Our local area

Historically, Richmond is the main town of Richmondshire - an area which roughly covers both Swaledale and Wensleydale and extends, in modern terms, a little to the east of the A1. As a government district, this goes back at least to the Norman Conquest when these were the ‘lands of Count Alan’, granted by the Conqueror to his cousin in an attempt to control the north of his new kingdom.Richmondshire remained a local government district until 2023. 

Today, Richmond remains at the heart of the local area - especially Swaledale and the villages between Richmond and the Tees. This is a beautiful rural area with so much to discover and enjoy and Richmond makes the perfect base for exploration, with County Durham only a short way north as well.

Heading west you’ll venture into Swaledale and Arkengarthdale and discover perhaps the wildest and most unspoilt landscapes in Yorkshire, a land of rugged beauty with villages that seem engrained in the landscape. Many of the settlements here have names dating back to Viking times, while more recent history can be seen in the remains of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century lead mines. The Swale flows through traditional hay meadows surrounded by hillsides covered in miles of drystone walls and dotted with carefully preserved stone barns. The meadows are best seen in the early summer months, when the wildflowers are in full bloom. Museums in Reeth and Keld are stuffed with fascinating detail about this unique landscape.

Wensleydale, south of Swaledale, has a gentler aspect. Bolton Castle, ancestral home of Richard III’s loyal Scropes, is not to be missed, while Hawes offers the impressive Dales Countryside Museum and the tasty delights of the Wensleydale Creamery. It’s a great area for waterfalls - Aysgarth Falls, Hardraw Force and Cauldron Falls to name a few.

Head north across the Tees to discover Barnard Castle, with its sturdy eponymous ruins and the surprising Bowes Museum. Close by you will also find the newly-restored Auckland Palace, seat of the Prince Bishops of Durham, or stately Raby Castle.

Here’s some information about attractions just a short (and generally picturesque) drive from Richmond, as well as information about local villages.