Richmondshire is full of child friendly villages, with ice cream shops, parks and wide open spaces around every corner, so you’ll never be short of things to do. If you’d like to plan a day trip or two, you could try our section on houses, castles and gardens to visit, or choose from the selection below:
- Billed as ‘the strangest place in the world’, The Forbidden Corner near Middleham is a truly surprising experience. Unmissable for children between 4-10 years old, but also good for older children and adults with a sense of fun. Explore underground caverns and gardens and allow yourself to be surprised by this quirky place. Booking is essential, either direct on 01969 640638 or at Leyburn Tourist Information.
- Did you know the Dales were once home to Rhinocerous and Hyaenas? The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes uncovers the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales, from prehistoric times to the present day. Housed in an imaginative conversion of the old station at Hawes, there are displays of local industry, crafts and farming as well as a fascinating ‘time tunnel’.
- Gayle Mill in Hawes was rescued from obscurity after coming third in the national final of the BBC "Restoration" series in 2004. A tour of the mill shows the development of hydropower through the ages, from an original Victorian turbine to the latest sustainable technologies of the 21st century.
- While in Hawes, you could watch the traditional craft of ropemaking in progress at W.R. Outhwaite & Son, Ropemaker. Visitors also get the chance to try their hand at knots on interactive displays around the workshop.
- The Dales are ideal for mountain biking – being a mixture of Roman roads, monastic highways, mining tracks and drovers roads, many are on gradients that keep you in the saddle rather than off and pushing! General information and routes from www.cyclethedales.org.uk and www.mtbthedales.org.uk. Mountain bike hire for 10 years and over available from Dales Mountain Bike Hire, Reeth, who will also deliver to other areas or Kudu Bikes Ltd, Hawes.
- If you’d prefer to saddle up for a stunning pony ride over the moors, Arklemoor Riding Centre offers short treks or trail rides.
- Or put your feet up and enjoy a horse drawn carriage ride around Hawes or Upper Wensleydale with Driving in the Dales. They offer picnic drives and guided tours. Phone 01969 667728.
- If you have an interest in flaura and fauna, then Fox Glove Covert local nature reserve at Catterick is worth a visit. Home to more than 1700 species, it is most noteable for the wide variety of habitats it contains within a relatively small area. It also provides an opportunity to watch birds throughout the year.
- Smaller children may enjoy the chance to meet and feed or handle kittens, chicks, ducks, goats, and other animals at Hazel Brow Farm, Low Row, near Reeth. There are also small indoor and outdoor play areas.
- To get a feel for life in the area in times gone by, try the Richmondshire Museum near the centre of Richmond. Reconstructed shops from various eras and the set of James Herriot’s veterinary surgery from All Creatures Great and Small are some of the highlights.
- The Green Howard’s Regimental Museum’s collection in Richmond spans three centuries of travel, campaigning and war, including Artefacts and photographs from the Crimean War, the North-West Frontier of India and the Boer War. Archive film of World War I and II form part of the vivid presentation of the 'Green Howards' story in both peace and war.
- Parts of the Dales are accessible using Wensleydale Railways. The lovingly restored 1960s diesel railcars have large windows offering great views – you can even see past the driver to the line ahead. Leyburn, Finghall, and Redmire each have a station, and a vintage bus continues on from Leyburn to Hawes. There are plans for occasional steam trains during the summer months and excursions with bus links to various places of interest.
- Both Leyburn and Richmond have characterful cinemas, showing the latest releases.
Print page
Last updated:
04 June 2008
