42-695: Wharfedale ( / ˈ hw ɔːr f d eɪ l / WHORF -dayl ) is one of the Yorkshire Dales . It is situated in North Yorkshire and forms the upper valley of the River Wharfe . Towns and villages in Wharfedale (downstream, from west to east) include Buckden , Kettlewell , Conistone , Grassington , Hebden , Bolton Abbey , Addingham , Ilkley , Burley-in-Wharfedale , Otley , Pool-in-Wharfedale , Arthington , Collingham and Wetherby . Beyond Wetherby,
84-555: A lower rainfall total than areas to the west. It is also subject to more fog and frosts in winter than other areas because of the tendency of cold air to drain into the vale from surrounding higher ground. Beneath the drift deposits of the Vale of York lie Triassic sandstone and mudstone, and lower Jurassic mudstone but these are completely masked by the surface deposits. These deposits include glacial till, sand and gravel and both terminal and recessional moraines left by receding ice sheets at
126-676: A major area for caving in the UK. The word dale , like dell , is derived from the Old English word dæl . It has cognates in the Nordic / Germanic words for valley ( dal , tal ), and occurs in valley names across Yorkshire and Northern England. Usage here may have been reinforced by Nordic languages during the time of the Danelaw . Most of the dales are named after their river or stream (e.g., Arkengarthdale , formed by Arkle Beck ). The best-known exception
168-599: A mobile-device software app for those who wish to explore the relevant areas. In this primarily agricultural area, tourism has become an important contributor to the economy. In 2016, there were 3.8 million visits to the Yorkshire Dales National Park including 0.48 million who stayed at least one night. The park authority estimates that this contributed £252 million to the economy and provided 3,583 full-time equivalent jobs. The wider Yorkshire Dales area received 9.7 million visitors who contributed £644 million to
210-669: A road over Stake Moss into what is now the village of Bainbridge in Wensleydale. The Anglo-Saxon influence remains in modern times, with most settlements in Upper Wharfedale having Anglo-Saxon derived names. The name of the valley is derived from the principal river that flows through it: the Wharfe, which comes from the Old English Weorf or Old Norse Hverfr , with both taken as meaning winding river . The River Wharfe starts at
252-543: Is Wensleydale , which is named after the small village and former market town of Wensley , rather than the River Ure , although an older name for the dale is Yoredale. River valleys all over Yorkshire are called "(name of river)+ dale "—but only the more northern valleys (and only the upper, rural, reaches) are included in the term "The Dales". The Yorkshire Dales are surrounded by the North Pennines and Orton Fells in
294-568: Is a broad area of flat land in northeast England. Common misconception extends its borders from the River Tees in the north to the Humber Estuary in the south. However, the true Vale of York occupies the central portion of this region. The Vale of Mowbray lies to its north, and the Humberhead Levels border it to the south. York lies in the middle of the area. As part of Great Britain,
336-721: Is drained southwards by the River Ouse and its tributaries, the Ure , the Nidd and the Foss . To the east of the area the River Derwent drains southwards into the Ouse. There are also frequent stream courses and drainage channels which link with the main rivers crossing the vale. Many of these watercourses are maintained and managed by local internal drainage boards to ensure sustainable water levels are kept across
378-569: Is evidence of villas, forts, signal stations and roads constructed by them. The vale suffered badly from the Harrying of the North when King William I devastated the northern counties of England to punish the population for their resistance to his conquest. Later, in the English Medieval period, manors and villages were established with open fields, some of which survived until the inclosure acts of
420-649: Is in the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust has a remit to conserve the ecological condition of Wharfedale, Wensleydale , Swaledale and Nidderdale catchments from their headwaters to the Humber Estuary. The Wharfedale valley was cut into the shape we know today during the last ice age (the Devensian Glaciation ). The valley was transformed into its classic U-shaped state between 18,000 and 12,000 years ago by
462-559: Is particularly visible in the south-west in features such as Malham Cove . It is overlain in many areas by the Yoredale Series of alternating weak shales and hard limestones and sandstones, which give the dales their characteristic 'stepped' appearance. Most of the dales contain rivers, and the area contains seven primary catchments : the Swale , Ure , Wharfe , Aire , Nidd , Ribble , and Lune . There are several notable cave systems in
