A tour of Grassington village in the Yorkshire Dales

Welcome to Grassington – a market town nestled in the beating green heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

With a population of 1,126 recorded in the 2011 Census, Grassington in the Yorkshire Dales seems at first glance to be the quintessential English village.

Yet for nearly 750 years, Grassington has been a market town by Royal Charter. Today, it gently hums with people going in and out of its bookshops, cafes, galleries, craft studios and restaurants.

Set like a jewel in unforgettable limestone scenery, Grassington is around eight miles from the historic – and iconic – Bolton Abbey. Plus, with picturesque villages like Linton, Threshfield, Hebden, Conistone and Kilnsey nearby, it's among fine company.

Grassington is perhaps most famous as the setting for the village of Darrowby in the Channel 5 series All Creatures Great and Small. This contribution to TV history, however, is just the tip of the iceberg.

So, what is there to see and do in Grassington? Let's explore.

Things to see and do in Grassington

The Square

The heart of Grassington is its small cobbled square. The square and its surroundings are home to a wide variety of shops, pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels.

If you're heading out to explore Grassington, start here.

Cafes and tearooms

Visitors searching for coffee, tea and cake are spoilt for choice. Popular options include family-run tearoom The Cake House, the Corner House Cafe and Retreat Tearooms and Bistro.

There's also the Stripey Badger Coffee Shop and Kitchen, serving all-day breakfasts, lunches, cream teas and afternoon teas.

Pubs

There are five pubs in Grassington, each with its own unique charm. Perhaps the most notable is Gamekeepers Inn, a gamekeeper's cottage turned cosy pub.

Food

Hungry? Grassington has you covered. Options range from fine dining at Grassington House to pub grub at the Devonshire to tapas at Plaza Uno.

Museums

Grassington Folk Museum is a must for anyone interested in local history.

This volunteer-run, independent museum tells the story of Wharfedale – the 50-mile-long glacial valley that Grassington calls home.

The museum has a grand sweep: from folklore to period costumes, from the railway to the lead mines, from farming to domestic life.

Grassington 1940s Weekend

As well as its year-round attractions, Grassington hosts regular events. Of particular note is its annual 1940s Weekend.

Each September, the 1940s Weekend turns the town into a bustling recreation of wartime Britain. Centred on the cobbled streets, the event boasts swing bands, vintage vehicles, afternoon tea dances, market stalls and military reenactments.

And speaking of the past, no account of Grassington is complete without reference to its place in TV history.

All Creatures Great and Small

It's not for nothing that Grassington was chosen as the filming location for All Creatures Great and Small, a TV show set in 1940s Thirsk.

Production designer Jacqueline Smith explained the choice: "The nice thing was there weren't any modern houses in the town centre… so we didn't have to change anything completely."

Of course, cosmetic touch-ups were made to make the shop signs look vintage. Meanwhile, aerials, satellite dishes and other modern paraphernalia were cannily concealed to sustain the illusion.

The village's connection to the series, which ended in 1990, draws visitors to the town to this day.

But it's not just the town's heritage that acts as a magnet. It's also its proximity to some of the most beautiful walking trails in the British Isles.

Outdoor and walking trails accessible from Grassington

The area around Grassington is understandably popular among hikers, climbers and other outdoor types.

A mere five-minute walk along the river from the Grassington car park are the dramatically tiered cascades of Linton Falls.

Along the way, you can cross the river using the centuries-old stepping stones and visit the 12th-century Linton Church.

For a more adventurous route, head to the five miles of woodlands, limestone meadows and riverside paths that loop from Grassington to Burnsall. Or try the six-mile walk with panoramic views from Conistone Pie hill.

Also nearby are:

• Well-preserved 19th-century lead mining ruins on Grassington Moor
• Skipton Castle
• The ancient woodland and Iron Age fort at Grass Wood
• And, of course, Stump Cross Caverns
  
  

Here at Stump, we often greet visitors who've made the 10-minute drive – or two-hour walk – from Grassington. Just 65 steps below the surface are the prehistoric, stalagmite-and-stalactite-filled chambers and passageways that make up our limestone caverns.

Getting to and from Grassington

Grassington is eight miles north of Skipton on the B6265. Skipton is the nearest railway station, with trains leaving frequently for Leeds, Bradford and Carlisle.

Drivers can park in the National Park Centre. Meanwhile, buses run from the main square and at the National Park Centre to Skipton, Bolton Abbey and many Wharfedale villages. The 72 bus from Skipton to Grassington takes around half an hour.

A short history of Grassington

Evidence of settlements near Grassington goes back to Bronze Age burial mounds and villages dating from as far back as 2000 BCE.

The town appears in the Domesday Book of 1087 as part of the landowner Gamal Barn's estate. Its name is believed to come from Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian roots and mean either "town of the grassy ings" or "farmstead surrounded by grass".

For centuries, it was an agricultural community and sheep-rearing village. In 1282, it became a chartered market town when King Edward I granted a royal charter for a market and fair.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, Grassington Moor became one of the most productive lead-mining towns in the Pennines. The town and its environs were also home to water-powered textile mills.

As these industries declined in the middle of the 19th century, Grassington pivoted to tourism. This was helped hugely by the construction of the Yorkshire Dales Railway in 1902.

Visitor information

Local trail maps and guides are available at the National Park Visitor Centre right next to the main car park. You can also explore your options at the Discover Grassington website or at the Grassington page on the Yorkshire Dales National Park website.

And while you're in the area, why not visit Stump Cross Caverns to see our ancient caves or grab a bite to eat at our cafe? It's easy to book cave tickets online.



Want more local tips? We share lots of things to see and do in the area, including a guide to the best market towns in Yorkshire.