Location and Local Attractions

Aysgarth is in the centre of the Yorkshire Dales National Park in Wensleydale, the widest of the northern Dales. The main National Park Information Centre is sited near Aysgarth waterfalls, where you will find excellent information about the geology of the area. There is easy access into the neighbouring Dales of Wharfedale and Swaledale and the smaller Nidderdale, Malhamdale, Bishopdale, Langstrothdale, Arkengarthdale and Teesdale.

Apart from the outstanding natural beauty of the landscape we have an historic record going back to the Iron Age and the Romans. The fields retain traces of prehistoric settlements, Iron Age and Roman forts and roads, and the remains of lead and stone mining. The moors separating the Dales are some of the best grouse moors in the country. There are Abbeys at Jervaulx, Richmond, Rievaulx, and the World Heritage site of Fountains.

Castles at Barnard Castle: Richmond: Skipton: Richard the Third's Middleham: Castle Bolton, home of the Scroops and once prison to Mary Queen of Scots: Eggleston near Barnard Castle. Historic towns of Richmond: Ripon with its impressive cathedral: Skipton and York.

Museums at Hawes, Reeth, Richmond and the Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle. Waterfalls at Aysgarth: West Burton: Hardraw, which has the longest single drop in England.

Caves at Ingleton, White Scar, an ice age cavern with underground waterfalls, streams and thousands of stalactites is England's largest cave.

Shopping at York and Harrogate. Gardens at Harrogate's Valley Gardens and the RHS gardens at Harlow Carr. There is an Arboretum at Thorpe Perrow near Bedale.

Fishing; Fly for trout and grayling and Coarse. Bird watching at Malham and Gouthwaite.