Historic Houses

How well do you know this place? Do you associate it with a vast and rich business empire? It's a large site so not all visitors manage to find the 'farewell freedom' spot, or visit the 17th century Fountains Hall, as there's so much to explore.

Recognised as a ‘feat of human creative genius,’ Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal, National Trust in Nidderdale National Landscape became a World Heritage Site in 1986. The abbey was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks from St Mary’s in York who deci…

A naked man, dozens of flowerpots, ancient buildings, dramatic natural beauty, a folly (that isn't really), an enormous 'oven' and the best cheese - where can you find them all? Visit Settle and you'll quickly realise this is no ordinary small town.

Settle's setting is beautiful - it's very close to the Three Peaks and some of Ribblesdale's finest landscapes. You can enjoy a great view from Castleberg. Within the town, narrow ginnels (or gennels or whatever you call them in your area...) thread…

Where have you seen evidence of the Mouseman? I'm not talking about vermin control! This small carved mouse made him famous, and his work is still to be seen in hidden spots through-out Yorkshire and on furniture that now commands high prices.

The 'Mouseman' was ​Robert Thompson, born in 1876. He lived in Kilburn near Thirsk and made oak furniture. A small carved mouse made him famous.

He was carving an altar rail one day, bemoaning his poverty with a colleague, saying they were 'as poor as a …

When I say 'village green', does a children's fairy story picture-book image pop into your head? Perhaps you have a favourite village green somewhere, and a photo you can share? For many they represent a quintessential English scene. The houses and buildings around village greens may vary, but the feel is essentially the same.

There is usually a cluster of houses facing the green and behind them, their gardens or fields, wandering into the surrounding hills. Most have some kind of religious build…

What has a thatched barn got to do with a reservoir? If you wander along the path fringing Grimwith (pronounced Grim’ath) Reservoir, you’ll come to High Laithe, a lonesome cruck barn perched on a mound of grass beside the water.

In Medieval times wooden constructed cruck barns were two-a-penny across the Dales before the great rebuild in the 17th century when they were torn down and rebuilt in stone, often re-using the curved cruck timber in the ceilings. Now they’re a rare sight with their steep…

What links wet feet, The Cure, Wordsworth, Scottish Raiders and the Yorkshire Dales? Have you been to this place and stayed dry?

Is it possible to cross the 60 stepping stones across the River Wharfe without smiling and then cheering as you arrive (possibly) dry-footed at the other side?

Those who choose the less risky route on the nearby foot bridge can't help but look down and smile at the stepping stone crossers, usually with a wry 'they're mad' shake of the head.

It's incredible to realise the …

The lovely hamlet of Arncliffe feels like it's tucked away in its own special time zone, safely distanced from the troubles of the world. The houses around the green mainly date from the 17th and 18th century, some of them quite grand. There are over 20 listed buildings in the village, with some lovely details such as a 1677 date stone or tiny carved hearts on a n otherwise simple barn door.

The village pump still stands on the green. As you wander around, peek through into pretty gardens throug…

Why are we still so fascinated by stories of smugglers? Maybe it's the secrecy, the tax dodging tactics or simply a childlike desire to play hide-and-seek. In Robin Hood's Bay on the Yorkshire coast on a misty day, you can sense the ghosts of the past, imagining a fleeting glimpse of a smuggler disappearing round a dark corner. 

Robin Hood's Bay was said to be the busiest smuggling village on the east coast in the 18th century. A bale of silk could supposedly pass from the bottom of the village t…