The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of upland moors, interspersed by a number of west/east river valleys (the dales). Over a million years ago, ice flowing off the Pennines carved out the dales
|
|
|
The two best known dales are Swaledale and Wensleydale. The moors are bleak and wild and windswept and magnificent. The dales are patterned with drystone walls. Castles and monasteries dot the countryside. The villages contain sturdy grey stone cottages, and Georgian houses from the prosperity brought by lead mining and sheep.
 |
 |
 |
Towns like Richmond with its 11 century castle, the ruins of the great Cistercian abbey of Jervaulx, the remote market town of Hawes and Hardrow Force, the ruins of the lead mines, Castle Bolton where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for 6 months, the Roman fort at Bainbridge. A varied and interesting selection of places to visit
 |
 |
Return to Yorkshire Yorkshire page