Book TourThe Dales consist of many working farms and traditional stone built villages and towns such as Kirkby Lonsdale, Grassington and Hawkes. These nestle within the hills and are surrounded by traditional dry stone walling. Sheep and cattle breeding are a large part of the economy and add to the character of the Dales. There are several agricultural shows in the area where proud farmers exhibit their prime cattle and sheep. Many local farms provide accommodation and activities.
Tours of the Yorkshire Dales
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Situated in the North of England the Yorkshire Dales are within the National Park created in 1954. Known by the locals as ‘Gods own country’ the area is thousands of square miles. It includes the Pennines, moors and upland areas and is a place of raw natural beauty which attracts walkers and visitors alike. The waterfalls at Aysgarth and walking trails such as Malham Cove and Ingleborough are popular destinations.
Lead mining was also a part of the local economy in the 19th century. The town of Grassington has a museum celebrating the mining history of the region - visitors can see traditional miners cottages and participate in a series of walks and trails that take in the 19th century architecture of the area.
The area also has a rich cultural heritage. Bolton Abbey is within the National Park as is Skipton Castle and the Ribblehead Viaduct. The Brontë sisters lived at Howarth where they wrote many of their famous novels including Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights. The TV series All Creatures Great and Small was based on a series of books written by James Herriot. The books are about a Yorkshire vet and filming was located in the Yorkshire Dales giving a lovely picture of the landscape and area.
The Yorkshire Dales has large areas of unpolluted night sky where the visitor can see the Milky Way and the Northern Lights. The area is designated a Night Sky Reserve and includes Swaledale, Rawthey Valley, Littondale and Wharfdale.
