WENSLEYDALE

Wensleydale is a broad, majestic dale running parallel in an east-west direction with Swaledale through the northern part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Unlike the other Yorkshire Dales, Wensleydale gets it's name from a village, Wensley. Home to the Metcalf family in the 14th century, Wensleydale played host to other famous people during it's history. Queen, Mary of Scots was imprisoned at Bolton Castle. King Richard III had his castle at Middleham. Many scenes from James Herriot's All Creatures Great And Small were filmed in Wensleydale.  Right: Semer Water Below: Wensleydale from above Hawes

The principal settlements in Wensleydale (west to east) are Hawes, Bainbridge, Askrigg, Aysgarth and West Witton, Wensley, Leyburn, Middleham and East Witton. Access to Wensleydale is becoming easier thanks to the Wensleydale Railway which currently runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire and the hope is that the railway will eventually run the whole length of Wensleydale, connecting with the Settle to Carlisle line at Garsdale Head. Yorkshire's largest natural lake, Semer Water can be found here, linked by England's shortest river, the River Bain to the River Ure that flows the length of Wensleydale and gives the dale it's old name, 'Yoredale'. Wensleydale Cheese made popular by Wallace and Gromit is manufactured in Hawes.

Right: Hardraw Force BACK