 What to See and Do from Kettlewell, Upper Wharfedale
Kettlewell is surrounded by hills and valleys and is ideal for all types of country activities and sightseeing by car. Kettlewell village is famous for its Scarecrow Festival, which takes place for nine days during the third week in August each year.Kettlewell has a Village Store, which sells newspapers, bread, milk and a wide range of food and vegetables, gifts, ice creams etc. and a well equipped "Outdoor" shop selling quality walking and climbing clothing and footwear and a host of associated essentials. Six miles away, in Grassington one can find a Dentist and Doctor, a pharmacist and florist and many other small, independent shops, cafés, restaurants and a charming Museum of Dales Life. In summer the Grassington Festival offers a wide variety of music, art and theatre, whilst December weekends offer the Dickensian Christmas Festival.  Locally find walks for visitors of all ability, superb trout fishing in season and, for the more adventurous, plenty of rock climbing, potholing, fell running and cycling
Kettlewell is within half an hour of Skipton with its street market and Skipton Castle, one of the best preserved medieaval castles in England. Nearby is Malham with Malham Cove, famous for its limestone landscape and setting for Harry Potter film as well as Malham Tarn, which belongs to the National Trust and is a popular Yorkshire Dales beauty spot.
 Nearby, in September, Kilnsey Show is one of England's largest one day Agricultural Shows on one of the most picturesque show fields, ever. Also at Kilnsey is Kilnsey Trout Farm with its red squirrel sanctuary, lake fishing, nature trail and delightful shop and restaurant. Kilnsey Trekking Centre is open all through the summer and takes visitors on horseback on beautiful walks along country lanes and river banks. It is a special favourite for "children" of all ages!
In Wensleydale there are the delightful cattle market towns of Hawes and Leyburn, which have retained a traditional atmosphere reminding visitors of a bygone age. In Hawes you can visit the Rope Maker, The Dales Countryside Museum and Wensleydale Creamery, world renowned for its selection of Wensleydale cheeses. Returning to Kettlewell via Aysgarth, visit the wonderful Aysgarth Waterfalls and the restored mill with its tea room and Aladdin's cave of an antique shop.
 For history lovers there is Bolton Abbey and its Priory Church situated in its picturesque setting by the banks of the Wharfe. Towards Ripon the ruins of the great Fountains Abbey await visitors and not far from there is Newby Hall with its lovely house and gardens. Not to be missed, in Wensleydale, is Castle Bolton where Mary Queen of Scots stayed on her final journey from Scotland to the Tower of London.
Kettlewell is neighbour to many other Wharfedale villages, each with a charm, and almost all with a pub, of its own. The area boasts rivers, waterfalls, fells and limestone landscape, flora, fauna, stone walls and Yorkshire old barns, all to be seen and admired, all set amidst breathtakingly glorious landscapes within a designated "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". |
