2012 Yorkshire Signpost Magazine

Issue 14 - 2012

Annual Publication - The Ultimate County Guide

Historic Houses | Town GuidesNatural History | Gardens | Museums | Tourist Attractions

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CONTENTS

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County Signpost

Welcome to the 2012 of the Yorkshire CountySignpost Tourist Guide. We would like toextend a sincere thank you, to all our advertisersand contributors past and present for their support.

We hope that you find our guide, a pleasure toread, both interesting and informative, and thatyou will take it away with you, to use again andagain.

We offer a taster of the visitor attractions andevents within the County, for both locals andthose who wish to visit from afar.

For a free downloaded pleasevisit our new map-driven,

County Signpost LtdCounty Signpost LtdTelephone: 01743 874098Telephone: 01743 874098

Email: [email protected]: [email protected]

Attractions

The Open Air

Museums & the Arts

Historic Buildings

Published by: County Signpost LtdEditor: Adam Davison

For a free download please visitour map-driven,

online magazine website www.countysignpost.co.uk

All material in this magazine is, as far as we are aware, correctat the time of printing. County Signpost Ltd does not acceptany responsibility for errors or inaccuracies which slippedthrough. Copyright County Signpost Ltd 2012. No part ofthis magazine may be used or reproduced without the writtenpermission of the publisher.

Please mentionYorkshire Signpostwhen visiting any ofthe attractions.

cover photograph Westerdale © Mike Kipling

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To be featured in our next edition -To be featured in our next edition -please email the editor.please email the editor.

In Yorkshire, there’s always something to see ordo with English Heritage. There are 18 differenthistoric properties and countless historicmonuments and landmarks in some of the moststunning locations. Whether on holiday inYorkshire or just here for the day, each propertycan offer visitors something uniquely differentfrom the next.

From commanding coastal castles and moorlandabbeys to grand countryside estates and afantastic programme of live action events, hereare some of our suggestions for days out that godown in history.

Gothic splendour Head for the coast to the ruins of Whitby Abbeyperched high on a cliff and discover whygenerations have been drawn to this dramaticheadland as a site of settlement, religiousdevotion and literary inspiration. The hauntingremains of this once magnificent abbey standproudly above the picturesque seaside town ofWhitby, one of Yorkshire’s most popular touristdestinations.

ENGLISH HERITAGE

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Whitby Abbey

Discover the part Whitby Abbey played indeciding the date of Easter in the 7th Century inthe interactive exhibition, or enjoy the thrills andspills at one of Whitby Abbey’s action-packedevents and re-enactments. Over bank holidayweekend in June (Sun 3 – Tue 5 June the sameweekend as the Jubilee) encounter the terrifyingVikings as they spread a wave of terror andturmoil with their raids on the North easterncoast of England.

Whitby is one of the most atmospheric visitorattractions on the Yorkshire coast. Bram Stokerwas inspired by they Abbey’s gothic splendourwhen writing Dracula and 2012 marks thecentenary of the death. English Heritage will becelebrating this anniversary with a series ofevents at the Abbey every weekend from 21 Jul– 19 Aug.

‘Everywhere peace, everywhereserenity…’

Travel to Helmsley Castle in the heart of theNorth York Moors and explore 900 years of life

at Helmsley Castle which boasts some aweinspiring medieval architecture. Discover howthe castle evolved from a mighty medievalfortress, to a luxurious Tudor mansion, to a CivilWar stronghold and a romantic Victorian ruin.Explore the defensive ramparts, the magnificentshattered keep, formidable gatehouses andElizabethan interior.

From Helmsley follow in the footsteps ofmedieval pilgrims with a walk along theCleveland Way Trail to Rievaulx Abbey, one ofthe most tranquil sites in Yorkshire. Find peaceand serenity amongst the atmospheric Abbeyruins. Set in a beautiful tranquil valley RievaulxAbbey is one of the most complete andimpressive medieval abbeys in Britain. Describedas a ‘marvellous freedom from the tumult of theworld’ by the Abbot St Aelred. Rievaulx also hasa tea room selling home made and locallyproduced goods where visitors can’t avoid beingtempted by delicious home made cakes andtraditional food.

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Over spring and summer, Rievaulx Abbey iscelebrating the ‘Medieval Year’ with a series ofthemed events where visitors can see costumedperformers acting out the tasks and customs ofthe day. This starts of Sat 7 - Mon 9 April whencostumed master medieval falconers, RaphaelFalconry with demonstrations of the “Sport ofKings” with spectacular aerial displays of Birdsof Prey in flight. .

King of the castlesWhy build sandcastles on the coast when youcan climb the battlements of real one for aspectacular ‘King’s Eye’ view of the YorkshireCoast? Visit Scarborough Castle and travel backin time to discover 3,000 years of history whileenjoying ice creams and tasty treats from the tearoom. Warrior events every weekend from (21Jul – 27 Aug) will offer lots of fighting spirit andfun. Meet a costumed and armoured trio anddiscover the life of a Knight. Junior knights cantake part in sword practice and see hand to handsword fighting.

Best historic viewsWith sweeping panoramic views of York and thesurrounding countryside, it is clear to see howClifford's Tower has played such a crucial role in

York’s history. Get stuck in and hands-on withhistory at Clifford’s Tower in the heart of thecity.

Sat 7 – Sun 10 June, seek out the monarchs fromthe past; see how many you can find hidingaround the site with the Royal trail. Meet the‘King’, at Clifford’s Tower (Sat 7 & Sun 8 July)during the York 800 festival this summer. Notrip to the city would be complete without a visitto Clifford’s Tower.

Bloomin’ Great Gardens inSouth Yorkshire

Brodsworth Hall and Gardens near Doncaster isa plant lover’s paradise, whatever time of yearyou visit; there will always be something to catchyour eye. Wonderfully restored to their originalhorticultural splendour explore the magnificentfern dell, stunning displays of roses andimmaculate lawns.

Inside the hall which is conserved as found, themansion that has grown comfortably old over120 years, a country house as it really was: stillreflecting its original opulence, but well-worn,gently conserved and full of surprises

Visitors can enjoy lazy Sunday afternoons with apicnic in the summer, whilst listening to thesound of local brass bands every Sundayafternoon (Sun 8 July – Sun 30 Sept) or recalmotoring memories from the past at the ClassicCar event (Sat 17 June). Children can let offsteam in the adventure playground and in winterBrodsworth gardens comes alive with fairies andstunning night-time surprises when thespectacular Enchanted Garden event returns(Fri 26 Oct – Sun 4 Nov).

Join English Heritage and benefit from freeentry to over 400 historic properties and 100s offree or discounted events. For details of allevents, opening times and prices and a full list ofour properties featured in this article visitwww.english-heritage.org.uk/yorkshire.

Clifford’s Tower

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Brodsworth

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From the World Heritage Site of FountainsAbbey & Studley Royal to the grandeur ofNostell Priory and Beningbrough Hall, from theYorkshire Coast across the Moors and to theYorkshire Dales, there’s are lots of NationalTrust places across Yorkshire for you to explore.

Get out into the outdoors and discover thenatural beauty of Yorkshire with the NationalTrust. There are places waiting for you to walk,cycle and explore whilst having a great day out.

For full details on all the properties includingopening times and admission charges, visitwww.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshire ortelephone: 01904 702021.

Fountains Abbey & StudleyRoyal

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountainsabbey

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, four mileswest of Ripon in North Yorkshire, is a WorldHeritage Site.

Home to a wealth of historic monuments, noother place in Europe contains such a richvariety including Cistercian abbey ruins,Georgian water garden, medieval deer park,Elizabethan hall and Victorian church.

