Wensleydale: home of the famous cheese & much loved attractions
Wensleydale is one of the few dales not named after its river, the Ure. It’s named after the pretty village of Wensley which used to be a larger market town until the plague changed its fortunes.
Wensleydale’s best-known market towns are Hawes, Leyburn and Masham. England’s shortest river, the Bain links Semer Water to the River Ure at Bainbridge. Visitors love Wensleydale's waterfalls at Hardraw Force, Aysgarth Falls, Whitfield Gill Force and West Burton. Wensleydale has many popular attractions.
The Dales Countryside Museum is a great starting point for any trip to the Dales, giving an insight into the area's history, traditions and life of farmers and former lead miners.
The Wensleydale Creamery draws visitors in search of cheesy delights. Visitors can give their car a rest and enjoy a journey on the Wensleydale Railway which runs from Leeming Bar to Redmire, near Castle Bolton.
Bolton Castle, in the contrarily named village of Castle Bolton, is a fantastic vantage point from which to admire the Wensleydale countryside and you can learn more about farming at Wensleydale Experience.
Jervaulx Abbey is a delight, a lovely restful place to explore. Monks brought their sheep-farming prowess, ultimately creating great wealth for the area through the wool trade.
Wensleydale is also the name of the local sheep breed, known for its lustrous fleece with silky ringlets.
It's still easy to find very tranquil places to rest and admire the scenery, such as on the Buttertubs Pass, in the small villages strung along the route of the Ure, and in the many smaller, lesser-known Dales just off Wensleydale.
Discover Wensleydale's stories and attractions
