Is the market town of Masham, with its famous Black
Sheep & Theakstons breweries, delicious beer sausages,
restaurants, glass-blowing workshop, sweet shop, and
autumn sheep and steam fairs. There is also Ripon, the
oldest city in Britain; home to a busy racecourse and a
cathedral, three rivers and a
canal, a Thursday market, a
swimming pool and a pretty park,
and a hornblower who blows his
horn every night from the four
corners of the city square. Just
outside of Ripon are countless
places to visit - such as
Lightwater Valley theme park, Newby Hall (a fine Adam
house and gardens, still a family home); Fountains Abbey,
with its deer park and Studley Royal; and the natural
formations of Brimham Rocks, Stump Cross Caverns and
How Stean Gorge, not far away at Pateley Bridge.
Are the cities of Durham with its university and cathedral;
York, with its Roman and Viking history; Newcastle; and
Leeds, with its Corn Exchange, Victoria Quarter, Royal
Armouries museum, art gallery and Playhouse. Between
Harrogate and Leeds visit Harewood House, still a
privately-owned stately home. Head south-west to
Skipton, ancient market town with canal and castle. Or, if
your pursuits are more rural, head for Ampleforth and
spectacular Sutton Bank and the White Horse; or the
other way, to Wensleydale and Hawes, to Middleham -
former home of Richard III and now a major horse-racing
town; or to gorgeous Kettlewell, home of the summer
scarecrow contest; or to Aysgarth Falls... well, we could
go on.
Are the villages of Kirkby
Malzeard and Galphay.
Both villages easily
walkable. Kirkby has a
newsagent, doctor's
surgery, butchers, an
excellent chip shop with
Pizzza, Greek and Italian
food, garage, a public
house with a restaurant in
the Queen's Head. There
are both Anglican and
Methodist churches in
Kirkby Malzeard.
Footpaths lead directly off
the farm, and there are
plenty of lovely walks,
including bridle paths and
green lanes. We provide
a map of the farm and
indicate footpaths for you.
Grantley Arms at Grantley
or Galphay Inn at Galphay
are good places to eat.
South is the charming
Victorian spa town of
Harrogate, with its wide
green Stray, Betty's tea-shop,
theatre and cinema, antiques
quarter, Valley Gardens, and
modern shops and cafes.
Close to Harrogate is
Knaresborough, perched on
a hill above the river, where
you can take a boat out
under the viaduct. 30 minutes
north, on the other hand, will
take you to Thirsk - James
Herriot's hometown with its
racecourse, or the county
market town of Northallerton.
Or take a gentle drive
through the nearby Dales,
taking in the dozens of pretty
villages with beautiful walks,
country pubs and tea-rooms.