Finghall Cottage

The lovely Finghall Cottage is located in the quiet hamlet of Finghall, just outside Leyburn. The hamlet boasts a gorgeous country pub and restaurant, ideal when staying at this wonderful cottage.

Leyburn is a bustling place with it busy antiques auction house which has been running since the late Victorian period and hosts more than one hundred auctions of fine art, antiques and special collectables each year. The town also hosts a lively Friday market in the town’s main square with fresh fish, local produce and crafts. There are three excellent galleries including the Wensleydale Galleries which opens every day to feature awe-inspiring paintings and prints from local and national artists. There are many wonderful walks from the town and the Wensleydale Wander is usually held in March and April. You can hop of the Wensleydale Railway, a heritage line with diesel locomotives and occasional steam trains.

Bolton Castle sits roughly six miles west of the Leyburn with its history dating back to the 14th century. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument built by Richard le Scrope, Richard II’s Lord Chancellor of England. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned inside its walls in 1568 and visitors can see her bedroom and the castle’s dungeon.

Leyburn is an excellent gateway to the whole of the Yorkshire Dales and its very pretty villages. The Yorkshire Dales form part of the chain of Pennine uplands running up the centre of Northern England. You will discover rolling hills, drystone walls, rocky outcrops, forests and beautiful streams forming intricate patterns across the landscape. The Dales include Wensleydale, Malhamdale, Swaledale, Wharfedale, Dentdale, Ribblesdale, Nidderdale, Widdale, Littondale and some other lesser known Dales. There are plenty of castles, abbeys, ruins and historic buildings to visit including the close by Jervaulx Abbey, Bolton Abbey Estate, Pendragon Castle, Richmond Castle, Skipton Castle and Fountains Abbey. Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal offers a fantastic day out. Rievaulx Abbey, set in a tranquil valley of the North York Moors, boasts the impressive ruins of one of England’s most powerful Cistercian monasteries and makes for a wonderful day out. There is a fabulous museum displaying previously unseen artefacts plus there is a wonderful cafe. Wild flowers, shrubs and trees freely explore its many nooks and crannies. This dramatic, tranquil scene has won the hearts of visitors for many years. You could even park in the pretty, chocolate-box town of Helmsley nearby and take a scenic walk to the abbey. Generations of the Howard family have welcomed visitors to Castle Howard, one of the great palaces of Europe, for more than three hundred years. The whole family will enjoy this extravagant house, its stunning gardens, Skelf Island Adventure Playground, coffee shops, restaurants, farm shop and the boathouse. There are also plenty of special events so look out for those.

Middleham is absolutely charming with an ancient history, a horse racing heritage and beautiful surroundings. It is in the Richmondshire district of North Yorkshire in Wensleydale, upstream from the junction of the River Ure and the River Cover. The town is set in the middle of beautiful countryside. There has been a settlement in Middleham since the Roman times and it was recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book as Medelai, meaning ‘middle ham or village’. This small town’s 12th century magnificent castle has the largest castle keep in the North of England. Middleham is a major equine epicentre with racehorse training having been carried out for over two hundred years. There are still several hundred horses stabled in the town so you will often see them galloping across the surrounding countryside and around town.

Not far away, Ripon is an atmospheric, charming cathedral city steeped in history and long observed traditions. It is home to numerous magnificient buildings including its 7th century gothic cathedral and a trio of award winning museums. Foodies will enjoy the delicious fine dining available and the whole family will be delighted with the entertainment provided. The city boasts a buzzy market place and reaching from the market place are a collection of narrow streets that are home to charming, eclectic independent shops and cafes. The city’s history is entwined with the church due to the cathedral and the city’s proximity to Fountains Abbey. One of the long observed traditions is the hornblower who has blown the horn at 9pm for 1100 years to ‘set the watch’. Visitors also enjoy Ripon’s outstanding racecourse and children in particular love the theme park. Ripon is a wonderful city to explore and enjoys lovely riverside and canal walks.

In the opposite direction, you can head into the North York Moors National Park and over to the coast at Staithes, Whitby and Robin Hood’s Bay. You can take a wonderful day trip on the Yorkshire Steam Railway to Whitby through the North York Moors National Park from Pickering, passing Newtondale Halt, Grosmont, Levisham and the gorgeous, famous Goathland. You can stop at the stations and enjoy the beautiful locations. At Grosmont, a fabulous display of bluebells lights up the local woods every May. There is a wonderful circular walk from Grosmont to Beck Hole. Goathland boasts the must-see celebrity station which became Hogsmeade Station in the first Harry Potter film and featured in the television programme Heartbeat. Goathland is stunning with a fabulous range of shops and pubs. You can take a lovely country walk to the Mallyan Spout Waterfall. Goathland Station has its own shop and tea room which is in a converted 1922 style goods shed. Levisham Moor runs through a rich landscape of archaeological remains half-hidden in the heather. Newtondale Halt lies deep in the heart of the park and is pretty isolated. You need to let the guard know if you want to stop at the station to explore the magnificent woodland.

Whitby is a charming, fascinating seaside town situated at the mouth of the River Esk and enjoys its maritime, mineral and tourist heritage. The town’s East Cliff is home to the ruins of Whitby Abbey, which sits proudly overlooking the town. Whitby’s fishing port emerged during the Middle Ages, supporting an important herring and whale fleet. It was where Captain Cook learned his seamanship. Visitors can learn more about the famous voyager at the Captain Cook Memorial Museum and see the great man immortalised in a monument on West Cliff. The town hosts an annual Whitby Goth Weekend, celebrating its links to Dracula and its Gothic culture. Visitors enjoy exploring the ornate cobbled paths, the locally-owned quirky shops and the cosy cafes that give Whitby its intriguing, welcoming atmosphere. Close to the sea visitors can enjoy the amusement arcades and plenty of fish and chips. Walks along the harbour wall are popular. There are many restaurants offering freshly caught local crab and lobster, including the famous Magpie Cafe. Whitby is hilly and good for some of exercise! There are 199 steps up to the abbey and St Mary’s Church. Just along from the main town and harbour, you will find the lovely sandy beaches of Sandsend and Runswick Bay. Sandsend was originally two villages, Sandsend and East Row. There is a delightful cafe overlooking the beach.

Read more about Yorkshire