You might know Grassington by another name - Darrowby? This lovely little spot features strongly in the All Creatures Great & Small TV series. There's plenty to explore whether you're a James Herriot fan or not. Park at the Yorkshire Dales National Park centre and then enjoy a leisurely wander up and down its two parallel lanes. Spend a little longer and saunter down some of its little side alleys and you'll discover many intriguing and beautiful historical features. Some of the date stones above the doorways of the old buildings are ancient and ornate. Which is the oldest you've spotted?
Grassington has some excellent little independent shops. I'm always drawn by the hardware shop, convinced they have things I urgently need. Stock up on books at The Stripey Badger Bookshop, Coffee Shop & Kitchen, enjoy refreshments of every kind in the pubs and cafes and see if you can spot which businesses were disguised as other buildings for the TV series. Don't miss a peek inside The Courtyard Pottery.
Grassington Hub helps to create a lovely sense of community. The Grassington Players are an active bunch - do try to catch one of their performances or one of the the other events at the Octagon at the top of the hill.
In the surrounding area you'll be able to spot some of the vestiges of the former lead mining industry, also commemorated in the welcome stone on the cobbled area at the bottom of the hill. The Grass Woods nearby have a wonderful show of bluebells in the spring, and there's a wonderful walk down to Linton. There are some wonderful lynchets to look out for too.
One of Grassington's less savoury claims to fame is as home of the notorious blacksmith Tom Lee. In 1766, he went to a cock fight in Kettlewell with Dr Petty where the doctor won a significant sum of money in a bet. They apparently celebrated at various inns on the way home before Dr. Petty was killed in Grassington Woods. Tom Lee was arrested but there wasn't enough evidence to charge him until a former servant came forward a couple of year later and gave evidence so Tom Lee was arrested again and hanged. There are local stories that he still haunts the area.
Do you have a favourite spot in or near Grassington?
