Lots of places to visit, whether you like jumping about on rocks, staggering around breweries, checking out an old master piece or chucking up at a theme park – it’s all here.
Arts & Crafts
Black Sheep Brewery Visitors’ Centre
Brimham Rocks
Chapel of Our Lady in the Crag
Devil’s Arrows
Falconry Centre
Fewstone Reservoir
How Stean Gorge
Ingleton Waterfalls
Lightwater Valley Theme Park
Mercer Art Gallery
Old Mother Shipton’s Cave and Petrifying Well
Royal Baths Assembly Rooms
St Robert’s Cave
Scar Houses Reservoir
Stump Cross Caverns
Swinsty Reservoir
Theakston Brewery
Thruscross Reservoir
York Maze
ARTS & CRAFTS
A Dales Country Workshop Trail leaflet is available from Tourist Information Centres which gives details of some craft workshops which can be visited. Crafts include candles, glass, jewellery, rope making, pottery and woodworking. Many other craft workshops like Pots 2 Go Ceramic Cafe are also located within the District.
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BLACK SHEEP BREWERY VISITOR CENTRE
“Shepherded” brewery tours around the traditional brewhouse and fermenting room ending with a glass of award winning Black Sheep Ale. Shop offering “Black Sheep Wear” and gifts and bistro with interesting local fare. Open daily.
Masham (01765) 689227
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BRIMHAM ROCKS
50 acres of mysterious, weird and wonderful rock formations carved out of sandstone by the elements. Now under protection of the National Trust. An information centre has been opened with the addition of a shop and there are footpaths for those of a less intrepid nature.
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CHAPEL OF OUR LADY IN THE CRAG
This is a medieval religious shrine situated on Abbey Road by the river in Knaresborough. It is possibly the rarest wayside shrine in England. For centuries it was known as St Robert’s Chapel and still is to many of those pilgrims who are able to find this unique and ancient shrine.
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DEVIL’S ARROWS
These rough-hewn millstone grit pillars known as the Devil’s Arrows were placed in the Bronze Age in a row on a north-south axis in a field immediately on the western edge of Boroughbridge. They are 18ft, 22ft and 22ft 6in tall, the last of these being taller than anything at Stonehenge.
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FALCONRY CENTRE
The Birds of Prey & Conservation Centre at Sion Hill Hall, near Thirsk, was setup to ensure that birds of prey would survive to provide the public with a rare opportunity to see and enjoy these beautiful birds. Eagles, falcons, hawks, kites, vultures and owls will swoop and dive around you as you sit in a beautiful English garden. Our skilled handlers will explain why the birds hunt and fly as they do, where they come from in the wild and how they are trained. This really is a good outing (If you like birds that is) the bird displays are truely fantastic!
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FEWSTON RESERVOIR
Situated to the north of Otley in the beautiful Washburn Valley this area is extremely popular with walkers, there are many fine views from the network of paths around the reservoirs and through the woods.
Directions. On A59 west of Harrogate and to the north of Otley. Turn left at Blubberhouses and follow signs for Fewston.
HOW STEAN GORGE
Spectacular limestone gorge with a chasm nearly 70ft deep. Winding footpaths along the side and over narrow bridges. Also caves, children’s play area and restaurant and tearooms. Open daily sunrise to sunset. Admission charge. Website.
Nr Pateley Bridge (01423) 755666
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INGLETON WATERFALLS
The famous Waterfalls Trail has some of the most spectacular waterfall and woodland scenery in the North of England. The trail is 4.5 miles/8 kilometres through ancient oak woodland and magnificent Dales scenery via a series of spectacular waterfalls and geological features.
With rare and interesting plants and animals and its importance as a geological site much of the Waterfalls Trail has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) by Natural England.
http://www.ingletonwaterfallswalk.co.uk/
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LIGHTWATER VALLEY THEME PARK
125 acres of country park and lakeland offers thrilling rides, leisurely boat and train rides, bowls and putting, and live entertainment, catering outlets, coffee shops, picnic areas. Website.
