Attractions
Local Favourites
The Garden Rooms at Tennants
The Garden Rooms is the UK’s largest multi-purpose venue dedicated to weddings, events, auctions and exhibitions. Since 2015, it has been a unique extension to Tennants Auctioneers, the largest saleroom in Europe.
Wensleydale Railway
From the Vale of Mowbray to the upland splendour of the famous Yorkshire Dales, this rural railway line passes through market towns, small villages, woodland and farmland, offering a great day out in some of England’s most beautiful countryside.
The Leyburn Shawl
The Shawl, an escarpment of about 1.5 miles in length, provides panoramic views of Wensleydale. According to legend, Mary, Queen of Scots, upon fleeing captivity in nearby Bolton Castle, dropped her shawl en route to Leyburn.
Houses
Kiplin Hall
In the heart of North Yorkshire, Kiplin Hall & Gardens was built in 1619 for George Calvert, the founder of Maryland. With a well presented hall and gardens, Kiplin is an ideal place to experience country manorial living at its finest.
Newby Hall
Newby Hall, the family home of Mr & Mrs Richard Compton, is one of England's finest houses, an exceptional example of 18th century interior decoration. Visitors can also enjoy the 25 acres of gardens full of rare and beautiful plants.
Raby Castle
Raby is one of the most impressive intact castles in the North of England. Built in the 14th century by the Nevill family, it has a long royal history. Behind its powerful fortifications, is a family home with many Medieval, Regency and Victorian interiors.
Gardens
Eggleston Hall Gardens
Eggleston Hall Gardens is set on a hillside and enclosed by high stone walls, and are aptly described as 'The Secret Garden of the North'. For a small fee in an honesty box, take a walk around the thoughtfully created gardens
RHS Harlow Carr
A mile and a half from the centre of Harrogate, this family-friendly garden is as much an inspiration to the amateur gardener as it is delightful to plant enthusiasts. The 58-acre site is a haven of serenity that will delight visitors of all ages.
Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park
Enjoy 40-acres of stunning gardens inspired by the Himalayas. Home to the North’s largest collection of rhododendrons, azaleas and magnolias. There are nearly 20,000 plants and a 20-acre arboretum.
Abbeys & Ruins
Jervaulx Abbey
Jervaulx Abbey is one of the largest privately owned Cistercian Abbeys in England. Set in the midst of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales, Jervaulx Abbey's dramatic, yet tranquil ambience has won the hearts of many of its visitors.
Fountains Abbey
Surrounded by beautiful North Yorkshire countryside, this World Heritage Site has a lot to offer for an enjoyable day out. The magnificent ruins of Fountains Abbey sit alongside a Georgian water garden that is sure to delight your senses.
Easby Abbey
The impressive ruins of Easy Abbey lie on the banks the River Swale. Easby is one of the best preserved monasteries of the Premonstratensian. The parish church, which is still in use, contains rare 13th century wall paintings.
Castles
Bolton Castle
One of the country’s best preserved medieval castles. Completed in 1399, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating history including Mary Queen of Scot’s imprisonment and a Civil War siege.
Middleham Castle
Once the childhood home of Richard III, you can relive the castle’s illustrious history. Although roofless, extensive remains of the fortified palace still survive, making Middleham a fascinating castle to explore.
Richmond Castle
With breathtaking views of the Yorkshire Dales, Richmond Castle fully deserves its place as one of the finest castles in North Yorkshire. Originally built to subdue the unruly North of England, it’s one of the greatest Norman fortresses in Britain.
Food & Drink
Wensleydale Creamery
Enjoy a taste of Yorkshire at the Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre in Hawes, the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. Set in a stunning location, with great space that boasts amazing views and home of the famous Wensleydale cheese.
Black Sheep Brewery
Experience the Black Sheep brewing process including the aromas of English hops and malted barley, then through the scientific process and finally on to the end product - a pint of their award-winning ales.
Theakston Brewery
Experience first-hand the craft and skill that goes into brewing Theakston beers, the brewing process is built on almost two centuries of tradition, passed down through five generations of the Theakston family.
Natural Wonders
Aysgarth Falls
The three stepped waterfalls at Aysgarth have been a tourist attraction for over 200 years. Wordsworth and his sister Dorothy visited while they waited for their coach horses to be changed and Turner sketched them on a tour of the north.
Brimham Rocks
An amazing collection of weird and wonderful rock formations sculpted over millions of years. It makes a great day out for families, climbers, walkers and those wanting to enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air and magnificent views.
Hardraw Force
The highest single drop waterfall in England is famous for several other reasons too, not least because of 'that' scene in Robin Hood Prince of Thieves where Maid Marion spies Robin Hood bathing under the waterfall.
Museums
The Bowes Museum
The jewel in the heart of the historic market town of Barnard Castle. The Museum was built in the 19th century by businessman John Bowes and his wife Josephine, and houses internationally significant collections,
Dales Countryside Museum
This fascinating museum, managed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales past and present, and stimulates visitors to think about its future.
Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Experience the past at Beamish, and discover what life was like in North East England through the centuries. Beamish is a living, working museum, set in 300 acres of beautiful Durham countryside.
Family
Forbidden Corner
The Forbidden Corner is a unique labyrinth of tunnels, chambers, follies and surprises created within a four acre garden in the heart of Coverdale. An attraction unlike anywhere that you have been, ideal for the adventurers and those young at heart!
Wensleydale Experience
A fun and engaging hands-on experience in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Spend the day taking a close look at traditional drystone walls, feeding the animals, gathering sheep and learning about how sheep are farmed.
Thorp Perrow
At 100 acres, Thorp Perrow Arboretum boasts one of the largest collections of shrubs and trees in the North of England, including the national collections of Ash, Lime, Laburnum, Walnut and cotinus.