The ruins of Fountains Abbey are the mostcomplete remains of Cistercian abbey and also

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All images © National Trust Images

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NATIONAL

TRUST

the only one to have its own tower. The ruinsare the perfect complement to Studley Royalwater garden, a Georgian masterpiece of anornamental garden adorned with classical statuesand follies.

The once wild and wooded valley of the riverSkell was transformed into one of England’smost spectacular water gardens by the Aislabiefamily. Disgraced by a financial scandal in the1700’s, John Aislabie channelled his energies intocreating a landscape of often breathtaking andground breaking vision.

This is a place where you can truly relax andleave modern day stresses behind as you aretransported to another era. Let the cool secludedshady walks and grand green amphitheatres playwith your senses. Let the artist’s eye guide youacross elegant ponds and cascades, to theGeorgian follies of the garden including rusticbridges, classical temples and statues and finallyinto the medieval ruins of the Abbey, providingan unforgettable experience which enthralstoday’s visitor just as it did the pleasure seekingGeorgians.

The honeycoloured Fountains Hall and WilliamBurges’ ornate religious masterpiece, St Mary’sChurch, surrounded by ancient oak and limetrees create striking contrasts that will leave alasting impression.

At any time of the year, there is alwayssomething interesting, inspiring and different tosee and do at Fountains Abbey & Studley Royal.

There is a wealth of activities for the youngand old to enjoy. Throughout the year thereare a number of ‘taster tours’, to introducefirst-time visitors to all the different parts ofthe estate, as well as ‘activity tours’, whichenable visitors to discover different aspectsof the estate, for example, what it was liketo be a monk in medieval times, whatvarieties of flora and fauna can be found in

the different seasons and even folk and fairytales.

During school holidays there are drop in self-ledactivities in Swanley Grange, the educationcentre. These include trails for children aroundthe estate and craft activities on different themeseach holiday. The estate is wonderfully safe forchildren and there is a fantastically well equippedplayground for kids to roam around in.Whether you intend to spend a couple of hoursor all day on the estate there is more thanenough to entertain. No doubt a walk aroundthe estate in the fresh air will work up an appetiteso pay a visit to the Visitor Centre restaurantwhere you can enjoy a delicious hot meal, varietyof sandwiches, home-made soup and a selectionof cakes. If you are exploring the Studley area ofthe estate then pop into Studley Tea Roomswhere freshly made hot and cold sandwiches,soup and cakes are on offer in a wonderfullakeside setting.

Escape from the hustle and bustle of city centreshopping and combine a peaceful walk in thetranquillity of the estate with a visit to the shop,one of the largest National Trust shops in thecountry.

Open All Year: except 24/25 December, Fridaysin January, November and December.April - September 10am - 5pmOctober - March 10am - 4pm

Last admission 1 hour before closing.


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Beningbrough Hall &Gardens, nr York

Tel: 01904 472027,www.nationaltrust.org.uk/beningbrough

Visit a grand 18th century house with interactivegalleries and home to over 100 portraits on loanfrom the National Portrait Gallery. The galleriesgive you the opportunity to create your own 18thcentury portrait and email it home.

Surrounding the dramatic red-brick mansion areacres of grounds and also the Walled Garden.The garden supplies fresh produce to therestaurant daily, helping to create mouth-watering dishes.

For families there is a wilderness play area andduring school holidays enjoy free art activitiesand trails.

There are also a host of events and activitiestaking place all year round, some of thehighlights include:

Hidden Tour TuesdaysThe first Tuesday of every month from March –October Explore the hidden parts of the house includingthe servants’ below stairs with our friendlyguides. Meet at 2pm at the front of house,normal admission charges apply.

Artrageous family craft activitiesLook out for family activities taking place duringthe school holidays. Normal admission applies.

National Portrait Gallery exhibition: NaturalArts – The Great Landscape Designers of the18th centuryMarch - October, 11am – 5pmThis exhibition pairs contemporary landscapephotography with portraits of 18th Centurygarden designers to celebrate their work andexplore their living legacies. Normal admissioncharges apply.

Brimham Rocks, nr Harrogate Tel: 01423 780688,www.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshire

Explore strange and fantastic rock formationsdating back over 300 million years which havebeen formed through natural geologicalmovements, ice ages and effects of the weather.

Brimham Rocks is a place where children canrun wild in nature’s theme park and explore thelabyrinth of paths winding through thisremarkable landscape which makes a great dayout for families, climbers and walkers.

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Incredibly some rocks have an uncannyresemblance to familiar shapes. You may be ableto spot the Dancing Bear, The Eagle, WritingDesk, Gorilla and many more.

East Riddlesden Hall,Keighley

Tel: 01535 607075,www.nationaltrust.org.uk/yorkshire

Every time that you stand in the gardens of EastRiddlesden you will experience something new.Enjoy the calm of our changing seasonalgardens and feed the ducks at our pond, whilechildren can go wild in our playground.

This peace is very different from the Hall’smenacing past with whispers of murders andcivil war. Visitors can wander this furnished 17thcentury merchant’s home and get a close look atexquisite varieties of embroideries and oakfurniture. Investigate even closer with ourhandling collection.

Indulge in homemade soups, made using ourvery own herbs from the garden, and treatyourself to local platters and cakes from ourshop.

Hardcastle Crags & GibsonMill, Hebden Bridge

Tel: 01422 844518,www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardcastlecrags

Explore this beautiful wooded valley with itsdeep ravines, tumbling streams and gloriouswaterfalls. Walk through woodland, rich in wild-life, with over 30miles of footpaths and see thestriking seasonal changes in the plants and trees.

At its heart is Gibson Mill, an interactive visitorcentre, where you can discover 200 years ofhistory of the valley with dressing up, dancing

and exhibitions. There are themed walks andguided tours of Gibson Mill to enjoy.

Hot and cold snacks are available for walkers inthe Muddy Boots Café – so why not come andtry a delicious locally baked cake as part of yourday out.

Nostell Priory and Parkland,nr Wakefield

Tel: 01924 863892,www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nostell

Built on the site of a medieval priory, Nostell is

an 18th century country manor house and hasbeen the home of the Winn family for 300 years.

Explore over 300 acres of parkland includingtranquil lakeside walks and trails and in thegardens; a newly planted orchard, the rosegarden and an adventure playground to go wildin.

In the house, wander the rooms with exceptionalinteriors created by Robert Adam. Look our forChippendale furniture and beautiful paintings byBrueghel, Hogarth and Kauffmann,

Examine the John Harrison clock with rarewood mechanisms and admire the 18th centurydolls’ house.

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Bring a picnic or try our stable tea-rooms for hotand cold food and visit our shop for plants andmementos of your visit.

Discover more with guided tours (bookingessential) and special events. Craft fairs, theatreconcerts and Boredom Busting activities inAugust make this a great place for all the familyto visit time and time again. Here are some ofour highlights taking place in 2012:

Craft Fair at Nostell Friday 6 – Monday 9 April Discover local, hand made crafts at our first craftfair in the newly restored riding school. Gardenticket required for admission.

Boredom Busting Every Thursday in AugustCome and enjoy a different themed boredombusting Thursday each week. We’ll have fancydress, games and activities and lots to see and dofor all the family. Normal admission applies.

