Discover Middleham

With a history of racehorse training in the town lasting almost 200 years. Hundreds of winning horses are trained in Middleham each year, across the 15 yards.

You can head to the Middleham Gallops and watch the horses training, which is an impressive sight. The view from here of the Castle and surrounding Yorkshire Dales is an impressive sight. Plenty of walks lead off from here.

Every year the Middleham Open Day takes place in April, allowing you to look around the racing yards. There are also activities and displays throughout the day.

Once the childhood home of King Richard III, Middleham Castle was built in 1190, and though the castle is now roofless it is a much-enjoyed ruin to explore.

The keep is one of the largest in England, with 12-foot-thick walls and three floors, palatial at the time! It was built in part to guard Coverdale and protect the road from Richmond to Skipton. The remains still have a viewing platform. With fantastic views over Wensleydale from the viewing platform. Visitors in May or June can see the blue ‘fairy foxglove’ flowers in bloom all over the castle walls.

One of the Yorkshire Dales, Wensleydale is the upper valley of the River Ure.  It is best known for its cheese, the Wensleydale Creamery production is based in Hawes. We had to add this one in, because who doesn’t like cheese?

You will likely have also heard of its two famous ales, the Black Sheep Brewery and the Theakston Brewery in Masham.

East Witton in lower Wensleydale is an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and has a great traditional Yorkshire pub, The Blue Lion.

Leyburn is a pleasant market town with cafes, restaurants, and boutique shops. We do enjoy a trip to Tennants Auctioneers, we hear one of the most respected in the UK.

The waterfalls at Aysgarth Falls, as featured in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, are a 15-minute drive away; this stretch of the River Ure and its 30-metre drop is spectacular.

Known as one of England’s finest mountain biking areas, the Dales have more than 600 miles of bridleways and green lanes to explore.

The roads are also quiet out of the summer season. Take on tough climbs and descents in unspoiled countryside, or why not choose a leisurely bridleway with the family?

There are lots of local options for bike hire, if you couldn’t fit your own in, so don’t feel like you can’t get involved just because you haven’t got your own bike with you. The local bike hire shops have plenty of options to suit all kind of riders, and the staff know the area well so can advise you on routes to take.

With tunnels, chambers, and follies to explore in four acres of countryside, it’s a weird and wonderful day out for all the family. A little tip from the Holiday at Home Team: make sure you’re wearing your waterproofs when heading across the stepping stones! Don’t say we didn’t warn you…

The Forbidden Corner is a great day out for the whole family.