60 Things to do in the Dales this Summer
This year is the 60th Anniversary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. We have put together a fun list of 60 things to do in the Dales this summer. Enjoy them, we do.
- Book yourself a ‘Yorkshire Trike Tour’. We chauffeur you on a guided tour around the Dales. www.yorkshiretriketours.co.uk
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Take a trip down Gaping Gill, a huge cavern at the foot of Ingleborough, large enough to hold St Paul’s Cathedral. Bradford & Craven pothole clubs provide public access twice a year.
- Discover the Edwardian Rock Garden at Aysgarth.
- Climb a fell and enjoy hearing nothing but the wind.
- Visit the underground cave at Stump Cross Caverns, in Wharfedale.
- Take in the beautiful Cautley Spout waterfalls, east of Sedbergh, and keep an eye out for red squirrels and wild ponies.
- Walk Cam High Road, Raydale to Cam Fell, an old roman road.
- Visit the World War II memorial at the top of Buckden Pike and learn the story of the fox tracks that lead the airman to safety.
- Walk along part of the famous Dalesway.
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Follow the loop from Muker to Keld through meadows and along the ancient Corpse Way.
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Picnic on the Buttertubs Pass.
- Go wild swimming beneath a Dales waterfall.
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Visit Killington New Bridge Nature Reserve, west of Sedbergh and take a walk along the side of the River Lune.
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Enjoy the White Scar Caves below Ingleborough.
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Walk the famous Three Peaks, or any one of them.
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Take a walk on the wild side on Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail. It starts & finishes at the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.
- Sit beside Stainforth Foss in October or November and watch the salmon leaping.
- Sit where J.M.W Turner sat and painted ‘Simmerwater’
- Stand on the edge of Semerwater and imagine what it must have been like thousands of years ago – then jump in for a bracing swim.
- In a cosy village pub, drink some of the finest ales in the country that has been brewed locally.
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Walk across the Stepping Stones at Bolton Abbey.
- Visit a bluebell wood.
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Visit Middle Falls at Aysgarth Falls.
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Walk in Freeholders’ Wood, near Aysgarth Falls, try and spot the deer.
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Play Poohsticks from one of the Dales many bridges, try the 14th century Little Emily’s Bridge at Linton Falls.
- Take the Settle-Carlisle Railway over the Ribblehead Viaduct and through the Blea Tunnel.
- Walk beside Mill Gill above Askrigg, follow the scent of wild garlic when they are in flower.
- Visit Keld Heritage and Countryside Centre to discover Swaledale.
- Walk to the top of Simon’s Seat and take a photograph of Appletreewick & Skyredale.
- Cheese, Gromit. Visit Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes , which produces the tasty nibble loved by the cartoon pair in the Wallace & Gromit films.
- Climb Gordale Scar and walk on the limestone pavement above Malham Cove, which some believe was the inspiration for Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings.
- Walk through a Muker hay meadow in summer, when they are in full flower.
- Take a photo of yourself or a friend in front of Malham Cove.
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Stop in Clapham to visit Ingleborough Cave, picking up a leaflet on the Clapham Nature Trail on the way.
- Drive or cycle over Fleet Moss from Buckden and enjoy the dramatic views of Wensleydale on the steep descent to Gayle.
- Watch ropes being made at the Rope Makers in Hawes.
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Hunt for mice in Hubberholme Church. The oak pews and chairs were hand carved by “the Mouseman of Kilburn,” Robert Thompson, and bear his famous mouse trademark,
- Learn more about farming life in the Dales by visiting Hawes Auction Mart – there are livestock sales every Tuesday and visitors are welcome.
- Walk through Bolton Abbey Woods and see the colourful Mandarin Ducks.
- Visit the Forbidden Corner at Coverham, its rather special.
- Skim stones on the River Cover at St Simon’s Chapel.
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Spend some time in the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes.
- Visit one of the many National Park’s famous agricultural shows and soak up the atmosphere.
- Visit Askrigg – famous for the James Herriot TV series ‘All Creature Great & Small’ and see the famous Skeldale House, which was the Vets’ surgery.
- Drive through Gill Gate watersplash, in the opening scene of ‘All Creatures Great & Small’
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Look around St. Andrews Church in Grinton, known as the Cathedral of the Dales. Two miles away from Grinton Smeltmill – the best preserved in the National Park.
- Visit the working blacksmiths at Malham.
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Enjoy the beautiful-restored Reeth Community Orchard Garden and Gallery.
- Walk along the access-for-all-path at Cotter Force and try to catch a glimpse of the resident kingfisher.
- Try fish & chips from Ramsay’s Fish and Chip van, which travels through the Dales each week.
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Stop off at Middleham Castle, childhood home of Richard III.
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Visit West Burton, a beautiful Dales village, visited by the artist, J.M.W.Turner, in 1816 on his grand tour of Yorkshire.
- Write a poem or song about the Dales unique scenery and how it makes you feel.
- Try to spot the otters playing on the river side in Hawes.
- Pinch your way through a squeeze stile and snuggle up close as you pass through a kissing .
- Walk around Kettlewell and see where the Calendar Girls film, with Helen Mirren, was made.
- Photograph the Ribblehead Viaduct with a train crossing it.
- Drive one of the three mountain climbs on the TDF14 Stage 1 route. Be Kings of the Mountains, you get to wear the polka dot jersey.
- Photograph the field barns in Swaledale.
- Paddle in Malham Tarn.
CREDITS
The Visitor Guide 2014 – Pick up your FREE copy throughout the Dales
Yorkshire Dales National Park www.yorkshiredales.org.uk
Jason Richards - Yorkshire Trike Tours