Local Area Information

Wensleydale is possibly the widest of the Yorkshire Dales and provides interest at all times of the year, with its spectacular scenery and varied wildlife.  Riverside walks can be a birdwatcher’s paradise, with kingfishers, dippers and oystercatchers, and up on the moors you will find lapwings, curlews and grouse, as well as owls and other birds of prey. There is also a wealth of wild flowers to be seen at local sites of special scientific interest, and you might spot hares and deer as you walk.

Askrigg provides an excellent base for walking and cycling, with a range of options from shorter, circular routes to longer, more strenuous outings for those wishing to be more adventurous.  From the cottage, you can set out on footpaths for riverside walks to Worton and the River Ure, Bainbridge, Nappa and the waterfalls at Mill Gill and Whitfield Gill.  Within a few minutes’ drive are Semer Water and Raydale, where there are scenic circular walks.  More adventurous cyclists might want to tackle the steep hills of the Buttertubs Pass.

Your Wensleydale holiday could start at the Visitor Information Centre in Hawes, located at the Dales Countryside Museum (https://www.dalescountrysidemuseum.org.uk/), well worth a visit, and the cycle hire shop (https://www.stage1cycles.co.uk/).  The Yorkshire Dales has increased in popularity as a cycling holiday destination since the Tour de France visited in 2014. For those wishing to avoid using their car for outings, there is the Little White Bus service.

Attractions within easy day-tripping distance include:

• Settle to Carlisle railway
• The Yorkshire Three Peaks
• The Forbidden Corner, near Leyburn
• Hardraw Force
• Aysgarth Falls
• Castle Bolton
• The Red Squirrel Trail, Snaizeholme.

Askrigg itself is a thriving village with local events all year round.