The destination village of the Dales

Grassington is one of the best loved of the many delightful small towns and picturesque villages in the Yorkshire Dales and is fast becoming a destination village due to its attractive location on the river Wharfe surrounded by beautiful open countryside.

Discover a charming community

Amongst the quaint streets there are numerous places to eat, drink, and take in the atmosphere of this delightful community. The charming cobbled square in the centre is surrounded by family owned shops offering quality foods, arts, crafts and gifts making it a perfect location for eating, pottering, people watching or strolling through the narrow cobbled streets.  Catch your breath in a cosy café or have lunch in a traditional pub or family-owned restaurant or simply relax by the river.

A haven for outdoor activities

Not by accident is Grassington one of Wharfedale's most popular villages and a convenient walking base for exploring Wharfedale and Nidderdale, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The area is a haven for outdoor pursuits including horse riding, fly fishing on the River Wharfe and of course moorland and riverside walking, while the nearby show caves of Stump Cross Caverns offer underground adventure.

Heritage and history

However long your visit to Grassington, you'll find plenty of things to do. If you're interested in history, attractions in Grassington include Bronze Age burial mounds, Celtic villages and farms, settlements from the Roman era and mediaeval farmsteads. A visit to the Upper Wharfedale Museum in the square will tell you more about the village's fascinating history.

Glorious vistas and walks

Wharfedale is perfect walking country with walks that will take you past ancient priories and churches, alongside the lovely River Wharfe and across the glorious vistas of the open fell and the natural limestone spectacle of Kilnsey Crag. For the more ambitious, the Dales Way runs from Ilkely through Grassington and across the Pennines with guided walks organised by the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Fabulous festivals

Grassington hosts a number of local festivals including the Dickensian Festival just before Christmas. With its traditional market, Christmas lights and the villagers and visitors dressed in Dickensian costume, the streets are alive with street music and craft demonstrations. The summer Grassington Festival is a popular two week extravaganza; Starting with a carnival parade, the market town comes alive with a colourful fortnight of music, theatre, comedy, film and visual arts.

Fun for everyone

There is plenty to do, making Grassington the perfect family day out:

• Visit the Folk Museum, which is full of artefacts donated by local people, and discover what life was like for them in times gone by
• Take a trip on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam railway and sit back and relax while you enjoy the countryside
• Kilnsey Park is a working trout farm offering you a chance to feed the giant trout. Other attractions include a goat skyway, fly fishing lakes, fun fishing, squirrel and nature trails, a farm shop, deli, restaurant and coffee shop
• Saddle up and discover the dales on a pony trekking experience. The Kilnsey Trekking & Riding Centre boasts that whether you are 4 or 104, they have an activity to suit you
• On rainy days, why not try your hand at pottery painting, for groups of all ages, minimum 8 persons, provide a lasting memento of your visit to Grassington
• Venture underground into Stump Cross Caverns and marvel at amazing rock formations and an underground world of stalagmites and stalactites
• If you're into cycling, the Dales Cycleway will take you through many of the towns and villages in the Yorkshire Dales.