in Strid Wood
- discovered the Bodger’s Camp in the woods and bought a bird table, stool or dibber
