Food & Drink

Most cars whoosh along the A65 between Long Preston and Clapham with no idea of the delights they're missing at Feizor. It's a small hamlet tucked away down a narrow meandering lane away from the rush of traffic. The lane takes its time curving this way and that, petering out into a track after Feizor as if it just couldn't bear to leave.

You might wonder why Feizor even exists, it's such a tiny place? It's said that it was once owned by the monks of Fountains Abbey and was a stopping point on …

You may recognise this place? It's a tiny hamlet packed with interest, right in the middle of the Yorkshire Dales. Perhaps you've seen it on TV, or walked through it?

It's Yockenthwaite, which features as Helen Alderson's family home in the TV series of James Herriot's All Creatures Great & Small. It's by the river Wharfe in lovely Langstrothdale.

There are some beautiful walks through Yockenthwaite, including the Dales Way, and other shorter routes towards Cray or onwards to the historic and very…

Ever wondered about the original of pub names? Go to a pub and you're continuing a tradition that probably started in Roman times, when they developed a network of sort-of-inns to offer refreshment for workers and travellers. The King of Wessex apparently established legal ale houses in the 7th century but the main contributors to the English pub were monks.

The Romans were the first to paint signs outside buildings to indicate the profession of the inhabitants. The large illiterate population de…

There are some places that are so special, I'm in two minds about sharing them. Betty's Vintage hut is one of these. Over the years I’ve carried out a lot of ‘research’ into special places for afternoon teas. The Waldorf, Langham, Café Royal in London, grand country house hotels, beautiful gardens, stately homes – you name it, whether it was for work (I’ve been paid for writing about cake – it’s an actual job…!) or pleasure, I’ve tried quite a few places.

Some have beautiful settings but disappoi…

Bones in the market place, an odd name, plenty of beer, sheep and creative people - where? Masham - it’s ‘peculier’…

The ‘peculier’ bit doesn’t relate to its folk (although…) but to medieval times when the Archbishop of York couldn’t be bothered to travel to Masham to oversee its affairs. So Masham was designated a ‘peculier’ with its own court and government. It’s now better known as the home of Black Sheep Brewery and Theakston Brewery, which created Old Peculier beer.

Masham’s other claim to fa…

Are you worth your salt? A ‘salt of the earth’ character or do you ‘take things with a pinch of salt’? Read on to find out why we use those expressions…

Salt has had a huge impact on our diets, language and even the landscape. The Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors are both criss-crossed by ancient paths and pannier-ways, once used to transport salt from the Yorkshire and Cumbrian coast.

Salt’s been used for thousands of years. A 6000 year-old Neolithic saltworks was recently found near Whitby.…

If you venture into the woods near Ilton & Masham, you're sure of a big surprise... a Stonehenge-like structure known as Druids' Temple. It's a curious folly in a somewhat hidden location, much loved by children in search of an adventure.

The stones aren't as huge as those at Stonehenge but they are more accessible and intact. The 'main ring' has an impressive entrance which leads to a double circle of large stones, many over 8 feet tall, and at the back there's a dark gloomy 'Tomb of Transformat…

If you had to choose Seven Wonders of the Yorkshire Dales, what would they be?

My suggestions change all the time. At the moment they’re:

1. The Swaledale hay meadows

2. Gordale Scar and the limestone pavements

3. Settle to Carlisle Railway and Ribblehead Viaduct

4. The miles and miles of dry stone walls and field barns - can't decide on my favourite location but Littondale, Arkengarthdale and Wensleydale all come close

5. Jervaulx Abbey

6. The Middleham to Kettlewell road, and countless spots along …