Askrigg Cottage Holidays

31/10/2026

Happy Halloween 🎃 it's very atmospheric in Wensleydale today with mist in the valley bottoms. Askrigg is under there somewhere 😄

21/10/2026

Good morning and it's a lovely start to the day here in the Yorkshire Dales

09/10/2026

Good morning and here's our favourite autumn tree to kick start your weekend

07/10/2026

Semerwater is a magical place, tucked away in it's own little valley and about 10 minutes drive from our holiday cottages. Very popular with wild swimmers

Hidden in tiny Raydale close to Wensleydale, Semerwater is much loved by walkers. There's a footpath from the lake foreshore, or you could follow the footpath along one of England's shortest named rivers - River Bain which meanders over a couple of miles to Bainbridge. By the time it arrives there, it's powerful enough to turn an Archimedes Screw and produce enough power for many of the houses in the village.

Semerwater attracts countless photographers and artists, including Turner who visited and painted here in 1816. Folk singers and poets have seized on some of the legends associated with the lake. Sir William Watson penned the Ballad of Semerwater (see below).

The story goes that a beggar visited a thriving city and asked for food and shelter but was rejected. He was finally given both at a small nearby cottage but in the morning he put a curse on the city: “Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink and bury the town all save the house where they gave me meat and drink.”

It's hard to think which city this might have been for it's quite remote, but it is said that a village lays on the bottom of the lake and occasionally you may hear the sounds of bells ringing from its ancient church. The cottage in the story is reputedly at Low Blean. There are other stories of giants fighting the devil across the lake, throwing stones at each other - including the large Carlow Stone (also known as the Devil's Stone) you'll see on the foreshore.

In 1937 when the water level was very low, excavations uncovered an iron-age settlement on what is now the bed of the lake. A late Bronze Age Spear head was also found on the shore of the Lake.

There's now another reason to visit - to see the stunning contemporary art exhibitions (check opening times) at Thorns Gallery.

The Ballad of Semerwater by Sir William Watson
Deep asleep, deep asleep,
Deep asleep it lies,
The still lake of Semerwater
Under the still skies
And many a fathom
Many a fathom
Many a fathom below,
In a king’s tower and a queens bower
The fishes come and go
Once there stood by Semerwater
A mickle town and tall;
Kings’s tower and queen’s bower
And the wakeman on the wall.
Came a beggar halt and sore:
“I faint for lack of bread!”
Kings tower and queen’s bower
Cast him forth unfed
He knocke’d at the door of eller’s cot,
The eller’s cot in the dale.
They gave him of their oatcake,
They gave him of their ale.
He cursed aloud that city proud,
He cursed it in its pride;
He has cursed it into Semerwater
There to Bide
King’s tower and queen’s bower,
And a mickle town and tall;
By glimmer of scale and gleam of fin
Folk have seen them all.
King tower and queen’s bower,
And w**d and reed in the gloom;
And a lost city in Semerwater,
Deep asleep till Doom

07/10/2026

If you love the Yorkshire Dales and would like a closer understanding of how it really feels to live in an upland farming community like Keld or Muker, this brief programme on Radio 4 is a must-listen, with James Rebanks' wonderful soothing voice as part of the narration. It's a warm insight into everyday lives, history, farming, community, being a human, enjoying nature's calendar, loving the landscape and animals, with different perspectives.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0032ghl

04/10/2026

Would you like to de-stress and relax in Askrigg in the Yorkshire Dales?

We have the perfect pet-free cottages for couples or up to 4 in the heart of our welcoming village and no need to use the car once you’re here. Come and enjoy a well-deserved autumn break in peaceful surroundings with autumn in full-swing- we still have availability this autumn and Christmas in Minnie’s Cottage and limited availability in Urlay Nook Cottage, both in Askrigg in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and limited availability in Urlay Nook Cottage.

Minnie’s Cottage is a 5 star Gold Award holiday cottage specifically for couples, with an Inglenook fire, king size bed and stunning views of Wensleydale. Urlay Nook is also 5 star Gold Award sleeping up to 4 with an open fire, super-king en-suite and twin room with separate bathroom and parking. They are pet free so no need to worry if you have pet allergies.

We have 3 great pubs-The Crown Inn, Middle House Askrigg and the Kings Arms Askrigg (the Drovers pub in the original All Creatures Great and Small), a micro-brewery with tap room at the Yorkshire Dales Brewing Company Limited, a deli and coffee shop at The The Bake-Well, Market Place (all home cooked and delicious), a well-stocked village shop Sykes House Village Store and B&B, and an artisan craft and gift shop at Heather & Grouse with all items handmade by local artists.

Here are some ideas with either no or minimal use of your car so that you can just park up and enjoy your stay;
• Low and/or high level walks from the door taking in riverside, meadows, waterfalls, woods, moors and wildlife
• Marvel at the dark skies with the amazing starscape right outside your door
• Visit Wensleydale Ice Cream about 5 minutes drive away for ice cream made on the farm, hot snacks and toasties and excellent Farrers coffee and tea
• Take a short walk to Bainbridge along the old railway track just over a mile away for afternoon tea at Yorebridge House Hotel
• The Little White Bus is a mainly volunteer run and regular bus service so you can visit the nearby market towns of Hawes and Leyburn-full of independent and interesting shops-make an early start on your Christmas shopping (dare we say that or is it too early?) or use it for getting to or from your walks and trips
• Add to your waterfall collection with Aysgarth Falls, Cotter Force, Hardraw Force and West Burton Falls all within about 10 minutes drive
• Enjoy a relaxing pint and meal in our pubs-there really is no need to cook but the cottage is fully equipped if cooking is your thing. Our village shop, Sykes House Village Store and B&B is well stocked and you can order meat from Hammonds, the local butcher, to collect there. Or get a takeout meal from the The Bake-Well, Market Place
• Catch the Little White Bus to the train station at Garsdale and let the train take the strain on the famous Settle-Carlisle Railway
• Learn more about the Dales way of life at the Hawes Dales Countryside Museum and get your cheese fix at The Wensleydale Creamery
• Visit Bolton Castle, a magnificent 14th-century fortress that offers a remarkably intact look into medieval life and royal imprisonment and is about 10 minutes drive away
• Once you have booked you also have access to our app which includes plenty more places to visit, lots of information and 14 detailed walks with maps for you to follow-these are very popular with our guests.
• You don’t need to worry about refuelling your car when you get here-there are petrol stations a mile away at Bainbridge, 2 miles away at Woodhall, 4 miles away at Aysgarth, 6 miles away at Hawes and 12 miles away at Leyburn and the fuel prices are competitive

Everyone needs a bit of calm in their lives just now and we have plenty of that to share. These are just a few suggestions but we are always happy to provide you with more.

You can see up to date availability, prices and book direct on our website including short breaks, you can email us on [email protected] or you can call us on 01969 650022

03/09/2026

We're looking forward to this on 17th September 😍

15/08/2026

Some fantastic scarecrows at Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival yesterday. This is the last weekend to see them this year. The village looks great and there's plenty of hospitality to be had. Well done Kettlewell and thank you.

10/08/2026

On a sunny day in August it would be rude not to pop for an ice-cream just down the road at Wensleydale Ice Cream, only 5 minutes drive from our two 5 star Gold Award holiday cottages in Askrigg. We had black cherry, blackcurrant cheesecake, rum and raisin and Just Jersey between us and all were delicious. As a bonus you also get a very fine view of Wensleydale and Ladyhill. With plenty more flavours to choose from, which is your favourite? We might have to try a few more to decide😁🍦🍨

01/08/2026

Happy Yorkshire Day 🤍