Nunnington Hall, nr HelmsleyTel: 01439 748283www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunningtonThe picturesque manor house of Nunningtonsits on the banks of the River Rye. Once hometo the doctor of Henry VIII, Edward VI andElizabeth I, Nunnington is a property not to bemissed

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Nunnington © NTImages/ Joe CornishSignpost - page 10

Come and enjoy the atmosphere of this formerfamily home and explore period rooms, whilsthearing the Hall’s many tales. You can alsodiscover one of the world’s finest collections ofminiature rooms in the attic. With over 23miniature rooms – the Carlisle Collectioncontains hundreds of tiny individual piecesincluding musical instruments and furniture. The sheltered walled garden, with spring-flowering meadows, orchards and residentpeacocks, complements this beautiful Yorkshirehouse, nestling on the quiet banks of the RiverRye.

The tea-room serves local and seasonal produce,or why not bring a picnic and enjoy lovely spotsin the garden.

Nunnington also hosts a changing programmeof art and photographic exhibitions – which lastyear included photography exhibitions bymusician Andy Summers, and Mary McCartney.

The first exhibition of 2012 is ‘ThroughLichfield’s Lens’ – a world premiere of PatrickLichfield’s Polaroid boards, which decorated hisLondon studio. The Polaroids recorded themany faces and memories of those hephotographed. The exhibition will be on displayfrom Tuesday 27 March – Monday 7 May,normal admission applies.

Rievaulx Terrace & Temples,nr Helmsley

Tel: 01439 798340www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rievaulx

Discover one of Ryedale’s true gems – the 18th-century landscape of Rievaulx Terrace. Strollthrough woods, then out on to the terrace, withits stunning views down over the Cistercian ruinof Rievaulx Abbey.

In spring the bank between the temples is awashwith wild flowers, in summer the lawns are theperfect spot for picnics, while in autumn thebeech woods are a full of rich colours.

With Nunnington Hall nearby it is an idealdouble visit in one day. Join a guided tour or tryfamily activities in the school holidays.

Treasurer's House, York Tel: 01904 624247www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurershouse

Named after the Treasurer of York Minster andbuilt over a Roman road, this house is not all thatit seems.

Discover why visionary, eccentric YorkshiremanFrank Green, who owned the house from 1897,cared so passionately about interior décor thathe threatened to return to haunt Treasurer'sHouse if any of his furniture was ever moved!

Take a journey down into the cellar and see ifyou can discover what apprentice plumber,Harry Martindale, saw in the 1950s.


Treasurer’s Gateway © NTImages/Nick Meers

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Experience 900 years of history in tranquilsurroundings at Skipton Castle - standingcomplete and fully roofed at the head ofSkipton’s bustling High Street.

The beautiful Conduit Court with the Yew treeplanted by Lady Anne Clifford is a cool, andrestful place to begin your tour. In theBanqueting Hall it is easy to imagine the Lordand his Lady at the top table where their guestsare being served venison, mutton, swan anddrinking large amounts of homebrewed wine.

From the top of the Watchtower, look across theAire valley and imagine the soldiers watching formarauding Parliamentarians preparing to takethe Castle by surprise.

In the dark depths of the dungeon, sense howthe prisoners awaiting trial at York Assizes felt.Think, how did the mason’s of those long agodays who built the castle lift those huge stonesand why did they carve their initials in thestones?

Enjoy a gentle stroll on the Chapel Terrace withits views over the Woods followed by a cup oftea and a homemade cake! Browse in the shopfor that unusual gift or enjoy our noted bookselection.

Come and join in the fun at one of these exciting re-enactments:

2nd - 4th June 2012 The Red Wyvern SocietyJourney back to the 15th Century during theWars of the Roses. A recreation of a medievalcampsite within the castle grounds.See the garrison demonstrate their arms andarmour.10am - 6pm (Sunday 12 noon - 6pm)

16th June 2012 Keith James in concert The songs of Leonard Cohen

30th June - 1st July 2012 Guild of Gentry andAllied Skills. Journey back to the 17th CenturyHousehold life. 10am-6pm (Sunday 12 noon-6pm)

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SKIPTON CASTLE

7th - 8th July 2012 Clog FestivalDeveloped into a precise form of dance with itsintricate foot movements, clogging probablyoriginated in the mills when workers wearingclogs would tap their feet to the rhythm of themachines.Saturday 10.30am - 2pm: Sunday 11.30am - 3pm

28th - 29th July 2012 Feudal Archers Life in a12th Century Castle. 10am - 6pm (Sunday 12 noon - 6pm)

4th - 5th August 2012 Trayned BandesSee this military unit setting up an encampmentduring the English Civil War. 10am - 6pm (Sunday 12 noon - 6pm)www.traynedbandes.org.uk

11 -12 August 2012 John Nevison - The Yorkshire HighwaymanA famous late 17th century Yorkshirehighwayman who robbed the length of theGreat North Road but especially in the northerncounties. One story about him was how he wassupposed to have ridden from London to Yorkin less than a day to gain an alibi for a robberyhe'd been witnessed committing.Saturday 10.00am - 5pm: Sunday 12 noon - 5pm

18th - 19th August 2012 Historia NormanisBringing history to life in the 12th Century, thewalls of Skipton Castle will echo to the soundsof swords and shields once again. Come and seemedieval craftsmen demonstrating their trades;knights displaying their prowess and ladiesdescribing life as it would have been in the reignof Henry II. The castle itself will be the site ofhistoric set pieces, recreating the daily workingsof a local medieval court; the furnishings of aLord's bedchamber, and outside the walls, aworking medieval siege weapon! An event notto be missed.10.00am - 6pm: Sunday 12 noon - 6pmwww.normannis.co.uk

25th - 26th August 2012 Meet the Governor ofSkipton Castle. Come and meet Sir John Mallory

Governor of Skipton Castle during the EnglishCivil War. Hear about the castle's siege andskirmishes its garrison have already fought andhow the King's cause is faring in Yorkshire. Justhow long can Sir John 'stout it out' for the King?10am - 5pm (Sunday 12 noon - 5pm)

Tour sheets are available in 9 languages, all under18’s receive a free Castle badge, a different oneeach year since 1974! Family tickets are availableand guided tours can be arranged for partiesduring normal opening times. Open every dayfrom 10am (Sunday from 12 noon) with last admission daily at 6 p.m ( Oct-Feb 4pm).

Telephone 01756 792442 www.skiptoncastle.co.uk

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From 2012, one of thenation’s most importantcultural and religious iconswill be revealed in a newlight, as work progresses onYork Minster Revealed, afive-year project generouslysupported by a£10.5million grant from theHeritage Lottery Fund(HLF).

In one of the country’s largest conservation andrestoration project of its kind, cutting-edgescience meets ancient craftsmanship to revealthe glory of York Minster’s East End, amasterpiece of stained-glass and stone, hailed asEngland’s ‘Sistine Chapel’. The project draws oninternational expertise, while the award-winningStoneyard and York Glaziers Trust have beenable to expand training in the specialist craftskills of stone-masonry and stained-glassconservation.

Visitors to York Minster can see the startlingresults of this work emerging piece-by-piece.They can also witness the project’s progressthrough a programme of special eventsincluding ‘Meet the expert’ talks, behind-the-scenes tours of the Stoneyard and the BedernGlass Conservation Studio, or by observingtraditional masonry skills in action at theMasons’ Lodge on the southeast lawn.

From 2012, York Minster Revealed will alsodramatically transform the visitor experience.Exciting new interactive galleries, featuring someof York Minster’s most treasured objects, willreveal to a wider audience a better understandingof the architectural jewel that is York Minster,and its place within the history of the last twothousand years. They will be complemented bysignificantly improved access and visitorfacilities, and new learning programmes for all.

