Reeth

Reeth is a market town in Swaledale and is probably best known for its large and airy village green which truly is the centre of life in this popular village. It is here that you will find the village bonfire on Bonfire Night, numerous events for The Swaledale Festival in May and June, the weekly market on Fridays and much more throughout the year.

The village is centred around the green with a good mix of houses, pubs, restaurants, tea rooms and individual craft and art galleries plus walks in abundance in whichever direction you choose to go including the long distance Coast to Coast walk. The River Swale is famous for its beauty and there are many well-signed walks along its banks.

Swaledale and Arkengarthdale which is much less well known are the two most northerly dales in the National Park and have scattered villages in dramatic scenery, many of which date from Viking times when they were established-the local dialect here is very similar to the Norse from which it derives.

The history of the area, as for much of the Yorkshire Dales, is one of agriculture, lead mining and hand knitting which you can see in the landscape and also the quaint Swaledale Museum in Reeth. There is also a strong artistic heritage which you can find first hand in the numerous high quality craft shops and galleries in the area.

The Swaledale Festival is held for 2 weeks in May and June and is a programme of music, arts and walking in the Yorkshire Dales. For The Guardian and the Daily Telegraph, it's one of the best festivals in the country; for the Yorkshire Post it's "the perfect marriage of local and international artists". It certainly punches above its weight and you never quite know what is going to be on offer, but it is a mix of artists who perform in some fabulous settings in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.