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#1732844248095504-580: The Discover England websites, for example, were using the tagline "Discover 'All Creatures Great and Small' in Yorkshire". The dales are U- and V-shaped valleys, the former enlarged and shaped by glaciers , mainly in the most recent Devensian ice age . The underlying rock is mainly Carboniferous Limestone , which results in a large areas of karst topography, in places overlain with shale and sandstone and topped with Millstone Grit , although to
546-569: The Nidderdale AONB , but without the towns listed above apart from Settle. The lower reaches of Airedale and Wharfedale are not usually included in the area, and Calderdale , south of Airedale and in the South Pennines, is not often considered part of the Dales (even though it is a dale, is in Yorkshire, and its upper reaches are as scenic and rural as many further north). Additionally, although
588-453: The Trip Advisor site include Aysgarth Falls , Malham Cove (scenic walking areas), Ingleborough (hiking trails) and Ribblehead Viaduct . The DalesBus service provides service in the Dales on certain days in summer, "including the Yorkshire Dales National Park and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". In summer, these buses supplement the other services operating year-round in
630-537: The Washburn Valley whose tributary streams and rivers feed into the larger valleys, and Barbondale , Dentdale , Deepdale and Garsdale which feed west to the River Lune . The characteristic scenery of the Dales is green upland pastures separated by dry-stone walls and grazed by sheep and cattle. A survey carried out in 1988 estimated that there were just over 4,971 miles (8,000 km) of dry-stone walling in
672-594: The Yoredale series. In the lower part of Wharfedale, around Ilkley and Otley , the underlying stone is mostly millstone grit, which can be seen best at the Cow and Calf rocks on the south side of the valley on Ilkley Moor . The Bramley Almanac for 1931 lists 'Earthquake in Wharfedale' for 15 December 1859. As an electoral subdivision Wharfedale is a ward in the north east of the City of Bradford metropolitan borough . It consists of
714-555: The historic boundaries of Yorkshire . The majority of the dales are within the Yorkshire Dales National Park , created in 1954. The exception is the area around Nidderdale , which forms the separate Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty . The landscape of the Yorkshire Dales consists of sheltered glacial valleys separated by exposed moorland . The predominant rock is Carboniferous Limestone , which
756-546: The 18th century. During the English Civil War , between Royalists and Parliamentarians, the Battle of Marston Moor was fought on land to the west of York. The soils, formed from glacial till, sand and gravel are generally fertile and nearly all the land is in arable use growing large areas of wheat, sugar beet and potatoes. There is a steady move away from livestock rearing and dairy farming. The city of York tends to dominate
798-655: The Dales. Tourism in the region declined because of restrictions implemented in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and into 2021. Later in 2021, the volume of visits was expected to increase as a result of the 2020 TV series All Creatures Great and Small , largely filmed within the Dales. The first series aired in the UK in September 2020 and in the US in early 2021. One source stated that visits to Yorkshire websites had increased significantly by late September 2020. By early 2021,
840-648: The National Park includes the Howgill Fells and Orton Fells, they are not usually considered part of the Dales. Most of the larger southern dales – Ribblesdale, Malhamdale and Airedale, Wharfedale and Nidderdale – run roughly parallel from north to south. The more northerly dales – Wensleydale and Swaledale – run generally from west to east. There are many other smaller or lesser-known dales such as Arkengarthdale , Bishopdale , Clapdale, Coverdale , Kingsdale , Littondale , Langstrothdale , Raydale Waldendale and
882-504: The Vale of York generally has cool summers and relatively mild winters. Weather conditions vary from day to day as well as from season to season. The latitude of the area means that it is influenced by predominantly westerly winds with depressions and their associated fronts, bringing with them unsettled and windy weather, particularly in winter. Between depressions there are often small mobile anticyclones that bring periods of fair weather. In winter anticyclones bring cold dry weather. In summer