YORK MINSTERREVEALED

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Coming Soon:October 2012 – Launch of ‘Stories in Glass &Stone’, interactive gallery, including a walk-through stained-glass ‘orb’ will allow visitors toreflect on the incredible scale and exquisitecraftsmanship of the Minster’s Great EastWindow

Spring 2013 – The Opening of the vastUndercroft, Treasury and Crypt beneath theMinster. These areas will be redesigned, puttingsome of the Minster’s most important artefactson display, including the medieval Doomstoneand the Horn of Ulph. Visitors will be able totake an inspirational journey into the workinglife and 2000-year history that places the Minsterat the centre of national events. The newexhibition will emphasise the Minster as, not justa historic relic of the past, but a living buildingwith daily prayer, worship and ceremony.

For more information on YMR or upcomingevents, visit www.yorkminster.org

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Bolton is one of the country’s best preservedmedieval castles, situated in the heart ofWensleydale with stunning views over theYorkshire Dales National Park. Completed in1399 by Richard le Scrope, Chancellor ofEngland to Richard II, its scars bear testament toover 600 years of fascinating history includinginvolvement in the Pilgrimage of Grace, MaryQueen of Scots imprisonment and a six monthsiege during the Civil War.

This magnificent medieval fortress is steeped inhistory and has a real sense of atmosphere andlife. Visitors can experience sights and sounds ofthe past with the wonderful falconry displays,fascinating archery demonstrations and chanceto have a go, wild boar feeding, bee keepingdisplay and hands on crafts and gamesthroughout the castle.

Bolton Castle was a luxurious family home aswell as a defensive fortress and despite beingpartially ‘slighted’ by Cromwell’s men during thesiege the Castle is preserved in outstandingcondition with many interesting rooms andfeatures to discover including the Old Kitchens,Dungeon, Solar, Nursery, Armoury and MaryQueen of Scots bedroom. About one third ofthe rooms are fully intact and the rest of theCastle is almost completely accessible givingvisitors great insight into its turbulent past.Visitors often comment on the incredibleatmosphere of the Castle with many of therooms giving the feeling that their inhabitantshad just walked out.

BOLTON

CASTLE

The Tea Room offers delicious sandwiches, lightlunches, wonderful cakes and a large selection ofhot and cold drinks including local beers. Visitthe gift shop for an excellent range of gifts forall ages.

The Castle gardens were reinstated following anarchaeological survey completed in 1994 andnow include a beautiful medieval herb garden,rose garden, bowling green, vineyard and maze.The Castle’s wonderful volunteers, the Friendsof Bolton Castle, work tirelessly to keep thegardens looking beautiful for visitors to enjoyand a visitors can also see the birds of prey intheir mews and visit the bees in their observationhive.

New for 2012

Come and visit the Wensleydales and other localrare breed sheep. The newest arrivals at Boltonare a trio of Wensleydale ewes and we expecttheir lambs to be born in the spring so keep aneye on the website for news of their arrival! Weare also expanding the flock with a variety ofother local rare breeds and hope to use the woolto make products for the gift shop.

Try the Audio – visual guides which will providegreater insight to the Castles turbulent past. Thenew guides use the latest technology and can beenjoyed while exploring the castle but will alsoallow those less mobile to enjoy a virtual tourfrom the comfort of the castle tea room. Learnabout the Scrope family who first built Boltonand whose direct descendants still own it today. Visit the new artisan chocalaterie situated in thetea room and treat yourself to something special

With so much going on, both inside the Castleand in the restored Medieval gardens andgrounds, the Castle provides an exciting day outin any weather and has activities for visitors ofall ages to experience and enjoy!

Adult groups and families might like to explorethe extensive surviving rooms by themselves, orhave a tour by one of the enthusiastic and expertguides, focussing on Mary, Queen of Scots’imprisonment or the Civil War, for example. Forthose seeking a more luxurious and lessenergetic visit, we can provide a delicious fivecourse lunch in the Great Chamber, with a logfire blazing and exclusive use of this magnificentroom. This can be accompanied by an illustratedtalk on Mary Queen of Scots imprisonment, theBorder Reivers, Medieval Hunting or the historyof the Castle and its inhabitants.

Guided ToursBook in advance for the opportunity to take aprivate guided tour of the castle with one of theexperienced guides. Tours can be catered to suityour area of interest with topics including MaryQueen of Scots, Medieval Life and the Civil War.Tours are available for groups of 15 or more at£1.50 per person and last for approximately anhour and a quarter.

Hawk and Owl Displays Witness magnificent flying displays from theHawks and Owls in the Castle Courtyard as theyswoop up to perch on the battlements or fly to

www.countysignpost.co.uk BOLTON

CASTLE

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your fist! Archery

Learn more about archery in sport, hunting andwarfare during the displays and then have a goyourself ! Display and have a go: Free with castleadmission.

Wild Boar Feeding and TalkExperience the excitement of Wild Boar feedingtime! Learn more about these fascinatinganimals and help us feed them.

Falconer for a dayJoin the experienced Falconer and spend anincredible day learning about looking after andflying these beautiful birds. This is a fantasticopportunity to learn the basics of falconry andwill include plenty of time handling and flyingthe birds. You will also be provided withauthentic period falconer’s clothing andequipment Day experience £75 per person. Bookingnecessary.

WeddingsThe Castle has Civil Wedding, Drinks andEntertainments licences and provides aspectacular and unique setting to celebrate yourspecial day. Mary, Queen of Scots spent sixmonths at the Castle in 1568-1569 and it washeld for the King during the Civil War. Now,hundreds of years later, you can enjoy thesplendour of Bolton Castle and entertain yourguests as royalty once did.

The castle is steeped in history and has awonderful atmosphere, which is brought to lifewhen people come to celebrate here.Furthermore, if you chose to have yourreception here, you will have exclusive use ofthe Castle and be able to treat it as your own. Wehave a capacity for up to 240 inside, althoughthe maximum in a single room is 120.The GreatChamber, which retains all of its originalcharacter and charm will seat up to 120 peopleat tables and with a log fire burning, creates theperfect atmosphere to celebrate such animportant occasion.

Telephone: 01969 623981. Email: [email protected]: www.boltoncastle.co.uk

RIPLEY CASTLE

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Discover the fascinatingsecrets of award winningRipley Castle

Ripley Castle is an historic attraction open to thepublic all year round and makes for a fascinatingand entertaining day out, in a beautiful location,with memorable surroundings.

Because it has belonged to the same family fortwenty six generations, Ripley’s colourful andsometimes gruesome history is welldocumented. If the Castle walls could talk theywould tell the story of kings and queens, civilwar and plagues and numerous clandestineaffairs. The guided tours are very entertainingand informative as there are so many humorousanecdotes about the castle and the family. Youget to see some 16th century books, RoyalGreenwich Civil war armour and the secretpriest’s hiding hole, only discovered by accidentin 1964. The Ingilby’s were prominentCatholics. Francis was martyred in York in 1586and several others were implicated in theGunpowder Plot. ‘Trooper Jane’ a redoubtableloyalist, held Oliver Cromwell at pistol point inthe Castle Library. There are also specialchildren’s tours which are hugely popular.

There are delightful walled gardens; impressivgehot houses, herbaceous borders and kitchengardens with herbs, rare vegetables and fruittrees. In Spring 150,000 create a riot of colour.There is a play trail for children and a lovely walkaround the lake and deer park. Following yourtour of the Castle and Gardens visit the giftshop which is full of inspiring presents to suit allages and sample delicious fayre made with localproduce in the Tearoom. The cobbled marketvillage has several shops, an art gallery, afarmyard museum, an ancient church and acharming Inn, The Boar’s Head, with bar,brasserie and beer garden.

