The Dales

This belt of England has to be one of the finest parts of the country, with three national parks lying almost side by side and from Coast to Coast, the path of Wainwright’s well trodden trail. To the east is the North York Moors National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park occupies the centre, with the Lake District National Park to the west. The wilds of County Durham and Northumberland are to the north. Redmire is located just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park’s eastern boundary.

Lower Wensleydale shows a softer side, with limestone pastures bounded by hedges, but much of the dales area is characterised by rough sheep grazed fell, heather moorland, and miles of drystone walls. It is a paradise for walkers, archaeologists, historians and naturalists. The place names reveal a rich Norse ancestry, including the word ‘dale’, used here for valley. Each dale is occupied by a river and fed by side streams called either becks or gills. Attractive stone built villages line the dales, often on the sunny, south facing side.

Beyond the dales, to the east, are historic market towns, including Richmond with its castle and market square, Northallerton and the small cathedral city of Ripon. All are within an hour’s drive of Redmire, and Northallerton is accessible by direct bus, as are Leyburn and Bedale. To the south is Masham, home of Theakstons and Black Sheep breweries, both with visitor centres.

Hawes is a popular village in Upper Wensleydale, with its cheese making tradition and a National Park centre that houses a Countryside Museum.

To the north, Swaledale shows rugged grandeur and fells littered with the archaeology of lead mining. Those prepared to search harder will find a wealth of Bronze and Iron Age remains.