Wet Day? No Problem

 Wet Day?  No Problem.

It no good pretending that you won't have an odd wet day when you are visiting the Yorkshire Dales.  Its the rainfall that makes the dales so green, it fills the crystal clear rivers & streams and allows the waterfalls to rush and gush and splash.

 But if the rain is streaming down the window when you are staying with us and its plainly impossible to be outdoors, here are some ideas of where to go and what to do.

The market town of Hawes in Wensleydale has two excellent indoor attractions.  Dales Countryside Museum tells the story of the people and landscape of the Yorkshire Dales.  It is family friendly with free entry for under 16s.  There's lots of exhibitions and hands on events to suit all the family.  The Firebox Cafe serves homemade / home cooked fare.  The Dales Countryside Museum is all-round good fun and good value.  Another great place to visit in Hawes is the Wensleydale Creamery where the famous Wensleydale cheese is made.  The Wensleydale Experience includes witnessing the cheese making process and watching demonstrations plus a stroll round the Cheese shop where you can sample over a dozen different cheeses / flavours (my favourites are Wensleydale with Cranberries and Abbots Gold).  Under 16s go free at weekends and school holidays so once again, great value.There is a quality gift shop, the bistro / cafe or the Kit Calvert Restaurant for simple refreshments or a very good meal. 

The Station at Richmond

Down dale from both Pry House Farm (50 minute drive) and Hillcrest Cottage (30 minute drive) is Richmond.  Richmond is home to The Georgian Theatre which is the most complete Georgian Theatre in Britain.  Book a Theatre Tour to explore backstage, under the stage, the dressing rooms and see some of the original scenery and stage props.  It will be The No 1 experience of your trip.  The Richmondshire Museum is another great venue for a rainy day.  Once inside, this seemingly little building will amaze you - its a real Tardis!  It has a street layout with a shop, post office, chemist etc and a Veterinary Surgery, infact the very one that was used in the BBC tv All Creatures Great & Small series.  There are exibitions about the Home Guard, lace making and lead mining. You will find a cruck house and a model railway of Richmond Station.  Again, good family entertainment - under 16s go free.  Richmond Station is no longer a railaway station but instead has been lovingly restored and is now The Station at Richmond.  It houses a 3-screen cinema, restaurant, galleries and several independent shops & businesses.  If it stops raining and you fancy a walk Richmond Station is the starting point for a lovely, level, circular walk along the old railway line to Easby Abbey.  See a previous blog post here https://pryhousefarm.blogspot.com/2021/11/circular-walk-from-richmond-station-via.html  Still raining and need to burn off some energy?  Next door to The Station is Richmond Swimming Pool.  Newly refurbished and in a stunning position by the River Swale, its glass walls allowing the outside in. This makes for a very relaxing swimming experience.

At the top of Swaledale and only a five minute drive from Pry House Farm is the village of Keld. For a tiny village there is a lot going on!  Keld Resource Centre is responsible for The School Museum and the Keld Countryside & Heritage Centre.  The School Museum building was, until 1973, the village's 2 room school. The School Museum is packed full of interesting artefacts many of which have been donated by locals.  There are exhibitions and displays in the The Heritage Centre and is the base for a large programme of events.  Have a look at their events page as there may be a talk or craft workshop that you could enjoy.  Keld has two cafes;  Keld Green cafe and Rukin's Tearoom. 

And after the rain?  Go puddle jumping.  Gaze in wonder at the waterfalls.  Take a dip!