The Yorkshire Dales

Designated as one of Britain’s first National Parks in 1954, the Yorkshire Dales National Park covers an area of 680 square miles of some of the North of England’s most breathtaking scenery.

The uniquely magnificent panoramas occur because of the incidence of more than 40 individual ‘dales’ or valleys in the counties of North Yorkshire and Cumbria.

Many individuals from the fields of art and literature have drawn inspiration from the Dales – William Wordsworth and Edward Elgar are known to have spent time here, and of course Alfred Wainwright charted the topography of this wonderful landscape as part of his series of pictorial walking guides.

The Dales are unmatched for the wealth of outdoor pursuits, from walking or cycling through beautiful countryside through to more intrepid activities like paragliding and rock climbing. There is almost certainly something for everyone. Famously,the Dales formed the picturesque backdrop to the start of the 2014 Tour de France.

Unwind

The Dales are perhaps one of the most sparcely populated parts of England. With virtually no light pollution, traffic noise and huge crowds – they present a reflective contrast to major towns and cities, yet are within easy reach by road or rail.

It is the perfect place to completely relax and unwind – letting the senses reinvigorate and awaken to the sounds and sights of nature. Indeed, occasional glimses of the Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis have been seen as far South as the Dales in clear weather conditions.

It was just this appreciation of the beauty of the area and its calmer pace of life that made it increasingly difficult for regular visitors Kate and Ian to leave, inspiring their wish to share their experiences with others by converting Shepherds Cottage into one of the most desirable and comfortable places to stay in the Dales.

Welcome in the Hillside

Shepherds Cottage lies deep in the heart of the northern Dales, halfway between the village of Ingleton with its caves and waterfalls and the quaint market town of Hawes – the home of Wensleydale cheesemaking.

Positioned up a private track off Blea Moor Road – lined with prehistoric limestone pavements, the cottage sits equidistant to each of the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks – Pen-y-Ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, from which the bedrooms take their names.

Lying high up in the Dales on the slopes of Whernside, in the tiny three house settlement of Winshaw, Shepherds Cottage offers tranquility and majestic views over the peaks, valleys, forests and skies. And we mustn’t forget our neighbours – the very many sheep, who also appear quite attached to the area.

For keen walkers, the Dalesway long distance footpath linking Ilkley and Bowness-on-Windermere runs right past our front door, with the northern section of the Pennine Way being just under a mile away from the house.