Sightseeing in the Yorkshire Dales and Moors

The main valleys, known as ‘Dales’ which are easily accessed from Terrace Barn are Wensleydale, Swaledale, Nidderdale and Coverdale. There are smaller dales which run into these. The high ground between the dales is known are fells, and these are generally moorland. The Dales are well known for their picturesque patchwork of fields bordered by drystone walls and with small stone barns in the corners of the fields which provided winter shelter for animals and shepherds as well as winter feed storage. Each dale has a river after which the Dale is named, such as the Swale, the Nidd and the Cover. Wensleydale is an exception to this with its river being called the Ure. This is the river outside the barn. After the confluence between the Ure and the Swale it becomes the Ouse, and this flows through York.

Wensleydale

Terrace Barn is at the bottom of Wensleydale, the largest and most well known of the dales. The river Ure flows down Wensleydale, and you can follow it from Terrace Barn to the top of Wensleydale via Masham (pronounced Massam), Middleham, Leyburn, Aysgarth, Bainbridge and Hawes. All these are places worth visiting, with King Richard III’s castle at Middleham and the waterfalls at Aysgarth being a couple of highlights.

Waterfalls in Wensleydale on the Ure or its tributaries are: -

Cauldron Falls West Burton

Aysgarth Falls

Hardraw Falls

Cotter Force

Askrigg Falls

Swaledale

The Dale north of Wensleydale, is Swaledale. Continue from Leyburn up to Reeth, enjoy its fabulous setting and views, then travel east up the dale via Gunnerside and Muker (pronounced Mooker). Swaledale is smaller and more intimate than Wensleydale, and encapsulates the beauty of the dales. If you visit in the spring time, visit the hay meadows at Muker. Travel beyond Muker to Keld and see the East Gill Force waterfall.

Heading west from Reeth brings you to Richmond with its fabulous castle, market square and Georgian theatre.

Nidderdale (area of outstanding natural beauty)

Continuing on the road from Ripon past Fountains Abbey, will bring you into Nidderdale, with with the picturesque town of Pateley Bridge at its foot. Turning up Nidderdale from Pateley takes you on a lovely drive, past Gouthwaite Reservoir and Ramsgill and up into rugged countryside and the small town of Lofthouse. If you’re feeling adventurous, and if the weather is fair, you can drive back to Terrace Barn over the moor towards Masham and then back to Terrace Barn.

Wharfedale

Continuing from Pateley Bridge will take you over moorland and into Whafedale. Traversing the moor, you can stop at Coldstone Cut, the biggest sculpture in Yorkshire, which overlooks a huge quarry. Some say it's like peering into the Grand Canyon! Not far from beyond is Stump Cross Caverns, caves full of Stalactites and Stalagmites formed by the limestone above. Dropping down into Whafedale you can stop for refreshments at the Craven Arms and Cruck Barn at Appletreewick, often used as a film set including All Creatures Great and Small. Head across the field from the telephone box for a beautiful walk along the river Wharf.

Continue a little further to the ruins of Bolton Abbey for long walks and ice cream.

The Moors

There is a lot to discover in the North York Moors National Park. Just a few miles south east of Thirsk, in the foot hills of the Moors, you can take a wonderful scenic drive through beautiful countryside, villages and abbeys etc. including:-

Coxwold

Newburgh Priory

Byland Abbey

The White Horse

Oldstead (The Black Swan, voted best restaurant in the world!)

Kilburn (The Mouseman cabinet maker)

Ampleforth

Rising up the escarpment you can visit: -

Sutton Bank

Rivaulx Abbey

Duncombe Park

Helmsley town and castle

Travelling 40miles+

You can explore the rugged dales of the Moors, such as Farndale and Rosedale, with villages such as Hutton-Le-Hole and Pickering with its fantastic heritage railway to Goathland and on to Whitby.

Travelling 60 miles+

You can explore the dramatic North Yorkshire coast. It’s a wonderful drive on the A171 taking you along the northern edge of the moors and then along the line where the moor meets the sea, or go over the top of the Moors via Pickering where you will also see the Hole-of-Horcum and the Fylingdale early warning radar. Places to visit on the coast include Staithes, Runswick Bay, Sandsend, Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. It takes about 1½ hours to Whitby.

