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'Information for visitors to the Yorkshire Dales
National Park village of Reeth.'
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'Swaledale in Yorkshire is a little
country in itself. Once there, shut
in by barriers of hills, you are
satisfied: shrouded in its mystery,
the rest of the world seems
unimportant and unreal.' - Ella
Pontefract, 1934.
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Reeth, which in Saxon times
was only a settlement on the
forest edge, but by the time
of the Norman Conquest it
had grown sufficiently in
importance to be noted in
the Doomsday Book.
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Later it became a centre for
hand-knitting and the local
lead industry was controlled
from here, but it was always
a market town for the local
farming community. It's
eighteenth-century houses
and hotel clustered around
the triangular village green
make it one of the honey
pots
of the Dales. |
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Reeth lies where
two of North
Yorkshire's
finest dales
meet. The most
northerly of
these is
Arkengarthdale,
which is
relatively
unexplored and
one of the more
tranquil dales.
The other,
Swaledale, is
formed from
gentle slopes as
the meandering
Swale winds its
way to
Richmond.
Reeth, at the
juncture of
these two dales,
is at the heart
of Swaledale. It
has a large
village green
where
traditional
events and
markets are
often held. |
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Reeth is a
popular place
with visitors to
the Dales, and
has many tea
rooms in which
you can relax,
perhaps after a
stroll along the
river, and
interesting
craft shops
producing
traditional,
high quality
products. |
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In the 18th
Century Reeth was the
capital of the lead mining
industry. Its history can be
traced in the Folk Museum,
which houses exhibits
illustrating the life and
traditions of Swaledale, and
outlining the principle
theme of lead mining. Reeth
was the capital of this
industry, with a population
of 1460 in its heyday.
Cheaper foreign imports
doomed the Swaledale
companies and by1885, the
area was already converting
to the idyllic farming
community that we see today. |
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Nearby is Grinton
with its Norman
church, the
Jacobean-style
pulpit, "Lepers
Squint" and stained
glass are worth
inspection. |
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Walkers will be
fascinated following
the ancient ‘Corpse
Way’, which may
still be picked out
running from Grinton
to Keld, at the head
of the Dale. Because
this was the only
consecrated ground
at the time, the
dead were carried
here in wicker
baskets along an
ancient track. |
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The
scattered
villages in
their
dramatically
beautiful
settings,
all have
stories to
tell. The
hardy sheep
here have a
pedigree
that dates
back to the
time of the
Viking
settlers and
may be seen
wherever you
travel
throughout
this lovely
dale. |
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There are
fine walks
to be found
all over the
area,
varying in
length from
gentle
strolls
along the
Swale paths,
to day long
routes,
taking the
energetic to
the summits
of Great
Shunner
Fell, Lovely
seat and
Addlebrough. |
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Richmond, Barnard Castle,
Leyburn and Hawes are all
within half an hours drive,
and there is no shortage of
eating houses in Reeth to
enjoy after a long day’s
walking or sightseeing. |
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Market Days in the
Area |
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Monday: |
Darlington |
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Tuesday: |
Hawes |
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Wednesday: |
Northallerton &
Barnard Castle |
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Thursday: |
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Friday: |
Reeth & Leyburn |
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Saturday: |
Richmond, Darlington
& Northallerton |
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This picture taken
from Fremington Edge
shows the whole
village and the
River Swale in the
distance |
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The area is rich in
natural beauty and
wildlife but it also
has tremendous
architectural,
agricultural and
industrial heritage.
Agriculture thrives
with the Swaledale
sheep providing
wool, and the cows,
milk for the famous
Wensleydale cheese.
There are many local
crafts in Swaledale
and the nearby
Wensleydale and
these crafts are
illustrated at
museums in Reeth and
Hawes. |
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Good walking
(including the Coast
to Coast path) can
be found amidst
magnificent scenery,
caves and
waterfalls. The
River Swale is
famous for its
beauty and there are
many well-signed
walks along its
banks.
Visit the historic
castles of Richmond
(11 miles), Castle
Bolton, Middleham
and Jervaulx Abbey.
Travel West over
Tail Bridge to the
market town of
Kirkby Stephen,
South over the
Buttertubs pass to
Hawes or North over
The Stang to Barnard
Castle. |
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Race-goers are well
catered for at
nearby Catterick,
Thirsk, Ripon or
York. Mountain bike
hire is also
available locally. |
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As well as the
Yorkshire Dales the
Buck Hotel is well
located for visiting
the Lakes, North
York Moors and East
Coast |
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Central for many
walks in the
Yorkshire Dales National
Park (www.yorkshiredales.org.uk),
Reeth is situated on
Wainwright's Coast to Coast
Route (www.coast2coast.co.uk),
the Dales Way, adjacent to
the Pennine Way and Mark
Reid's famous Inn Way
includes The Buck Hotel in
the village (www.innway.co.uk).
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There are many
mountain biking
routes around Reeth,
including the Dales Cycle
way. Hotels in the village
can provide secure lock-up
facilities for residents'
bikes, and
bike
hire can be arranged locally.
Dales Mountain Biking also
arrange accompanied
inclusive tour packages or
tailor made programmes. |
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Why not try a
horse riding
holiday? Contact Jane Baker
at the
Arklemoor riding centre
on 01748 88473 |
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Alternatively keen
digital photographers
could enhance their skills
and enjoy Swaledale at the
same time. |
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Professional
landscape photographer Garry
Brannigan runs courses and
workshops based at The Buck
Hotel and visiting locations
in beautiful Swaledale. To
find out more about his
one-day workshops and
four-day residential courses
see
http://www.thedigitaldawn.com |
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There are
many places to stay in and
around Reeth including four
well-appointed Hotels, The
Black Bull, The Kings Arms,
The
Buck and the
Burgoyne, each offering a
high standard of Bed and
Breakfast accommodation.