North Stainley, Nr Ripon (01765) 635368
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MERCER ART GALLERY
Housed in Harrogate’s oldest public Promenade Room, the gallery is a lively place to enjoy exciting art exhibitions. Regularly changing shows mean there’s always something new to see. Open Tues-Sun. Website. Art Fund.
Swan Road, Harrogate (01423) 556188
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OLD MOTHER SHIPTON’S CAVE AND PETRIFYING WELL
“England’s Oldest Attraction” with Mother Shipton’s Cave, legendary birthplace of Knaresborough’s famous 15th-century prophetess. Porous objects turn into stone with amazing speed at the Petrifying Well. Wishing well, museum, adventure playground, gift shop, tea room. Open daily except 25 December. Admission charge. Website.
High Bridge, Knaresborough (01423) 864600
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ROYAL BATHS
Dating from 1897 and once housing a myriad of water-based treatments. The Turkish Baths, telephone (01423) 556746, have been retained in their original splendour. Sauna and solarium. Open daily. The Tourist Information Centre is also located within this building. Website.
Crescent Road, Harrogate telephone (01423) 537300
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ST ROBERT’S CAVE
The remains of St Robert’s Cave and Chapel in Knaresborough are a rare survival of a medieval heritage. The entire site is cut out of the magnesium limestone bedrock and consists of the cave itself cut into the face of the cliff, a domestic area outside the cave entrance and a small chapel area which contains the grave and altar. Website.
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SCAR HOUSES RESERVOIR
This is a great opportunity to explore part of this remote and often wild area at the head of Nidderdale. Using our private tarmac access road the gradient from Scar House Reservoir is only gradual. There are a number of benches and rest points along the route. The imposing dams of Scar House and Angram provide embracing views across both reservoirs. Weather at the head of Nidderdale can change quickly and appropriate clothing is required. The route is 3.7 miles long.
STUMP CROSS CAVERNS
Natural dry stream passage formed some half million years ago with stalagmite and stalactite formations. Found by lead miners in the 19th century and now opened as a show cave. Also, visitor centre, gift shop and tea room. Open daily mid March to beginning of November and weekends all year, weather permitting. Admission charge. Website.
Greenhow Hill, Pateley Bridge (01756) 752780
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THEAKSTON BREWERY
Theakston’s have been brewing traditional Yorkshire ale since 1827. Their beers include Old Peculier, a rich strong dark beer, XB and Bitter. Tours around the brewery, displays, visitor centre and coopers at work. Website.
Masham (01765) 689057
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THRUSCROSS RESERVOIR
Thruscross is the uppermost of four reservoirs situated in the beautiful Washburn Valley. Located in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty this reservoir is surrounded by woodland offering views down the valley.
The name Thruscross derives from the name of the Norse God Thor. The Cross part of the name may have been added after the Viking settlers converted to Christianity.
Before the reservoir was completed in 1966, almost all of the village of West End had to be demolished before being flooded. Much nostalgic interest was created during the dry summers of 1989 and 1990 when the water levels fell so far that the foundations of the village re-appeared.
The Washburn Valley and Nidderdale were important for textile manufacturing, from Norman times until the 1850’s. The availability of raw materials and reliable supplies of soft water caused the industry to grow in importance.
The woodland here is managed to benefit recreation and the habitat of the many varied species that reside here.
SWINSTY RESERVOIR
Swinsty Reservoir, managed by Yorkshire Water sits in the Washburn Valley on the southern side of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Sitting just below Fewston Reservoir and sharing parking and facilities Swinsty offers walking routes for able and disabled visitors to explore the banks of the reservoir as well as Bridleways for Horseriders.
The car park has public conveniences, ample picnic facilities as well as a regular Ice Cream van.
YORK MAZE
Carved out of 1.5 million growing maize plants and covering the area of 15 football pitches,York maze is thought to be the largest maze in the world!!
With a different design every year it is ready to baffle visitors old and new.
Navigate your way around the maze, climb the towers, collect the clues and you may win a prize.
http://www.yorkmaze.com/pages/index.html
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