Masham, North Yorkshire

Of course, Masham is the home of Yorkshire brewing, with its two award-winning breweries: Theakston’s and Black Sheep. Take a brewery tour, sample their ales and enjoy some good food at either of the breweries – make sure you pick up a bottle to take home as well (call it a souvenir)

Must-visits in the daytime are coffee and cake at Johnny Baghdad’s Cafe on the Square, and in the evening the acclaimed tasting menu at creative restaurant Where’s The Smoke is excellent. The Bruce Arms and The White Bear which adjoin the town’s breweries are all great options for something to eat.

Masham’s market takes place every 1st Sunday of the month from April to October offering a fantastic range of Yorkshire stallholders who are all extremely knowledgeable and passionate about their produce offering farmhouse baking, bread, cured meats, organic veg, hand-made fudge, plants, handmade walking sticks, soaps, honey, cheese, herbs and lots more. Come and eat seasonally inspired dishes sold by inventive ‘kitchens’.

After an evening sampling Yorkshire’s finest ales, dust off the cobwebs the next day and explore the intriguing landscape beyond, with Hackfall Woods nearby, full of curiosities and follies with hidden structures that have been scattered throughout or the mystical stones of the Druids Temple, one of Yorkshires quirkiest 19th century follies tucked into the woods by the nearby village of Ilton.

There are plenty of walking and cycling trails alongside the most tranquil picnic spots, with stunning views over the Leighton reservoir, surrounding moorland and the Yorkshire Dales landscape. The kids will enjoy a days’ adventure in the woods, followed by a treat at Brymor Ice Cream, while the adults may prefer a spot of grandeur at the nearby Swinton Estate, where you can relax and enjoy an award-winning afternoon tea, a wellness massage or learn to cook at their cookery school.