UPPER
WHARFEDALE
Upper
Wharfedale is the largest and most majestic of the Yorkshire Dales.
Running from Bolton Abbey in the south to Cray in the north
Upper
Wharfedale has everything for the visitor. It has ancient monuments,
pubs, villages and the small town of Grassington. Upper Wharfedale is
also home to some of the most challenging and notorious caves in the
United Kingdom.
|
Bolton Abbey
Situated
at the foot of Upper Wharfedale to the east of Skipton is the village
of Bolton Abbey. Not far away is the eastern end of the Embsay Steam
Railway where it is possible to catch a train to the outskirts of
Skipton. The Village takes it's name from the ruins of the 12th century
monastery now known as Bolton Priory, a victim of Henry VIII's
Disolution of the Monasteries in the 16th century.
Bolton Priory
|
Burnsall
A
delightful village with a large green situated on the River Wharfe
where it is crossed by a five-arched bridge. Although it has a small
population Burnsall has a parish church, St. Wilfreds, and chapel, a
primary school and two hotels plus the Red Lion pub. Restaurant
facilities are available at both the pub and hotels. Not far
away
is the village of Appletreewick.
Burnsall
|
|
After Burnsall is the small town
of Grassington
with it's pubs, hotels and shops. There is a Yorkshire Dales National
Park Visitor's Centre here. Next door to Grassington is
Threshfield. From Threshfield a branch of Upper Wharfedale
leads
directly south to Skipton via Rhylstone and Cracoe. |
|
Kilnsey
Dominated
by Kilnsey Crag is this small collection of houses and pub, The Tennant
Arms by the river Wharfe, north of Grassington. Kilnsey hosts the
largest annual show in the Yorkshire Dales which takes place on the
Tuesday following the last Monday in August (the August Bank Holiday).
Kilnsey Crag with it's overhang offers the best rock climbing in the
area.
There is a trout farm here and Kilnsey Old Hall, a medieval
administration centre for the local wool trade. The well restored
present building dates from 1658. Over the bridge on the opposite side
of the river is Conistone.
Left: Kilnsey Crag
Below: Scenes from Kilnsey Show
|
After Kilnsey is Kettlewell,
an ideal central point from where to explore Upper Wharfedale. This
delightful Yorkshire Dales village has three pubs, a store, bed and
breakfast accommodation and a campsite. Continuing northwards is
Starbotton which shares the parish with Kettlewell.
|
Buckden
Situated
near the head of Upper Wharfedale where Langstrothdale branches off is
Buckden, a small but delightful settlement with it's village stores and
pub. Above Buckden is one of the highest peaks in the Yorkshire Dales,
Buckden Pike where a Wellington Bomber crashed in 1942 killing all but
one of it's crew. The 2303 feet (702m) summit is marked by a trig point
and to the south is the memorial marking the crash site.
The Buck Inn is one of the Yorkshire Dales finer pubs offering meals
and accommodation. Camping is available behind the village.
A
mile above Buckden is Cray, with it's impressive pub, the White Lion
and several houses. After Cray the road passes over the tops before
dropping down into Bishopdale. A small valley leads off from the
campsite and contains a number of delightful waterfalls.
|
Above: Buckden, Christmas Day,
2004
Below: Delightful small valley near Buckden
|
|