Ivy Dene Country Guest House, West Witton, Leyburn, Wensleydale

Thank you for your interest in IVY DENE. We hope our web site will be of help to you, and that we may have the pleasure of extending a warm Yorkshire welcome to you in the not too distant future.

Ivy Dene is a large 300-year-old listed Dales cottage in the Wensleydale village of West Witton. Wensleydale, the valley of the river Yore (Ure), is the largest and many consider the most picturesque of the Yorkshire Dales and  Ivy Dene is approximately midway between the famous Aysgarth Falls and the dales town of Leyburn.

The view from the front of the house looks out across the village to the beautiful Wensleydale valley beyond, along which runs the River Ure.

From the back of the house you will see Pen Hill, which separates Wensleydale from neighbouring Coverdale and has a number of well marked footpaths.

The accommodation has been tastefully adapted to provide all the modern comforts while retaining the charm and character of the old country cottage.

The Area Around Ivy Dene

Mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086, West Witton is one of Wensleydale's oldest villages dating back to the 11th century. It is still very much a “working”, mostly farming, village with a friendly and thriving local community supporting two typical Dales pubs, an ancient church and a village green and pond. It has close connections with the James Herriot TV series "All Creatures Great and Small".  Don't miss the "Burning of  Owd Bartle" & Witton Feast every August.

Within easy reach are the charming Dales towns of Richmond, Ripon, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Skipton and York. Castles to visit include Middleham Castle, the childhood home of Richard III, and Bolton Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for a time. Interesting abbeys close by include Fountains Abbey, near Ripley, of particular interest as it is the largest and most complete of the Cistercian abbeys in England.  Hawes and the wensleydale cheese factory ("Wallace & Grommett") is just 12 miles up dale. For those interested in antiques one of the largest auction houses in England (as seen on TV) is nearby, offering regular sales. Bob at Ivy Dene repairs and restores antique clocks and your enquiries about your own clocks or valuations are welcome.

Pony trekking, fishing, golf (there are seven courses nearby), walking the many well-mapped footpaths, climbing, cycling and caving are all activities available in the Dales. If you prefer something a little less energetic, why not just enjoy a picnic in the beautiful Yorkshire countryside before returning to Ivy Dene to rest and relax in the comfort of your room.