There are many exciting events held at the Castlethroughout 2011 including a month ofShakespeare in the Gardens from mid June tomid July, a Jools Holland concert on 16th July,The Ripley Falconry Experience held on theMay and August Bank Holiday Mondays and aHaunted Halloween Week in October to namebut a few.

Telephone: 01423 770152Email: [email protected]: www.ripleycastle.co.uk

RIPLEY CASTLE

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... a much-loved family homethat welcomes visitors withopen arms

Burton Agnes Hall is unique: it is a trulymagnificent stately house that is also a warm andwonderful home. Burton Agnes Hall is aglorious example of Elizabethan architecture;built between 1598 and 1610 by Sir HenryGriffith, it has stayed in his family for more thanfour centuries. The family’s passion forcollecting and commissioning art has created animpressive and unusual collection includingmany French Impressionist paintings, tapestries,contemporary furniture and striking modern

pieces. This impressive stately home is now inthe care of Simon Cunliffe-Lister, his wife Oliviaand their three young children Islay (four years’old), Joss (two) and Otis (four months), whowelcome visitors with relish. Burton Agnes Hallat once provides the setting for a busy, variedcalendar of events including a celebrated Jazzand Blues Festival, and the rigours of family life.

Simon Jenkins, author of ‘England’s Thousand BestHouses’, described Burton Agnes Hall as ‘theperfect English house’ and as one of England’stwenty finest houses alongside Windsor Castle,Buckingham Palace and Chatsworth House. Themany thousands of visitors who enjoy the Hallevery year appear to agree with these sentiments.

BURTON AGNES HALL

AND GARDENS


Outside there is much to explore. The oldElizabethan walled garden is an award-winningwonderland (winner of the 2005 HHA ChristiesGarden of the Year award) containing over fourthousand different plants, a potager filled withherbs, fruit and vegetables, herbaceous borders,giant board games, a maze, a jungle garden and anational collection of campanulas. To the northof the house is a serene woodland with wildlifesculptures to find whilst walking; in February theground is carpeted with a breathtaking display ofsnowdrops and at Easter this is the site of avigorous Easter Egg Hunt.

Whilst strolling in the gardens, visitors may alsodiscover an artist seeking inspiration for a newcreation. Throughout the year, diverse artists sitin residence at Burton Agnes. Visitors are invitedto view their artwork in the Summer House andinside the Hall.

Many treats await visitors in the courtyard. In thecafe, visitors can enjoy homemade meals usingfresh produce from the gardens and indulgenttreats. The Hall’s ‘Home and Garden’ Shop andGift Shop are brimming with fun and originalgifts and dried flowers from the walled garden aswell as seasonal and Yorkshire-made produceincluding fresh fruit and vegetables from thegarden. Visitors will also find a broad range ofhome grown plants, all propagated from the

gardens; indeed it is possible to recreatesomething of the award winning gardens atBurton Agnes Hall at home! The CourtyardArtist Gallery offers an array of excitingexhibitions by local artists and is openthroughout the year for visitors to view andpurchase art.

Burton Agnes Hall also hosts a full and wide-ranging calendar of events throughout the year.This includes a Snowdrop Spectacular, OrchidFestival, Classic Car Rally, Easter Egg Hunt,Gardeners’ Fair, Jazz and Blues Festival, SummerFamily Fete, Michaelmas Fair and a ChristmasOpening where visitors will find an array ofbeautiful handcrafted decorations, bothtraditional and contemporary, around everycorner. Open from 1st April to 31st October and 14thNovember to 22nd December, Burton AgnesHall truly is the perfect English house: with itsgardens and buzzing courtyard in addition, youare certain to enjoy a perfect day out.

To discover what’s going on Burton Agnes Hall,visit www.burtonagnes.comBurton Agnes Hall, Burton Agnes, Driffield,East Yorkshire, YO25 4NBTelephone: 01262 490 324Email: [email protected]

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The Deep is one of the most spectacularaquariums in the world, located in Hull, EastYorkshire. This award-winning visitor attractionis home over 3,500 fish including spectacularsharks and rays.

The dramatic building overlooks the Humberestuary and is only a few minutes’ walk from theMuseums Quarter and Hull Marina.

The Deep offers a unique blend of stunningmarine life, interactives and audio-visualpresentations which together tell the dramaticstory of the world’s oceans.

Exciting new river displayopens at The Deep!

In 2011, The Deep opened its stunning newLiving Rivers display. This exhibit looks at fiveof the world’s major river systems and theexciting species that live within them.

April saw the first three rivers open; theAmazon, Mekong and Rio Grande, but we aredelighted to announce the final two rivers; theBetsiboka and Congo are now available forvisitors to enjoy.

THE DEEP

Signpost - page 22 One of the new additions, the pinstripe damba.

The Betsiboka is located in Madagascar and isover 525 metres long. It is distinct for its red-coloured water which is caused by soil erosionand river sediments. Threats to this river systemmean that species such as the pinstripe dambaare now extinct in the wild. Only captivebreeding populations such as the one at TheDeep now exist.

The Congo is the deepest river in the world,located in Africa, with a total length of over4,700km, making it the ninth longest. It ishome to wide variety of species including theAfrican knifefish, emperor scorpion andAfrican butterfly fish.

This stunning display is a must see for familiesand groups alike and is a fantastic addition toThe Deep’s already extensive live aquaria.

The DeepTower Street, Hull HU1 4DPTelephone 01482 381000 (option 3)[email protected]

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As the UK’s foremost Children’s Museum,Eureka! is a place where children play to learnand grown-ups learn to play. Having recentlymarked its 18th birthday, Eureka! remains theonly museum of its kind in the country, withhundreds of hands-on exhibits, indoors and out,designed to inspire and engage children aged 0-11.

Based in Halifax, West Yorkshire, the purpose-built museum and educational charity attractsaround 250,000 people every year and in spring2009 the museum welcomed its five millionthvisitor.

Eureka! is based on the North American modelof children’s museums with a focus on play-based learning and providing inspirationalinformal learning experiences for young people.Through hundreds of hands-on exhibits withinsix interactive galleries and an outdoor park,children make awe-inspiring discoveries aboutthemselves and the world around them andshare in the adventure of learning.

For younger children Eureka! is unique inoffering two dedicated galleries and regularactivities especially for under 5s, inspiring littleones to develop their senses and stretch theirimaginations.

Telephone 01422 330069www.eureka.org.uk

EUREKA

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Magna’s 10th Birthday

Magna is the UK’s first science adventure centre,set in the gigantic and awe-inspiring formerTempleborough Steelworks, a place that isguaranteed to amaze. Be immersed in the sights and sounds of thehistory of steel making and explore theincredible interactive pavilions of Fire, Water,Earth and Air creamed with fascinating hands-on activities. Let off steam in Aqua-Tek one ofthe UK’s largest outdoor water play areas andSci-Tek, one of Europe’s largest outdoorplaygrounds.

On Tuesday 12th April 2011 Magna ScienceAdventure Centre celebrated its 10th birthday!Since opening in 2001 Magna has seen over 1.7Million visitors through the doors, hosted over 6years of Christmas Party nights, numerousdance events and concerts and 1000’s ofconferences and meetings.

In 2007 Magna saw a £2.7 Million corporatedevelopment giving new event spaces.The visitor attraction has seen great changesfrom the launch of the 2 outdoor play areas,making our outdoor facilities one of the largestin the UK, through to exciting events andthemed days, science workshops anddemonstrations and temporary exhibitions.

