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Twenty things to do
- Take a gentle stroll on Leyburn Shawl.
One of the most breathtaking viewpoints in the Dales, with nearby children's play area. For more invigorating walking, Leyburn is in the heart of Wensleydale and on the perimeter of the Dales National Park. - Taste genuine Local produce.
On May Day Bank holiday weekend Leyburn hosts a large food festival
The Dales Festival of Food and Drink - www.dalesfestivaloffood.org
Northern Dales Farmers Markets - www.ndfm.co.uk
Masham Sausages - www.mashamsausages.co.uk
The Little Chocolate Shop - www.thelittlechocolateshop.co.uk
Brymor Ice Cream - www.brymordairy.co.uk
Real Yorkshire Wensleydale Cheese - www.wensleydale.co.uk
Westfields Farm Organic Bakery - www.westfieldsfarm.com
- Discover timeless villages.
Taste tantalising local ales in their character pubs and watch the world go by. - Indulge yourself at one of the award winning restaurants.
Sandpiper, Leyburn - Egon Ronay Gastropub 2006 (2 mins walk) - www.sandpiperinn.co.uk
Blue Lion, East Witton - Dining Pub of the Year three times in the past decade - www.thebluelion.co.uk
Wensleydale Heifer, West Witton - AA Seafish Pub of the Year 2007 - www.wensleydaleheifer.co.uk - Sample traditional Yorkshire afternoon teas.
With fat-rascals, curd tarts or the customary combination of Wensleydale cheese with rich fruit cake. - Loose yourself in beautiful gardens.
Constable Burton Hall (5mins) - www.constableburtongardens.co.uk
Thorpe Perrow Arboretum and Birds of Prey (20 mins) - www.thorpperrow.com
Aysgarth Rock garden (10 mins) - www.heathercottage.co.uk/edwardian_rock_garden.htm
Millgate, Richmond (15 mins) - www.richmond.org.uk/guide/millgate/milgatehouse.html
Newby Hall gardens (30 mins) - www.newbyhall.co.uk - Children will have fun at the Forbidden Corner
A unique combination of follies, tunnels and surprises (10 mins) - www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/theforbiddencorner/
They will also find plenty of excitement at the Lightwater Valley Theme Park (25 mins) www.lightwatervalley.co.uk/ - Soak up the atmosphere of an area steeped in history.
Explore the castles, abbeys and churches.
Castle Bolton (spectacular setting, Elizabethan garden) (10 mins) - www.boltoncastle.co.uk/
Middleham Castle(Yorkshire home of Richard III) (5 mins) - www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.371
Richmond Castle (15 mins) - www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.376
Jervaux Abbey (10 mins) - www.jervaulxabbey.com
Easby Abbey (15 mins) - www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.364
Mount Grace Priory (35 mins) - www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/conProperty.373
Churches - www.yorkshirechurches.com - Combine a walk with a ride on the Wensleydale Railway back to Leyburn station (2 mins).
You can even take a driving lesson on a train. Could this be the fulfilment of a lost childhood dream? - www.wensleydalerailwayassociation.com - Bid for an antique at the prestigious Tennants auction house.
www.tennants.co.uk/ (5 mins walk) - Visit Richmond's Georgian Theatre.
Its not only the performances that absorb you into another world... Guided tours also available.
www.georgiantheatreroyal.co.uk/ (15 mins)
www.swaledale-festival.org.uk - Rise early and watch the racehorses training on Middleham gallops. (5 mins)
If this has proved inspirational, pony trekking is available in Coverdale and Masham (both 15 mins).
Some of our visitors have brought their own pony, as livery can usually be arranged in Middleham. - For distinctive souvenirs follow the craft trail through the unspoilt villages and landscape of Wensleydale and Swaledale.
www.yorkshirenet.co.uk/ydales/wscrafts - Watch a film at Leyburn Picture House
www.picturehouseleyburn.org - Experience the "wow" factor at Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, a World Heritage Site. (NT) (35 mins)
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-fountainsabbeyandstudleyroyalwatergarden.htm - Absorb ambience of a distinctive Country House
Newby Hall (30 mins) - www.newbyhall.co.uk
Raby Castle (30 mins) - www.rabycastle.com
Kiplin Hall (25 mins) - www.kiplinhall.co.uk
Castle Howard (60 mins) - www.castlehoward.co.uk/metadot/index.pl - Historic towns and Cities in the region can make a memorable day trip.
Durham (50 mins)
York (60 mins)
Harrogate (50 mins) - A rainy day could be a museum day:
The Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle resembles a French chateau, but placed in a Durham market town - contains European fine and decorative arts; has an inspiring exhibition programme. - www.thebowesmuseum.org.uk
The World of James Herriot inside his original home and surgery in Thirsk (35 mins). Excellent interactive displays. www.hambleton.gov.uk/hambleton/herriot.nsf/pages/informationaboutthecentre.html
Dales Countryside Museum, Hawes (25 mins) www.yorkshiredales.org.uk - For those wanting adventure;
Canoeing, windsurfing and sailing at Lake Semerwater in Wensleydale (25 mins)
Tree-top assault course www.aerialextreme.co.uk (25 mins) - Amble around attractive market towns.
Masham (15 mins)
Richmond (15 mins)
Bedale (15 mins)
Hawes (25 mins)
Ripon (30 mins)
Thirsk (35 mins)
Barnard Castle (30 mins)
Skipton (45 mins)
Sedbergh (40 mins)
And of course saving the best 'til last - LEYBURN - 2 mins walk and you are in the centre of this very relaxed, working market town full of shops, pubs, cafes and weekly market.