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#1732844248095924-543: The Wharfedale Glacier, though this was cutting through a channel that had already had a river draining water away to the east through what is now Wharfedale, and also to the north through what is now Bishopdale and then Wensleydale . Evidence of human settlement has been found dating back to Neolithic times and the valley has plenty of artefacts relating to the Celtic , Roman and Anglo-Saxon periods. The Romans built
966-698: The Yorkshire Dales. Many upland areas consist of heather moorland, used for grouse shooting from 12 August (the Glorious Twelfth ). Much of the rural area is used for agriculture, with residents living in small villages and hamlets or in farmsteads. Miles of dry-stone walls and much of the traditional architecture have remained, including some field barns, though many are no longer in active use. Breeding of sheep and rearing of cattle remain common. To supplement their incomes, many farmers have diversified, with some providing accommodations for tourists. A number of agricultural shows are held each year. Lead mining
1008-567: The anticyclones tend to bring dry settled conditions which can lead to drought. For its latitude this area is mild in winter and cooler in summer due to the influence of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic. Air temperature varies on a daily and seasonal basis. The temperature is usually lower at night and January is the coldest time of the year. The vale is in the rain shadow of the Pennines so has
1050-523: The area, including the longest system in the United Kingdom, the Three Counties . Agriculture and other land management has significantly affected the appearance of the Dales, through the creation of pastures and meadows for livestock grazing and moorland for red grouse shooting. Dry stone walls and field barns are characteristic of the valley floors, particularly Wensleydale and Swaledale in
1092-612: The confluence (at the hamlet of Beckermonds) of the Oughtershaw Beck and the Green Field Beck, each of which originates at the Pennine watershed, some 4 miles (6 km) north-east of Ribblehead . The valley roughly follows a south-easterly direction, providing a border between West Yorkshire (on the south side) and North Yorkshire. Between Oughtershaw Moss and Wetherby, the valley runs for 50 miles (80 km). The uppermost part of
1134-516: The economy. Visitors are often attracted by the hiking trails, including some that lead to waterfalls and picturesque villages and small towns. These include Kirkby Lonsdale (just outside the area), Hawes , Appletreewick , Masham , Clapham , Long Preston and Malham . The 73-mile-long (117 km) Settle–Carlisle line railway, operated by Network Rail , runs through the National Park using tunnels and viaducts, including Ribblehead. The top-rated attractions according to travellers using
1176-474: The end of the last ice age. The Escrick moraine extends across the vale from west to east and the York moraine, 8 miles further north, forms a similar curving ridge from York eastwards to Sand Hutton. To the north of these ridges are deposits of clay, sand and gravel left by a glacial lake. There are also areas of river alluvium consisting of clay, silt and sand deposited by the main rivers and streams. The Vale of York
1218-523: The most renowned painters of the Victorian era, John Atkinson Grimshaw , portrayed the area in his piece, "Moonlight, Wharfedale" (1871 – oil on card 17 + 1 ⁄ 2 by 13 + 1 ⁄ 2 inches [44 cm × 34 cm]). He is known as one of the best and most accomplished nightscape and townscape artists of all time, and this painting is a prime example of his mastery. J. M. W. Turner also visited and painted scenes around Otley and Ilkley. Turner
1260-457: The north and west of the Dent Fault the hills are formed from older Silurian and Ordovician rocks. The underlying limestone in parts of the Dales has extensive cave systems, including the 54-mile-long (87 km) Three Counties System , making it a major area for caving in the UK. There are over 2500 known caves; some are open to the public for tours. Visitors can try caving at one of
1302-689: The north, the Vales of York and Mowbray in the east, the South Pennines in the south, and the Lake District and Howgill Fells to the west. They spread to the north from the market and spa towns of Settle , Skipton , and Harrogate in North Yorkshire, to the southern boundary in Wharfedale and Airedale . Natural England define the area as most of the Yorkshire Dales National Park with fringes of
