Chapel-le-Dale is an appealing choice for a country cottage holiday. This small hamlet in
North Yorkshire is located very close to some famous landmarks in the region and is a lovely setting for a
Yorkshire cottage holiday. It’s a terrific base for families interested in walking or mountain biking and it’s also an area for potholing. As you tour the countryside, look out for goats that make their home in the local fields. These are no ordinary goats but the Old English goat breed, once very popular but now extremely rare in Britain. Enjoy browsing for rural retreats and country cottages in this part of Yorkshire.
Hints and Tips on Cottage Holidays in Chapel-le-Dale
This part of Yorkshire is excellent walking country. Walkers come to this area for many challenges, such as The Three Peaks, in which all three summits of Ingleborough, Whernside and Penyghent beckon. However, if time is limited (or stamina!), you could attempt just the one hill. Wonderful views are the just reward. Another established walk is the 4.5-mile Ingleton Waterfalls Trail. This passes through Chapel-le-Dale and leads to scenic Dales views, crashing waterfalls and ancient woodland full of oak trees. Most famous of all, the
Pennine Way passes through the top of the hamlet. Of course, this is a major undertaking in its entirety, but lots of people pick out a section to join that suits their circumstances. If you plan to do a lot of walking you might want to rent a
cottage with a hot tub or
sauna, to guarantee plenty of opportunities to relax tired muscles at your home from home.
One fascinating place to visit on your self-catering break and a place of special interest to railway enthusiasts, is Ribblehead Viaduct. Crossing the River Ribble, it is classed as an ancient monument and is a Grade II listed building. It certainly is a magnificent structure and there was a price to pay for its 24 huge stone arches. Hundreds of workers lost their lives during its construction. This is commemorated in Chapel-le-Dale’s St. Leonard’s Church (another Grade II listed structure). St. Leonard’s dates back to the late 1600s and was built from local limestone. The Nave has a memorial dedicated to the men who died whilst working on the viaduct and also those who died when constructing the Settle-Carlisle railway line.
Train lovers have a particular fondness for the Settle-Carlisle line and staying in Chapel-le-Dale is ideally suited for boarding at Ribblehead Station. The station has been restored and has a visitor centre with information on the local railway’s history and a shop selling memorabilia. Diesel trains operate on the line every day and steam trains (book in advance for these) run less frequently.
You don’t need to be a potholer to explore some of the local caves. Show caves, with lighting and paths and a guide to lead you, are open to the public and are a safe way of getting to know the landscape. Learn how the stalactites and stalagmites have formed over millennia (and which is which!) and marvel at the beauty in this strange underground world. White Scar Caves is the longest show cave in the UK and it takes about an hour and twenty minutes to walk its full length. Ingleborough Cave is another well-known cave and there is a concrete path for ease of walking.
Chapel-le-Dale encompasses everything that’s good about Yorkshire rural life. You can get away from it all and enjoy age-old attractions along with modern, comfortable amenities and good quality local produce. Rent a country cottage in Chapel-le-Dale for warm memories of North Yorkshire.
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Chapel-le-Dale, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in North Yorkshire.
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