PricesAll fully priced day tickets to Magna now includea free annual upgrade so visitors can return andplay free of charge for 12 months. Adult - £10.95 Child - £8.95 Concession - £9.95 Family of 3 - £27.95Family of 4 - £36.45 Family of 5 - £44.95

Telephone 01709 720002www.visitmagna.co.uk

MAGNA

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Stump Cross Caverns is one of Britain’s premiershow caves, located in the Yorkshire DalesNational Park, on the border of Nidderdale.There are a range of facilities for a great familyday out, including a gift shop with an excellentselection of fossils, crystals and sheepskin rugsand tea room with a variety of home-made cakes& pastries, as well as the caves themselves.There is also a twenty minute film presentationshown in the comfortable lecture theatre,informing visitors of the history anddevelopment of the caverns within the localarea.

The caves at Stumps Cross were discovered in1860 by miners who were looking for lead seamsin the Yorkshire Dales. Although they didn’t findany lead, they did find the natural caverns whichyou can see today. Miners often didn’t see anycommercial value in the caves, however a man

named William Newbold had vision enough tosee that they could be a profitable enterprise,and opened the caves to the public at a cost of 1shilling per visit.

The cave system at Stump Cross extends wellbeyond the show caves which are open to thepublic, to an overall length of approximately6km. Many of the deeper caverns are onlyaccessible to experienced cavers, but there is apossibility of further sections of the cavernsbeing opened to the public in the future. Indeed,the impressive reindeer cavern was opened tothe public in 2000 after debris was removed.

Telephone 01756 752780www.stumpcrosscaverns.co.uk

STUMP CROSS CAVERNS

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Burton ConstableHoliday Park and Arboretum

Set in 200 acres of peaceful parkland, the Holiday Park is only a shortstroll from Burton Constable Hall through Capability Brown?s park.

Relax in the peace and tranquility of Rural

Leisure homesYour ideal home from home.On a separate, exclusive site, in the peaceand tranquility of the YorkshireCountryside, own your own static caravan.

Log CabinsOwn your won luxurious timber lodge,sited in beautiful Yorkshire Countryside.

Touring caravans/camping facilitiesThe camping area overlooks the lake and children’s play area. Electric hook-ups are available throughout, with night-lightingaround the park.

FishingOur fishing lake provides excellent sportwith a multitude of fish to catch.

Your Gateway to the Great Outdoors

The Old Lodges, Sproatley, East Yorkshire

HU11 4LN

TEL: 01964562508FAX: 01964 563420

RAF HOLMPTONBUNKER TOURS

Your chance to visit this Amazing PlaceOpen February 18th to November 4th 2012

For Opening Times & Full Details

W: www.rafholmpton.comT: 01964 630208

E: info@ rafholmpton.com

County Signpost

It is almost impossible to believe that The BlackSheep Brewery is 20 years old in 2012. Since firstmaking an appearance in pubs in and around theYorkshire Dales in October 1992 our beers havegone from strength to strength - most recentlywith Black Sheep Best Bitter being awarded ThePublican Licensees’ Choice Gold Award forCask Ale in 2010 for the second year running.Black Sheep beers are now distributed not onlyacross the UK but around the world, brewingover 20 million pints a year. 2012 will be a yearof celebration for Black Sheep for their 20thAnniversary, with events through the year and ananniversary beer planned for the Autumn as partof the new sesasonal range.

The delivery of those first casks of beer in 1992began a new era for Paul Theakston, whosefamily has brewed in Masham for sixgenerations. Following Paul’s departure fromthe old family firm, T&R Theakston, fate playeda kind hand and he was able to purchase an oldmaltings building in the heart of Masham. Here

was an opportunity to return to what his familyhad done best since the 19th Century - makingreal beer in the time-honoured fashion. And so anew brewery was born!

Sheep have always figured largely in the historyof Masham, so when a name was needed for thenew Brewery Paul's wife, Sue, came up with‘Black Sheep’. A fitting name on all fronts, givenPaul’s maverick new start up! From the outset,giving visitors the opportunity to see the beersbeing brewed and to sample the ales at thebrewery was always a high priority, and in May1996 the doors were opened to the newlytransformed Visitor Centre - now a major year-round attraction in the Yorkshire Dales. Now in2011, the sixth generation of the Theakstonfamily brewing heritage is also proudly part ofBlack Sheep, with Paul’s eldest son Rob takingover as Managing Director, and second son Jo asMarketing and Off-Trade Sales Director. Paulhas now moved to the esteemed role ofChairman.

THE BLACK SHEEP

BREWERY

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Over the last few years, Black Sheep hasconsiderably expanded the market for its leadcask ale, Black Sheep Best Bitter, a classic3.8%ABV Yorkshire bitter brewed usingYorkshire Square fermenting vessels, and it isnow widely available across the UK. In 2009,they launched a fully illuminated “Dazzler”handpump for Black Sheep Best Bitter - the firstof its kind to the market - giving cask ale thepresence on the bar that it richly deserves! In2010 a revised version of Golden Sheep ondraught was launched - a gloriously refreshingblonde beer that has seen great success over thesummer period, and is now part of thepermanent range.

The last year has also seen plenty of activity atBlack Sheep including the creation of a limitededition Imperial Russian Stout as part of theGreat Baltic Adventure, and the launch of BlackSheep’s first fully fledged seasonal beer range.The first in the range for Autumn and Winter2011 is Ruddy Ram, a 4% 'cracking YorkshirePorter' - the perfect winter warmer!

Black Sheep bottled ales are well establishednationally, with their lead beer, Black Sheep Ale,regularly in the top 10 bottled ales. Black SheepAle at 4.4% ABV, now in an eco-friendlylightweight bottle, is available nationwide fromvirtually all the major supermarket retailersalongside the rest of our excellent range. Thiswas complemented by the launch of BlackSheep Ale in a Can in 2011 with Tesco and twonew beers for the Sainsburys Taste theDifference range.

As Paul Theakston says, “We are rightly proud ofour award-winning range of bottled and caskales and only brew our beers from traditionalhigh-quality raw materials: crystal clear daleswater from our own well, Maris Otter maltedbarley for extra flavour, a little roasted malt forcolour and flavour, and generous amounts ofwhole English hops to make the beer reallyrefreshing. Such a material bill is more expensivethan the average, but we think it’s well worth theextra!”

Telephone 01765 680100www.blacksheepbrewery.co.uk


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White Scar Cave, in the Yorkshire DalesNational Park, is the longest show cave inBritain. There are underground waterfalls andstreams, and thousands of stalactites. The curious cave formations include the Devil’sTongue, the Arum Lily, and the remarkablylifelike Judge’s Head. Guides lead visitors alongthe well-lit paths and explain the features. Thehighlight of the tour is the 200,000 year oldBattlefield Cavern. Over 330 feet long, with itsroof soaring in places to 100 feet, this is one ofthe largest caverns in Britain. Also shown on thetour are fine examples of the geological featureknown as flowstone, and a display of fluorescingstalactites.

Until 1923 these underground wondersremained a secret of nature. In August that yeara Cambridge undergraduate undertook a hikingtour of the area. He noticed a slight fissure inthe ground, and decided to investigate. Perhapscoincidentally for an explorer, he bore the

splendid name Christopher Francis Drake Long.Wearing only his summer clothes of shirt andshorts, and lighting his way with candles stuck inthe brim of his hat, he crawled into the lowpassage. Spurred on by the distant roar of water,he struggled over jagged rocks and throughpools, until eventually he found himself at thefoot of a waterfall. White Scar Cave had beendiscovered, and its name was derived from theoutcrops of pale rock above the entrance. Thehuge Battlefield Cavern was found in 1971, itsboulder-strewn floor suggestive of fearsomeconflict between prehistoric giants. An accesstunnel 215 feet in length was driven by Cornishtin miners so that visitors may enjoy thisawesome spectacle. Look out for the ancientmud pools!

