If you’re longing for a rural getaway with a quieter pace of life then the Yorkshire Dales is where you’ll find it.
With wild and beautiful countryside it’s the ideal place to escape to for a few days and reconnect with nature, full of gems waiting to be discovered, from dramatic gorges and peaks to equally stunning villages.
Just over an hour and a half’s drive away from Manchester is the small market town of Grassington - although it feels more like a village.
Its cobbled market square feels like it's from another time - in fact Grassington was even used as the backdrop for Channel Five’s All Creatures Great and Small, set in the 1930s.
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A leisurely wander around the square is the best way to take in all the independent shops and cafes which surround it.
The town’s pretty buildings, created from locally-sourced stone, are what make it really special and perfectly suit Grassington’s breath-taking location at the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.
Things to see and do in Grassington
A former mining village, Grassington is full of history and you can discover its past at the Grassington Folk Museum, which occupies two old mining cottages and tells the history of the area.
The River Wharfe flows past the town and is a lovely spot to have a riverside picnic. Around 20 minutes’ walk away from the town centre is the Linton Falls waterfall. Further along are some quaint stepping stones which cross the water.
In the town itself, Chamber End Fold is one of its most beautiful cobbled streets lined with beautiful cottages and is certainly worth visiting.
For two weeks at the end of June Grassington holds its own arts and music festival, which has been running for nearly 40 years and sees the town being transformed into a cultural hub.
It previously welcomed the likes of musician Jools Holland, comedian Ed Byrne and even Michael Parkinson.
Then in December, Grassington hosts the Dickensian Festival, where people dress up as Victorians and brass bands perform in the square, creating the ultimate Christmassy atmosphere.
If you want to tie up your hiking boots and embark on a walk in the Yorkshire Dales, the National Park Visitor Centre in Grassington is a great place to start.
Places to visit nearby
Grassington is a 20 minute drive away from Grimwith Reservoir, which has a circular walking route you can follow around water, or pack a picnic and just enjoy the views (it’s important to note swimming is not allowed in the water).
The beautiful Parcevall Hall Gardens are also a 20 minute drive away, featuring woodland walks, formal terraces and a rose garden.
Around a 30 minute drive away is Malham, a village which is home to Malham Cove, a limestone pavement featured in Harry Potter; Gordale Scar, a limestone gorge and Janet’s Foss waterfall.
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