Events In The Yorkshire Dales National Park

With 680 square miles of area it is no wonder that there is so much to see and do within the borders of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The Dales attract around eight million visitors annually and many come for the special events and unique attractions that only the most beautiful of National Parks can boast.

Though the park is big enough, and busy enough, to host a myriad of events all year round, one of the best times to sample a little bit of everything the Yorkshire Dales has to offer is during National Parks Week. Held annually in late July, National Parks Week is a celebration that raises awareness and interest in British National Parks by putting on a full calendar of activities and events for park goers to enjoy.

Events in the Dales include a guided fishing demonstration, a tour showcasing the lead mining trade in Langthwaite, an archeology demonstration and an illustrated talk about the struggle for survival of the famous red squirrel. One of the big highlights is a demonstration session where guests can learn about the lost art of dry stone walling which is a technique unique to the British Isles that is being lost to modern commercial farming.

April is a wonderful month to visit the Yorkshire Dales as the weather is turning warmer with spring truly in the air. April is also lambing season and there are a number of farms in the area, such as Hurries Farm in Otterburn, where guests can book a tour to see the dainty newborn lambs. This kind of tour is fantastic for families with young children and will give even the most experienced country goer an insight into farming life.

Late spring to early autumn means one thing in Dales country, its festival time. From the quirky, like Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival where hundreds of scarecrows mysterious appear in the village along with clues and puzzles, to the traditional, like the Flowers of the Dales Festival where photography and natural beauty are the main draw, the Yorkshire Dales have everyone catered for in the summer months. Add in festival events that cater for music lovers, food critics, art and crafts fanatics and even a book and drama weekend, and it becomes obvious that there is no better place in the country to spend the summer months.

A personal favourite is the Black Sheep Brewery Boots & Beer Walking Festival. After all what more could you want than beer and entertainment on a long weekend in early September?

For those guests of the park who want to sample a little taste of old style Yorkshire living, a visit to one of the many markets in and around the Dales is highly recommended. Many of the towns and hamlets such as Harrogate, Hawes, and Reeth have either weekly or monthly markets or farmers markets which are a great place to pick up some local delicacies.

Simply put the Yorkshire Dales National Park is thriving with events of all types. The beauty of this area is that you never know when entering a town what you will find going on there, but by the time you leave you will have experienced something memorable.