White Scar Cave, Ingleton, North Yorkshire LA6 3AW. Telephone 01524 241244 www.whitescarcave.co.uk

WHITE SCAR CAVE

© Robbie Shone

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Open daily 10am-5.30pm from February 11th - November 2nd 2012

New for 2012 ! Local rare breed sheep, audio visual tours and artisan chocolaterie.

•Spectacular falconry displays•Archery demonstrations •Wild Boar Park

•Medieval nursery, childrens’ costumes, trails, & activity packs •Beautiful gardens, maze and bee hives•Tea room serving delicious homemade and locally sourced foods •Group tours and packages

Enjoy the ultimate medieval experience in the historic heart of Wensleydale.

See website for events listing, wedding closures and other restrictions.

T: 01969 623981. W: www.boltoncastle.co.uk . E: [email protected]

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The Settle-Carlisle Railway is one of the mostscenic railways in the world and passengers enjoythe wonderful views of two of England’sgreatest rural treasures – the Yorkshire Dalesand the Eden Valley. Views of the Three Peaks(Whernside, Peny-y-Ghent and Ingleborough)the highest point of the Pennines, Crossfell, andthe unforgettable landscape of Dentdale makethe journey a memorable experience. During theheyday of Victorian railway building, the Settle-Carlisle line was the last mainline railway to bebuilt in England using sheer physical might tocreate a railway featuring wonderfully engineeredviaducts and tunnels. Renovated signal boxes,water towers and station furniture complementthe beautifully maintained Victorian stations,many of which are adorned by colourfulsummer floral displays. The scenery is not theonly unique aspect of this line. Support andcollaboration between Northern Rail, NetworkRail, The Friends of the Settle-Carlisle Line, theS&C Trust, The Settle-Carlisle RailwayDevelopment company and a variety of fundingbodies has resulted in a vast number ofimprovements since the line was reprieved fromclosure in 1989.

Group travel bookings are one such example.Tour operators and organisers of any group often or more people travelling together cancontact the Freephone number 0800 98 007 66to speak to a representative who will advise,assist and book the trip. Bookings are forwardedon to Northern Rail and The Friends of theSettle-Carlisle line where an on-train adviser co-ordinator then arranges for a volunteer guide toaccompany the group on the train. TheDevelopment Company’s on-train refreshmentservice makes sure (as far as possible) that thereis a trolley on board. This successful partnershipmeans the Settle-Carlisle can offer a reallymemorable, comfortable, informative journey.At any time of the year you can be guaranteed awarm welcome to the Settle-Carlisle railway.

SETTLE - CARLISLE

RAILWAY

Dentdale

Friendly trolley service

Useful Information For those people wishing to take the journey,you can turn up at any one of the stations andboard the train. Tickets are available from theconductor on the train or from staffed stations,such as Settle and Appleby. All the informationon taking your journey on the S&C is availablefrom www.settle-carlisle.co.uk. A mobile website is available for all smart phones and theSettle-Carlisle app with audio guide is availablefree for iPhones. You can also follow us onTwitter. The Settle-Carlisle Railway is part of thenational rail network. Diesel sprinter trains,operated by Northern Rail run all year (exceptChristmas Day and Boxing Day).

The Friends of the Settle Carlisle line(FoSCL) support all aspects of this route. Aswell as providing On Train Guides they alsoregularly lead Guided Walks from stations alongthe line and at the historic Ribblehead site. Theyhelp to produce and distribute promotionalleaflets to boost passenger numbers and lookafter station gardens, providing heritage stylebenches and re-painting woodwork. Moreinformation and details on how to join theFriends is available on the web sitewww.foscl.org.uk

The Settle-Carlisle Railway DevelopmentCompany works closely with both the Friends

and Northern and other agencies to deliverstation improvements, such as the major stationrefurbishment at both Settle and Appleby;promote the line; operate the group travelbookings and the on board trolley service. Forall information on the Development Companyvisit www.scrdc.co.uk

CELTIC CONNECTION – travelling to orfrom Glasgow?Try the scenic route between Yorkshire andScotland via the S&C – it’s lovely and its cheaper!Travel on the 0529 from Leeds, changing atCarlisle and arrive in Glasgow at 0945.Alternatively travel from Glasgow on the 0428changing at Carlisle and arriving in Leeds at0837. Other connections are available during theday. Fares are route dependent so you musttravel via the S&C but you could save a fortuneand experience one of the England’s most scenicroutes as well.

All travel information available from the websitewww.settle-carlisle.co.uk or by calling NationalRail Enquiries on 08457 48 49 50 (24 hours)

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Step back in time and enjoy a train ride throughthe heart of Bronte country. Most services areoperated by steam trains, but the railway alsoserves the local community, with many peopleusing the morning diesel railcar services to dotheir shopping in Keighley.

When British Railways closed the line in 1962,local people and railway enthusiasts joinedforces to try and save it. A Preservation Societywas formed and, after many years of volunteerstruggle, the line finally re-opened to passengertraffic in 1968.

KWVR Society members decided to recreate theatmosphere of a country branch line of the1950s. This has been hugely popular, not leastwith film-makers and TV producers, and therailway provides a working background for anyperiod from Victorian times up to the presentday. Over the years, the Railway has appeared inmany TV and film productions including Yanks,Sherlock Holmes, Treasure Hunt, Poirot, Bornand Bred, The Royal, Where The Heart Is, ATouch Of Frost, Songs Of Praise and manymore.

The KWVR and the station at Oakworth wereused as the location for the classic 1970 film TheRailway Children. Be sure to stop off or look outat this delightful Edwardian gas-lit station.

The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway is a singletrack line running 4 miles 75 chains fromKeighley to Oxenhope. The 0 milepost is on thesite of the former Keighley Station Junctionsignal box, approximately 2 chains to the east ofthe present connection with the national railnetwork. The "up" direction is to London andhence from Oxenhope to Keighley. Locomotiverun-round facilities exist at both ends of the line:at Keighley the locos. use the track runningthrough platform 3, at Oxenhope a dedicatedrun-round loop line is used. A passing loop,which may be used by all classes of trains, islocated at Damems Junction (2.3 miles) . Agoods loop also exists at Haworth (4 miles) butthis is currently out of use until signalling workhas been completed. __The steepest gradient onthe line is 1 in 56, which occurs in two places:Keighley Curve (0m.10ch to 0m.27ch.) andbetween Ingrow Tunnel (1m.35ch.) andDamems station (2m.0ch). The average gradientof the line is 1 in 70.

THE KEIGHLEY AND WORTH

VALLEY RAILWAY

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There are two tunnels on the line:Ingrow Tunnel (150 yards long) andMytholmes Tunnel (75 yards long).The Railway's bridges number from 1to 31 plus "X" of which four have beenabandoned; 18 are underbridges and 9overbridges (Bridge X was on thestation approach road at Oxenhopeover a mill dam) but there have beenmany alterations since the line wasconstructed by the Keighley & WorthValley Railway Co. in 1867.

Steam train services operate everyweekend throughout the year and dailyin summer. There are six superblyrestored gas-lit stations, a fleet of steamlocomotives and historic carriages, a Museum ofRail Travel at Ingrow, buffets at Keighley andOxenhope - and even a CAMRA real ale bar onmany trains. There are picnic areas at Keighley,Haworth and Oxenhope and many more qualityfacilities for visitors.

