North Yorkshire Dales

Introduction

The Yorkshire Dales are not wholly contained within Yorkshire! The western boundary of the National Park includes part of the Howgill Fells, Garsdale and the beautiful hidden valley of Dentdale -all in Cumbria. The northern boundary follows the North Yorkshire County boundary and then swings south to (for our purposes) include Richmond, Leyburn and Middleham.

The southern boundary of this 'Northern' Yorkshire Dales area is also rather arbitrary but roughly follows a line along the watershed between Wensleydale and Wharfedale. Within these confines can be found some of the most wonderful scenery in Britain. Swaledale has been described as the most beautiful of all the Yorkshire dales, whilst Wensleydale is a journey of sheer delight. Arkengarthdale provides a transition from sheltered water meadows to howling wilderness in a few short miles. Every dale is different and that?s the real nature of the whole!.

History & Heritage

Instead of examining Roman, Saxon, Norman and other influences - which are all present in abundance - it is man?s influence on the landscape that provides the major historical theme, especially when we realize that almost the entire landscape is ?man-made?. Farming began in the dales during the Neolithic period and by the twelfth century monastic estates and hunting forests covered most of the area. Following the Dissolution of 1536-9, the great abbey estates and granges were sold, the gentry and London merchants being the first to acquire freeholds. Later, sitting tenants bought freeholds giving rise to the yeoman farmer. Most of the dales? farmhouses were either built or rebuilt between 1630 and 1730 and ?field houses? sprang up, particularly in Swaledale. Until 1870 much of the land was common grazing ground but over the next forty years nearly all the walls, which are such a characteristic feature of the area , were built providing the chequer-board appearance of the present field system. The very texture of today?s dales? landscape, the very rhythm of its rural lifestyle, is determined by farming which remains the quintessence of the dales? scene.

Customs & Culture

It?s impossible to pin down a particular cultural theme when almost each and every dale has produced traditions and families unique to that dale. Dentdale is steeped in the science of geology for Dent was the birthplace of Adam Sedgewick, an acknowledged ?father? of the subject . Wensleydale is closely associated with medicine and botany as John Fothergill was born at Carr End near Askrigg in 1712. He gave us the first recognition of diphtheria and also made a collection of the rarest plants from all over the world. The Wharton family of Swaledale boasts both the founder of a bible charity and a notorious president of the Hell-fire Club! The Keartons of Thwaite were pioneers of nature photography long before Hans and Lotte Hass. A yeoman farmer, Francis Garth, was one of the founders of the Shorthorn Society. JMW Turner immortalised Richmond and the magnificent Hardraw Force. Today there are many artists inspired by the wonderful landscape and their work can be seen at galleries all over the area. Famous local writers seem to be scarce though many outsiders have been hugely influenced by the landscape.

Landscape & Landforms

A wonderful way to discover the Northern Dales is to make an exploration of its waterfalls! The Upper Swale provides many lovely settings for small waterfalls but probably the best is the most difficult to access - Kisdon Force. Much easier to approach - through a pub! - is England?s highest waterfall. Hardraw Force has a sublime setting and is a magnificent and totally stunning spectacle, situated to the north of Hawes in Wensleydale. This sumptuous dale also provides the thrilling Aysgarth Falls whose three leaps are justly world-famous. Cautley Spout in the Howgills is remote and splendid, whilst the falls which bisect the village of Gayle are utterly charming. There are always fabulous views from the tops of these often heather-clad hills and moors which divide these dales. The view from the Buttertubs - themselves an incredible landform - into Swaledale is well-known, but one has to walk to visit the viewpoint from the top of Great Shunner Fell, considered by many to be the finest in the area.

Places to Visit & Events

A wonderful way to discover the Northern Dales is to make an exploration of its waterfalls! The Upper Swale provides many lovely settings for small waterfalls but probably the best is the most difficult to access - Kisdon Force. Much easier to approach - through a pub! - is England?s highest waterfall. Hardraw Force has a sublime setting and is a magnificent and totally stunning spectacle, situated to the north of Hawes in Wensleydale. This sumptuous dale also provides the thrilling Aysgarth Falls whose three leaps are justly world-famous. Cautley Spout in the Howgills is remote and splendid, whilst the falls which bisect the village of Gayle are utterly charming. There are always fabulous views from the tops of these often heather-clad hills and moors which divide these dales. The view from the Buttertubs - themselves an incredible landform - into Swaledale is well-known, but one has to walk to visit the viewpoint from the top of Great Shunner Fell, considered by many to be the finest in the area.

Sports & Leisure

Leisure and sporting activities of numerous kinds are available to the visitor. These include the more peaceful pastimes of bird-watching, painting and fishing, and the more energetic activities of riding and sailing on Semer Water. Walking is, of course, the prime activity undertaken by the tourist and the Pennine Way and Dales? Way offer extended perambulations of the highest quality. Although potholing is more evident in the Southern Dales the area around the Buttertubs offers scope to the specialist. Further outlets are provided by leisure parks, gardens, working farms, nature trails and craft centres which abound in the area.