Wall to wall Spring sunshine, peace & tranquility, wildlife galore, pretty villages, stunning scenery and one of the best Caravan & Motorhome Club sites we have visited so far. All in all we’ve just spent a pretty perfect weekend in the lower Wensleydale area of North Yorkshire.
Our approx. 2 hour journey took us up the M6 to Junc 34 then across to Ingleton, up through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, past the White Scar Caves (visited previously – see our ‘Ingleton’ post), and the impressive Ribblehead Viaduct, through pretty towns and villages such as Burton-in-Lonsdale, Chapel-le-Dale, Hawes and Aysgarth, then finally into Leyburn, where just a mile further down the road into Harmby we turned left at the Pheasant Inn and took the narrow road up to site.
It’s clear to see why it’s important for visitors to adhere to the specified arrival/departure times here as there would be no passing space for two units. Big thumbs up to the Lower Wensleydale Caravan & Motorhome Club Site. It’s a gem. Set in an old disused quarry, which is now well-established with trees and wildlife, including LOTS of rabbits.
From the moment we arrived we were struck by the great welcome and bright smiles from the wardens. They were also very helpful in pointing out the best available sunshine pitches.
It was a busy weekend on site, probably due to the great weather, and yet still so tranquil. Facilities were spot on.
https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/
The Wensleydale Railway, which provides some tourist steam services and special event days, runs from Northallerton to Redmire and passes through Leyburn and along the bottom of the site.
We spent our first afternoon soaking up some much needed sunshine before biking the mile or so along the main road into Leyburn via Harmby.
It’s a thriving market town which is quite big on tourism with a variety of things to do or visit, including many walks and cycling routes.
Rather than list them all, check out this Leyburn Tourist Information vid for a bit of inspiration:-
After some deliberation about food on our first evening (plenty of choices), we finally decided to eat at a gastropub called The Sandpiper Inn in the town centre. Right choice! This places gets great reviews and served us some fabulous food. OK, not the cheapest but worth the money. With happy, full bellies we cycled back to camp for the night and slept likes logs 🙂
The next morning, we awoke to birdsong and, wow, the sun really shone for Suzie’s birthday! After a fried egg on crumpet brekkie, the breakfast of champions, we saddled up for a day out on the bikes.
Check out the link below for our ‘Jolly Wensley’ale Bike Trail’ we put together. Let us know if you try it:- 🙂
The Jolly Wensley’Ale Bike Trail
Obviously drinking responsibly, the main aim was really to visit as many of the surrounding villages as we could in the day but with the added interest of calling into some olde worlde hostelries.
“There is nothing which has yet been contrived by man, by which so much happiness is produced as by a good tavern or inn” ~ Samuel Johnson
With the scenic rolling hills, there was a good balance of ups and downs, the downhills always compensating for the uphill pushes. The final stretch up Harmby Bank is definitely a walker though, unless you’re a real fittie 😀
Next day, another great weekend over, we enjoyed a brew in the sunshine before heading home from the Yorkshire Dales back to Lancashire.
The clocks have sprung forward now for British Summertime so bring on the summer adventures!
ONWARD!>>>>
Suzie & Bri
THE JOLLY MAJESTIC 