Newkin House

11/06/2025

The walk, right outside our door!

Did you know you can walk the entire length of a river in about an hour? The river is the Bain, one of England's shortest rivers, flowing from Semerwater to Bainbridge. The small village of Bainbridge in the Yorkshire Dales is picture-perfect, complete with a gorgeous village green, old village stocks, beautiful YYorebridge HouseHotel, Rose & Crown pub (its origins are said to go back to 1445), and Low Mill Guesthouse (beautiful conversion).

Visitors have been coming to Bainbridge for a very long time: the Romans called it Virosidum and built a fort east of here. It's easy to see why YYorkshire Dales National Parkhose this lovely spot for their offices.

There's one extra feature in Bainbridge that's intriguing to watch, especially after heavy rain. Using water power is nothing new in the Yorkshire Dales - there were once many water-powered corn, wool and cotton mills here. ​Now water power is again being used as part of some local green energy schemes.

The River Bain may be short but it's actually mighty enough to power a huge Archimedes Screw, about 8 metres long as part of a hydro energy scheme.

The locally-run community power scheme launched in 2011, and I think (someone may know better?) generates enough energy to power around 20 homes. It's quite mesmerising to watch the Archimedes screw in action, pumping water and converting it into electricity. The technology is ancient, simple but effective: it's said to be based on a system once used to take water through the Hanging Gardens of Babylon!

11/06/2025

Only an 8 minute drive from the house!

11/06/2025

We 🫶🏻 Wensleydale

Where do you like to visit in Wensleydale? It's one of the few dales not named after its river, the Ure (Yore on old map). Instead its named after the pretty village of Wensley which used to be a larger market town until the plague reduced its importance. Nowadays many start their visit to the Dales in Hawes, thanks to the fame of cheese from Wensleydale Creamery. The Dales Countryside Museum gives a great overview of life, history and traditions in the Yorkshire Dales. Wensleydale's other well-known market towns include Leyburn and Masham.

England’s shortest river, the Bain links Semer Water to the River Ure at Bainbridge. Visitors love Wensleydale's waterfalls: the best known ones are Hardraw Force, and Aysgarth Falls, with numerous others along the Ure.

You can give your car a rest and enjoy a journey on the Wensleydale Railway which runs from Leeming Bar to Leyburn, near Castle Bolton. Bolton Castle offers a fantastic vantage point from which to admire the Wensleydale countryside. The extensive ruins of Middleham Castle are also worth visiting: the castle was once the home of Richard 3rd. Both castles hold some great living history events.

Wensleydale is also the name of the local sheep breed, known for its lustrous fleece with silky ringlets. You can learn about farming in the Dales at the The Wensleydale Experience or at one of the summer shows such as Wensleydale Agricultural Show

Jervaulx Abbey is a delightful, restful place to explore and where Wensleydale cheese was first made.

Wensleydale's villages have great character and are all quite different from each other: don't miss a trip to Askrigg, Carperby, Wensley, and Aysgarth.

Where are your favourite places to visit in Wensleydale? Where do you like to eat and drink?

Photo: Guy Carpenter

03/06/2025

A lovely tried and tested 3 1/2 km (1hr max) walk around Redmire and Castle Bolton. With gorgeous views of Pen Hill and refreshments at either the Castle Bolton tea room and/or the Redmire Village pub.
Please note the area circled in red doesn’t seem to have access, so follow the route marked.

30/05/2025

Peony season is upon us

02/05/2025

What’s going on in the area next week!

15/04/2025

A lovely thing to do…

25 years ago, the community of Hawes created a mosaic walk to celebrate the millennium - a circular route around the town with 20 mosaics to find along the way. The walk leaflet has now been updated and is available to download here 👇

https://ow.ly/GYkN50VwBL5

29/03/2025

Waterfalls….thousands of em…..(a few spectacular ones near our lovely cottage)

Yorkshire Dales Waterfalls Road Trip 🚗💦

Explore the stunning waterfalls of the Yorkshire Dales, where limestone cliffs, wooded trails, and hidden gorges set the stage for some of England’s most dramatic cascades. This 85-mile route is perfect for a weekend of nature walks and scenic stops.

📍 Ingleton Waterfalls Trail – A circular 4.5-mile walk featuring several waterfalls, including Thornton Force, one of the most impressive in the Dales. 🥾🌿

📍 Stainforth Force 🐟💧

📍 Catrigg Force 🌲🪨

📍 Scaleber Force Waterfall 🌳📸

📍 Janet’s Foss – A fairy-tale waterfall near Malham, with local legends of woodland spirits. 🧚‍♀️🌊

📍 Gordale Scar Waterfall – A spectacular limestone ravine with a waterfall. 🏞️⚠️

📍 Linton Falls 🌁💦

📍 Cauldron Falls (West Burton) 🍃🌼

📍 Aysgarth Falls 🎯

📍 Hardraw Force – England’s highest single-drop waterfall 🏞️🍺

📍 Cotter Force – A gentle, multi-tiered fall, with an accessible path making it ideal for all visitors. 🦋🚶

📍 Cautley Spout ⛰️💧

Total Distance: 🚗 Approx. 85 miles

01/03/2025

A half hour easy yomp with pubs and coffee shop as your reward.

01/01/2025

1 Jan 2025 - Bainbridge and a hint of aurora borealis = Happy New Year!

28/10/2024

The most spectacular rainbow in Bainbridge this afternoon 🌈 shining down on Yorebridge House Hotel, Bainbridge

16/09/2024

Well worth the 4 minute drive!

New opening times for Autumn 🍂 starting from 16th September