Guest Houses and holiday
lets are very popular in the
village. Details of all
these can be found on our
Accommodation
page. |
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'A guide to the Yorkshire Dales
area of outstanding natural beauty.'
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The Yorkshire Dales National Park
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The Yorkshire Dales National Park
lies between the Lake District in
the west and the North York Moors in
the east. it was designated as a
National Park in 1954.
Covering an
area of approximately 1,769 km/683
square miles, the Yorkshire Dales
National Park boasts some of the
finest scenery in the North of
England. The name 'Dales' comes from
the Scandinavian 'Thal' and refers
to valleys in the area made boggy by
rivers flowing down from the Pennine
Hills.
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The distinctive natural features of
the Yorkshire Dales were shaped by
the melting of glacier ice, eroding
the limestone and sandstone rocks
some 300 million years ago. This
created crags, hills, caves and
expanses of fissured rock pavements,
valleys and waterfalls. Lead mining
began in Roman times and continued
into the 19th century. Quarrying for
the high quality limestone, the
clearing of woodland and building of
villages, farmsteads and low stone
walls so distinctive of the area,
are the man made features of the
Dales. The Yorkshire Dales
National Park offers visitors
opportunities for many outdoor
pursuits including walking,
climbing, horse riding, bird
watching and caving. For
archaeologists there are many
fascinating discoveries to be made,
as this area has been inhabited
since Roman times. Naturalists will
find the area rich in bird and
wildlife, flora and fauna. The
Yorkshire Dales is an area of
beautiful scenery, interesting towns
and villages and many historic
attractions to visit. |
View
Reeth in a larger map
The Two Dales of Swaledale and
Arkengarthdale
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Grinton
&
Fremington |
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The village of Grinton is 1 mile
south east of Reeth where the green
fertile land of the lower dale
starts to change to the more rugged
upper dale. The name Grinton means
'the green pasture' in Old English.
The first known reference to Grinton
is in 1086. |
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The church, dedicated to St. Andrew,
is a very ancient structure, and has
lately undergone many repairs; the
windows, which are much corroded by
time, are beautifully ornamented
with stained glass. The living is a
vicarage, in the patronage of the
King. There were fairs formerly held
here, but owing to its decreasing
population they were transferred to
Reeth.
The Bridge at Grinton crosses the
River Swale and is a popular launch
for river expeditions by canoe and
kayak. The river is also popular for
fishing. Historically, it was at the
first place above Richmond where the
river could usually be forded. This
crossing place was vital for the
transport of lead by pony from the
many mines & mills in Swaledale.
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Grinton Lodge Youth Hostel overlooks
Grinton and is the
Impressive former shooting lodge.
Set in its own grounds with
magnificent views of Swaledale it is
an ideal location for groups looking
to explore the Two Dales area.
The Bridge Inn in Grinton serves
good food and beer and is across the
road from a fine old house and the
medieval church, which unlike the
pub doesn't have a sheep on the
roof! |
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Fremington is the
next village through Grinton, almost
joined to Reeth and Grinton. It is
split into Low Fremington which is
built along the B6270 and High
Fremington which is a scattering of
houses running up towards Fremington
Edge. Take a walk through the field
between Grinton Bridge and Reeth and
you will come across the old village
cornmill, driven by the Arkle Beck.
On investigation you will find a
very impressive wooden wheel still
complete in it's housing which is
now used as a barn. |
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Healaugh
and Low Row |
Healaugh (pronounced
"hee-law")
is a small
village just through
Reeth on your way up
Swaledale and lies
about 1 mile west of
Reeth.
The
name Healaugh is
derived from a Saxon
word (Heah)
meaning a high-level
forest clearing.
The
village is small,
with no amenities
except a stone
trough fed by a
hillside stream, and
the village
telephone box. The
latter is unusually
well endowed, with a
carpet, waste paper
bin, ash tray,
directories and
fresh flowers.
Visitors may leave a
donation.
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Low Row is your
next stop up the Dale towards
Gunnerside and Muker. The Coast
to Coast long distance walk
passes close to the village but,
For the less adventurous, there
are many walks in the area, from
a gentle stroll to something
more challenging.
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Hazel Brow Organic
Farm and Visitor Centre in Low Row
is open from the end of March to the
end of September each year (closed
Mondays and Fridays except Bank
Holidays). Their completely organic
café (the first in the county?)
offers home-made cakes and scones,
as well as a good selection of hot
and cold food and drinks. They also
have supervised animal handling
sessions (very popular with
children), craft activities, walks,
seasonal demonstrations and more.
Well worth a visit!
Oh yes, slow down
through the village and watch out
for the Cows! |
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The village does have
a pub, The Punch Bowl, has been
re-developed and offers superb food,
excellent ale and great hospitality. |
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Langthwaite |
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Langthwaite is a
small village in Arkengarthdale -
famous as being seen in the opening
title shots of the popular BBC TV
series "All Creatures Great and
Small", based around the books of
the famous Yorkshire vet James
Herriot. |
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The Red Lion Free House in the
centre of the village referred to as
the 'capital' of Arkengarthdale, and
which has featured in numerous films
and television series over the
years, with abundant photos inside
the pub. The pub doubles up as a
tourist information centre and shop.
A bit of a honey pot in the tourist
season but worth a visit. Bar meals
and Black Sheep Beers available.
A little further up the Dale and the
scenery changes above the tree line
to one of open heather bound
moorland. The impressive Stang
Forest can be found on the road to
Barnard Castle with excellent
opportunities to explore. The CB Inn
and world famous Tan Hill Inn,
Gt.Britain's highest, can also be
found on your travels up
Arkengarthdale. |
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