Burton in Lonsdale is a small village at the western edge of North Yorkshire, close to the borders with Lancashire and Cumbria. At the time of the Norman Conquest, Burton (Borctune) was part of the manor of Whittington and owned by Tostig – who was slain at the Battle of Stamford Bridge. Its castle, locally known
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Bolton Abbey is an estate about 6 miles east of Skipton that is owned by the Cavendish family, the Dukes of Devonshire. Much of it is open to the public (there is a charge for parking), offering the opportunity for a dip in the river in good weather, as well as miles of family-friendly picturesque
Brimham Rocks is an area of weird and wonderful rock formations formed from deposits laid down in a river delta some 320 million years ago and then subsequently eroded by ice and water. It is a site of special scientific interest (SSI) and a magnet for geologists, naturalists, climbers and walkers, as well as families
Hardraw Force is England’s highest unbroken waterfall above ground. Allegedly, it featured in the scene in the film, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), in which Kevin Costner in the title role bathes naked under a waterfall. Hardraw Force can only be visited in safety via the Green Dragon Inn in Hardraw, where you will
The Battle of Stamford Bridge, near York, was a significant battle on 25 September 1066, between King Harold’s English army and an invading force of Norsemen under Harald Hardrada and Tostig Godwinson, Harold’s brother. The Norsemen, camped on the east bank of the River Derwent, where the current village is, were attacked from the west
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The Bronte Parsonage Museum in Haworth is a focal point for all Bronte fans. The Bronte family moved to Haworth in 1820, when Patrick Bronte was appointed ‘perpetual curate’ of the parish church. They lived in the Parsonage, where the three immensely talented sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne – wrote some of the finest
York Minster dominates the City of York, literally (it is allegedly the largest church in northern Europe) and spiritually. The Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter in York is the seat of the Archbishop of York, Bishop of the Diocese of York and the second highest cleric in the Church of England after the
The Freddie Gilroy statue, full name Freddie Gilroy and the Belsen Stragglers, is an enormous twice-life-size steel sculpture of a former brick maker and miner on Scarborough’s North Bay. It was created by Ray Lonsdale, a friend of the subject. Freddie Gilroy, when a young man, was one of the first Allied troops to enter
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St Oswald’s, Thornton in Lonsdale, is originally a Norman church built by the Mowbray family on the site of an Anglo-Saxon predecessor. The handsome tower is 15th century and the building was rebuilt 1933-35 after a fire. Inside are monuments dating from the 17th century and a 12th century slab possibly commemorating the 4th Baron
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Yordas, or Yorda’s, Cave (confused it shouldn’t be with Joda) is a naturally formed limestone cave in the Yorkshire Dales. It became something of a showcave during the 18th and 19th centuries and is a popular place to visit for walkers and holiday makers now – as well as serious cavers. At times of heavy
Castle Howard is an 18th century Baroque stately home in North Yorkshire, one of the grandest and most over the top in England, with 145 rooms and set in 1,000 acres of gardens and parkland. It is owned by the Howard family, and has been for over 300 years. The house was started for the
Ingleborough is one of the Yorkshire Dale’s Three Peaks (the others being Whernside and Pen-y-Ghent) and the second highest at 2,372 feet (732 metres). There are good paths to the top from most directions, the most popular being from Horton in Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Ingleton and Clapham. Ingleton and Clapham offer good parking and a selection
