The Great Outdoors

Walking

Shepherds Cottage is located right next to the long distance Dalesway footpath, linking Ilkley with Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District. The famous Pennine Way passes through the area, at just under a mile away.

The cottage is uniquely situated equidistant to the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside – making ours the perfect destination for a Three Peaks Challenge. Whether you decide on conquering all three in a day or over a longer period, you can be assured that one of our full English breakfasts will set you up for the job.

For those who prefer to talk a more leisurely approach to walking, there are any number of routes available right outside the front door, about which Kate and Ian will be happy to advise.

Cycling

Yorkshire was proud to host the start of the 2014 ‘Grand Depart’ for the Tour De France. This gave rise to the annual Tour of Yorkshire cycle race, attracting competitors from around the World.

For those wanting to take cycling to a serious competitive level, there is the demanding Cyclo-Cross Challenge, setting off from nearby Helwith Bridge each September, in which entrants race up and down each of the Three Peaks on their bikes, before returning to the start line at nearby Helwith Bridge. Not for the faint hearted.

The relatively quiet open roads in the Dales give cyclists the perfect opportunity to explore this wonderful countryside.

Natural Wonders

Caves and Caving

The Northern Dales are home to some of the most spectacular cave networks in Britain.White Scar Cave is just a short from Shepherds Cottage and gives visitors the chance to marvel at the underground chambers, stalagtites and stalagmites that formed there millions of years ago in the limestone rock that pervades the area.

For those wanting to take subterranean adventures down to the next level, special arrangements can be made for intrepid visitors to be winched down 198 metres to the floor of nearby Gaping Gill, the deepest open cave in the Dales, believed to have a larger capacity than York Minster.

Rivers and Waterfalls

There is no shortage of mesmerising natural beauty spots in the Dales. Small wonder that the likes of Elgar and Wordsworth and others were inspired to great artistic works from their time spent here.

Ingleton Waterfalls Trail has nine uniquely beautiful falls, with the quaint village of Clapham having a slightly shorter trail of its own. Hardrow Force, by the Wensleydale market town of Hawes, is one of the tallest falls in the country and is well worth a visit.

Just a few miles south of the cottage is Stainforth Force on the River Ribble, an idyllic setting for a picnic in the summer months.

Things to See and Do

Places to See

Shepherds Cottage is within only a mile of the famous Ribblehead Viaduct, the building of which was dramatised in the ITV series ‘Jericho’. The viaduct represents the greatest built feature of the Settle to Carlisle Railway, along which regular passenger services cross, with occasional steam locomotives passing in the summer – a true sight to behold.

The remains of Bolton Abbey are a short drive from Winshaw, next to the famous stepping stones across the River Wharfe.

There are literally too many places to list here and a short drive or walk from Shepherds Cottage will reveal many beautiful and panoramic vistas across the forty or more Dales and some of the most delightfully unspoiled villages and settlements.

Dales Towns and Villages

Ingleton

Some six miles from the cottage, with a fine selection of pubs and restaurants, Ingleton is home to one of the country’s few remaining public outdoor swimming pools, set in woodland overlooking a gorgeous riverside walk – considered to be one of the most picturesque settings for a lido in Britain. There is also the beautiful Ingleton Waterfall Trail.

Pepes Ristorante is a tiny and extremely friendly place to enjoy authentic Italian food, lovingly created by the Salerno born owner. Pepes pizzas are arguably the most delicious outside Naples.

Hawes

Nine miles away from Shepherds Cottage is this bustling market town. A number of good pubs, restaurants and cafes are to be found here, together with gift shops, furniture shops and fine antique dealers.

Hawes is home to the Wensleydale Creamery visitors centre, with its museum and information on the cheese making process, together with the on sight shop with a mind boggling selection of cheeses and other artisan produce and wines.

For dining out on special occasions, we would recommend a visit to the magnificent Simonstone Hall, currently working towards Michelin star recognition. The dining rooms here offer spectacular views across the landscaped gardens and above Hawes across Wensleydale.

Settle

The southern gateway to the Dales, this pretty market town has a good selection of shops, including a Booths supermarket, galleries, banks, cafes and restaurants to suit most palates and budgets.We believe that Settle is home to the best fish and chip shop in the country – ‘The Fisherman’, but that is only our opinion – you will have to judge for yourself.

Dent

This quintessentially Dales village seems locked in time, with its narrow cobbled streets and old fashioned pubs and welcoming restaurants.

Dent is the perfect place to embark on a walk through enchanting Dentdale – with its rolling hills and stunning railway viaducts – and the riverside settlement of Cowgill.

Farther Afield

Shepherds Cottage is ideally situated for touring some of the nicest parts of the North of England.

The following are just some of the other places that can be reached, well within an hour’s drive.

  • The Lake District
  • Harrogate
  • Kirkby Lonsdale
  • Morecambe
  • Grange-over-Sands
  • Cartmel
  • Richmond
  • Sedbergh