thingstodo

Wensleydale…Cobbles and Gems

Whatever you want to do, Wensleydale welcomes you

Hills, dales, wilderness and water, historic villages, traditional markets and crafts ensure an ideal holiday base. Hawes – at the head of the Dale – is the main town of Upper Wensleydale, home to the world-famous Wensleydale Creamery and the Dales Countryside Museum, it is the highest market town in Yorkshire and is an important agricultural centre with its weekly sales of sheep and cattle at the auction mart. Until the mid 17th century however, Hawes was smaller than its neighbour Gayle. The granting of a market charter in 1699 and the arrival of the turnpike road in 1795 led to rapid growth until eventually Hawes became the most important settlement in Upper Wensleydale. Two hundred years ago, every farm in the Dale would have made its own cheese and these cheese presses were a common sight. The making of farmhouse Wensleydale cheese gradually died out, but the mild, crumbly style of cheese has survived and is now produced commercially in Hawes.

There is lots to do and see in and around the town like a visit to see the world famous Wensleydale cheese being made. The best place to start is at the Hawes National Park Centre in the Dales Countryside Museum. The friendly staff will give you lots of advice on places of interest. A look round the museum is also highly recommended.

Once you have exhausted the delights of Hawes, why not visit the waterfall at Hardraw - Hardraw is the site of Hardraw Force, the highest single-drop waterfall in the country, or relax by the side of pretty Semerwater nestling in the hills above Hawes.

Waterfalls abound throughout this Dale. Aysgarth Falls and Hardraw Scar are well known, but Cauldron Falls at West Burton — in the relatively unknown Walden Valley — has its own spectacular waterfall, made famous by the artist J.M.W. Turner, who painted many pictures capturing the beauty of the falls for later generations to enjoy. Mill Gill Falls, at Askrigg, and Cotter Force, west of Hawes, are equally spectacular throughout the year.

In 1999, children from local schools worked with sculptor Peter Hibbard to produce an attractive seat beside Cotter Force, a waterfall just to the north west of Hawes. At the same time, the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority carried out improvement work to the footpath up to the waterfall and this means visitors using wheelchairs can now enjoy the view. Bird lovers are well catered for as the Dale provides opportunities to see Lapwing, Curlew, Oyster Catchers and Buzzards along with many other species.

Roman history is evident at Bainbridge, the location of a Roman road and fort.

Jervaulx Abbey, located in the beautiful, wooded setting of the River Ure, is privately owned but open to the general public who are trusted to make a donation in the “honesty box” to help towards its upkeep.

Bishopdale and Coverdale – tributaries of Wensleydale – are secret gems offering visitors unspoiled villages and tranquil scenery.

Lovers of the outdoors can enjoy many interesting walks, while cycling is another way to experience the majestic scenery.

There are many other places that are well worth a visit. Askrigg is the location of Skeldale House, home of the fictional vet James Herriott, of the TV series ‘ All Creatures Great and Small’. If you are a fan of James Herriot, then a trip to Askrigg is a must - parts of it stood in for the fictional 'Darrowby' in the TV series 'All Creatures Great and Small'. See which buildings you recognise! Once upon a time, the pretty village of Askrigg was the main settlement in Upper Wensleydale. Thanks to a new turnpike road built in the 18th century, Hawes took over and is still the hub of the dale today.

At the end of the 19th century, thousands of tons of stone flags (slates) were shipped by rail from Hawes each month. These flags were quarried locally from the Yoredale series of limestone rocks. The disused workings scar the hillsides above Hawes adding to the natural limestone crags.

Coal was mined in some of the smaller dales around Hawes. In Sleddale some old spoil heaps are still clearly visible beside the road over the tops to Oughtershaw.