Leyburn - Heart of Wensleydale
Clyde House is well situated on the main street just off the market place, on the A684 between Bedale and Hawes
Leyburn is a busy market town in mid-Wensleydale. There is a weekly general market on Fridays and a livestock market on Wednesday and Friday each week. Tennants, the largest auction house in the country, is located just outside the town. The Wensleydale Show, held on August Bank Holiday Saturday, has livestock classes and displays of local handicrafts and horticulture. The Swaledale festival at the end of May and beginning of June incorporates Leyburn and Middleham, featuring music and theatrical events.
The Wensleydale Railway has a regular summer service from Leeming Bar to Redmire (for Castle Bolton) passing through Leyburn featuring special events throughout the year.
There are several castles very close to Leyburn; Castle Bolton where Mary Queen of Scot’s was imprisoned and attempted to escape to Leyburn. Middleham Castle was the former home of Richard III and boasts one of the largest keeps in England. On entry to the town from Leyburn, there is a suspension bridge which was one of the first built in 1829. Middleham is also well known for its large selection of racing stables, which open their yards to visitors on Easter Monday each year.
Jervaulx Abbey, which is only six miles from Leyburn, is the second largest privately owned Abbey in the United Kingdom. Originally founded in 1156 by Cistercian monks, the Abbey was destroyed in the 1530’s during the dissolution of the monasteries. It was here, that the original Wensleydale cheese was first made - it is now produced at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes.
From Leyburn it is easy to visit many National Trust and English Heritage properties, and the historic Towns of Harrogate, Ripon as well as the City of York are all within easy driving distance.
For sports lovers, Catterick Golf Club is a short drive away as are the race courses of Catterick, York and Ripon among others. More details of all of Yorkshires courses can be found at Go Racing.
For the more leisurely minded, we also provide a selection of walking maps of the local area to allow our guests to take the opportunity to explore the beautiful countryside around us. Brigantes Walking Holidays providing walking holidays around the area and have stayed with us in the past, if you prefer a more organised walk.
International award winning photographer Paul Fowlie runs the Red Squirrel Hides in Hawes. He has several hides available for nature lovers to use and also runs one to one workshops, more information on which can be found on his website, Paul Fowlie Photography.