Places to visit around Terrace Barn

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Gardens.

UNESCO World heritage site of the finest preserved Cistercian abbey. It is best to use the Studley Royal entrance        through the deer park and approach through the Georgian romantic water gardens with its follies. Look back along the drive through the deer park for one of the best views of Ripon Cathedral

Ripon Cathedral                 The crypt is the oldest part of any cathedral in the UK   

Ripon Museums                 A joint ticket for the Prison, Court House and Work House

Newby Hall                         Stately home and gardens, built 1690 with classic 18th c. interiors

Jervaulx Abbey                  Beautiful setting, free to visit, between Masham and Middleham

Wensleydale Railway         Heritage steam railway, Catch the train from Bedale to Redmire, then it is just a short country walk to Castle Bolton

Castle Bolton                     Massive, intimidating and intact medieval castle in stunning Wensleydale setting.

Masham                             Perhaps the biggest and best market square in Yorkshire

Theakston Brewery           Masham

Black Sheep Brewery        Masham

Middleham Castle            Home of King Richard III. A massive keep surrounded by a perimeter wall

Richmond Castle              The best-preserved early Norman castle in England

Waterfalls                          See above under Wensleydale

Buttertubs                        Geological feature in Wensleydale, Buttertubs Pass connects Wensleydale to Swaledale

Swinton Park                     Country house hotel near Masham including a fabulous spa with pool, saunas, steam room, Jacuzzi’s and treatments

Druids Temple                  Fantastic recreation of a prehistoric monument in Swinton Park Estate, with views to Leighton Reservoir and a

         converted barn café

Hackfall                             A steep woodland walk with Georgian follies along the river Ure at Grewelthorpe. Recently renovated

Himalayan Gardens and Sculpture Park

                                          Walk through rhododendron woodland full of amazing sculptures, at Grewelthorpe

Thornborough Henges     A Neolithic Monument, 4500 years old, so huge that it is used by pilots as a waypoint!

Thorpe Perrow Arboretum               

James Herriot Museum   At Thirsk. Not in one of the Dales as you might imagine!

Harrogate                          Georgian Spa Town

Harlow Carr Gardens       RHS garden at Harrogate

Snape Castle Chapel       Hidden Chapel used by Catherine Parr, near Masham

Forbidden Corner            Fabulous mystical adventure for children

Coldstone Cut                 Largest sculpture in Yorkshire next to huge quarry

Stump Cross Caverns     Limestone cavern with stalactites and stalagmites

Ripley Castle                    Home of the Ingleby family for 700 years, Capability Brown Gardens, lake and deer park

Ripley                                Picturesque village. One of the few privately owned villages in England with nice walks

Brimham Rocks                Rock formations

Eavestone Lake                Hidden mystical lake, good for dog walks

Saltaire                              UNESCO world heritage site of huge weaving mill, with David Hockney paintings

Markenfield Hall               Unaltered early 14^th c. moated manor house

Nunnington Hall               Picturesque 17^th c. manor house by the river Rye

Benningbrough Hall         Large Georgian stately home with baroque interiors

Bolton Abbey                  Picturesque Abbey with walks along the Wharfe

Local Towns worth a visit

York                                    Medieval walls and streets, the Minster, Romans and Vikings, it’s all here with attractions too numerous to list.

Ripon                                 Cathedral, market place, Museums.

Pateley Bridge                   Picturesque Dales Town and gateway to Nidderdale.

Thirsk                                 Market town, home of James Herriot.

Masham                             Classic Yorkshire market square, home of two breweries

Middleham                        Home of leading racehorse stables, was home to Richard III, his imposing castle remains

Leyburn                             Market town with access to the Wensleydale Heritage Railway, big views, Bolton Castle nearby.

Reeth                                 Remote and atmospheric town, the gateway to picturesque beauty of Swaledale

Hawes                                At the top of Swaledale, museums, Wensleydale cheese, landscape.

Richmond                         Market town with the one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain, and a fabulous Georgian theatre

Knaresborough                 Pretty town with Mother Shipton’s Cave, the river Nidd with boating, viaduct and castle.