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1344-553: The north. Wensleydale cheese is a particularly famous product from the region. The dales are popular for hiking, and are crossed by the Dales Way , Pennine Way , and Coast to Coast long-distance footpaths . The Yorkshire Three Peaks is a walking trail entirely within the area which takes in its three highest mountains: Ingleborough (723 m (2,372 ft)), Whernside (736 m (2,415 ft)), and Pen-y-ghent (694 m (2,277 ft)). The extensive cave systems are
1386-556: The river valleys although some significant areas remain on the lower reaches of the River Derwent. The drier land in the Vale of York, away from the river valleys, would have been extensively cleared for pastoral farming and small scale cropping before the Roman era. The area around York was significantly influenced by the Romans who established their legionary fortress of Eboracum there. There
1428-521: The settlements of Burley-in-Wharfedale , Burley Woodhead and Menston along with surrounding moorland. The population of the ward taken at the 2011 Census was 11,836. In 2017, in consideration of regional geography , the Church of England changed its subdivisions and re-grouped the Deanery of Wharfedale with that of South Craven , in order that the similar regions can work together more effectively. One of
1470-447: The show caves: White Scar Cave, Ingleborough Cave or Stump Cross Caverns near Greenhow. The systems include: 54°16′N 2°05′W / 54.267°N 2.083°W / 54.267; -2.083 Vale of York The Vale of York is an area of flat land in the northeast of England . The vale is a major agricultural area and serves as the main north–south transport corridor for Northern England . The Vale of York
1512-478: The vale economically and is a centre for tourism, retail, commerce, light engineering and food processing. The University of York and its associated science park are also major economic assets. The A1 and A19 trunk roads pass through the vale carrying traffic in a north–south direction and a number of other major roads radiate from York. The East Coast Main Line railway connecting London with Edinburgh traverses
1554-478: The vale. The landscape is generally low-lying and flat although minor ridges and glacial moraines provide some variations in topography. Where there are dry sandy soils there are remnants of historic heathlands and ancient semi natural woodlands. There are some large areas of conifer plantation, mainly Scots Pine , on the infertile sandy areas. Arable fields dominate the land cover of the area and grasslands are infrequent. There are very few flood meadows left along
1596-573: The valley is known as Langstrothdale. Below Beckermonds the river is known as the River Wharfe. Wetherby is traditionally seen as the foot of Wharfedale, even though the river continues on through the Vale of York . The valley has been used largely for agriculture, and is now criss-crossed with stone walls and stone barns that evidence its use down the centuries. The geology of the valley is split, with Upper Wharfedale consisting of carboniferous limestone of
1638-411: The valley opens out and becomes part of the Vale of York . The section from the river's source to around Addingham is known as Upper Wharfedale . It lies in North Yorkshire and the Yorkshire Dales National Park . The first 15 miles (24 km) or so is known as Langstrothdale , including the settlements of Beckermonds , Yockenthwaite and Hubberholme , famous for its church, the resting place of
1680-482: The writer J. B. Priestley . As it turns southwards, the Wharfe then runs through a green and lush valley, with limestone outcrops , such as Kilnsey Crag , and woodland, generally quite unusual in the Dales. Below Addingham, the dale broadens and turns to the east. This section is shared between North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire and includes the towns of Ilkley, Otley and Wetherby. The northern side of Lower Wharfedale, opposite Ilkley, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Otley,
1722-609: Was commissioned to paint Kilnsey Crag , which he created as an oil painting in 1816. The valley was featured in episode three of the BBC Two series, The Yorkshire Dales . Yorkshire Dales The Yorkshire Dales are a series of valleys, or dales , in the Pennines , an upland range in England. They are mostly located in the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire , but extend into Cumbria and Lancashire ; they are entirely within
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1764-481: Was common in some areas of the Dales in the 19th century, particularly during 1821 to 1861, and some industrial remains can still be found, such as the Grassington miners' cottages. Certain former mining sites are maintained by Historic England . The Grassington Moor Lead Mining Trail, with its many remaining structures, has received funding from a variety of sources. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority provides
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