Whether you’re travelling on the KWVR as aconvenient rail link between the National Railnetwork at Keighley and on to Haworth andOxenhope, or as an enjoyable trip to the past on

the country’s last remaining complete branchline railway, you’re sure to enjoy your time at theKeighley & Worth Valley Railway.

The KWVR is operated entirely by volunteermembers of the Society. New volunteers arealways welcome for any part of the Railway’sactivities. If you’d like to join, call HaworthStation on 01535 645214.

www.kwvr.co.uk

The Tropical Butterfly House, Wildlife andFalconry Centre near Sheffield offers a wild dayout for all the family!

Visitors will discover a real rainforest experiencein the Butterfly House with hundreds of free-flying butterflies and birds and meet creepy-crawlies and reptiles from around the world.

The attraction is renowned for its amazinganimal encounters, providing unforgettableexperiences meeting the centre’s most popularresidents up close; including Meerkats, snakes,birds of prey, the skunk and many more! Youmay also get the chance to feed many of theanimals, including the beautiful lorikeets andfriendly free-roaming farm-animals.

The popular Aerial Antics bird displays havebeen further improved with the addition of apair of White Storks who have been joining theother magnificent birds of prey and free-flyingMacaws and delighting audiences. The centre isalso now training 2 baby Hahn’s Macaws to takepart in the shows over the coming weeks.

Other new additions this year include the PrairieDogs in their purpose-built enclosure and a babyboom in Meerkat Mansion has resulted in anincrease from just 5 to 13!

The centre delivers a fantastic programme ofannual themed events and 2011 has seen visitornumbers higher than ever. This December, theTropical Butterfly House will be getting into the

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TROPICAL BUTTERFLY HOUSE,WILDLIFE AND FALCONRY CENTRE

Flint Harris Hawk

festive spirit with the Stables & Sleigh Bellsevent; full details available on the centre’swebsite, Facebook and Twitter.

As well as a great family day out, the centreprovides Keeper Experiences and BirthdayParties and also welcomes pre-booked groupand School visits, for which it has excellentfacilities.With further improvements to the Play Park andActivity Centre planned over the Winter monthsand some exciting new animal arrivals plannedfor Spring 2012, the Tropical Butterfly Houselooks forward to delighting new and returningvisitors.

Open daily and just 5 minutes from the M1,junction 31. For further information please call01909 569 416 or visit www.butterflyhouse.co.uk

Telephone 01909 569 416www.butterflyhouse.co.ukwww.facebook.com/TropicalButterflyHousewww.twitter.com/Tropbutterfly

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Tree Nymph

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Richmond Brewing Company Limited is a sixbarrel microbrewery established by brewersAndy Hamilton and Richard Bowerman,situated in The Station, a new tourist attractionin Richmond. The company provides first classales in bottle and cask to businesses in TheStation complex as well as Richmond and theYorkshire area.

Andy has a wealth of production experience inthe brewing industry in a career spanning 28years with Tennents, Ruddles, Websters, JohnSmiths, Theakstons and Newcastle Brown in anumber of breweries across the UnitedKingdom. In addition he has managed a publichouse and understands the retail side of theindustry.

Richard has more than 16 years brewingexperience with Websters, Courage, John Smiths,Theakstons and Newcastle Brown. Three yearsago Richard purchased Stump Cross Caverns inYorkshire, one of the region’s foremost touristattractions and continues to develop his businesscareer.

Telephone 01748 828266www.richmondbrewing.co.uk

THE RICHMOND

BREWING COMPANY

Andy Hamilton

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With two cinema screens, a cafe-restaurant, artgallery, heritage centre and six artisan food-makers on the premises, The Station is a greatplace to start your visit to Richmond, Britain'sGreat Town of the Year 2009.

The Angel’s Share:Heavenly breads, cakes, scones and patisseriebaked fresh daily.

Archer’s Jersey Ice Cream:The range of flavours is increasing all the time.They try to keep flavours seasonal, introducingchampagne rhubarb that was grown in the farmgarden from seed, along with many fruits. Otherfruit is sourced when available from a local pickyour own farm F.W. Elgey at Piercebridge.

Lacey’s Cheese:Traditional, handmade cheeses available fromThe Station, Richmond. At Laceys Cheesetheytake great pride in their craft to bring you ahigh quality, locally produced product. Whydon't you come on down to The Station to see,first hand, how traditional cheeses are made.

The Station Gallery:Since opening in November 2007, The Stationhas quickly established a reputation as a majorNorth-East art exhibition venue. The wonderfulsurroundings of the restored Grade 2* listedVictorian railway station, with an abundance ofnatural light, original stone walls and vaultediron roof provides a wonderful ambiance todisplay art to its best advantage.

Seasons Restaurant & Cafe Bar:Seasons Restaurant has menus designed arounda modern British theme with Mediterraneaninfluences. They use fresh locally sourcedproduce wherever possible and, of course, allthe menus use seasonal ingredients.

Velvet Heaven:At Velvet Heaven theyspecialise in making topquality delicious fudgeand confectionery suchas Turkish Delight andCoconut Ice. They alsosell a range ofchocolates, truffles andtraditional sweets.

www.richmondstation.com

THE STATION,RICHMOND

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RAF Elvington, upon which the Yorkshire AirMuseum & Allied Air Forces Memorial is based,became operational with 4 Group BomberCommand in October 1942 when 77 Squadronmoved from Chivenor to become Elvington’sfirst ‘home’ squadron. Therefore, this year marksthe 70th Anniversary of the base and the arrivalof 77 Squadron. Flying Halifax bombers, theytook the war to the German industrial heartland,but suffered heaviest losses of any BomberCommand unit, with over 500 airmen loosingtheir lives from 96 Halifax aircraft shot down.

The superb Bomber Command exhibition,‘Against the Odds’, the definitive nationalexhibition on the topic, gives visitors a deepinsight into the formation and operation of thisunparalleled fighting force. This leads on to allthe other fascinating displays and exhibits, suchas the unique Air Gunners Memorial Room,

restored Control Tower, Uniform Display andmuch more. April 2011 saw the opening of thenewly refurbished “Astra” Cinema with a state ofthe art plasma screen which now shows ourunique wartime footage taken by the Frenchaircrews, depicting a day in the life of RAFElvington and following a raid to Leipzig andback, plus some fascinating new documentaries.

The acclaimed collection of historic aircraftspans the birth of flight to the supersonic ageand features the unique replica of the CayleyGlider, the Wright Flyer and other early aircraftthrough the war years with the magnificentHandley Page Halifax Bomber “Friday the13th”, the De Havilland Mosquito, DouglasDC3 Dakota and the famous Hurricane andSpitfire amongst others. The collectioncontinues to encompass the major aircraft of theCold War era – Gloster Javelin, Electric

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YORKSHIRE AIR MUSEUM

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Lightning, Hawker Hunter and the EastYorkshire built Blackburn Buccaneer andnot least the still futuristic looking 1950’sdesigned Handley Page Victor V-Bomber /K2 Tanker, which took part in both theFalklands War and the first Gulf War in itsrefuelling role. Our latest acquisition whichis causing a great deal of interest is the rarelyseen Nimrod MR2 intelligence gathering‘spy’ plane, which saw 40 years service withthe Royal Air Force. This is kept in superb‘live’ condition and will take part in ourregular “Thunder Day’s” during 2012 withexciting full engine runs.

The excellent new, Heritage Lottery funded‘Pioneers of Aviation’ exhibition features thework of Scarborough born Sir George Cayley,the ‘Father of Aeronautics’ and inventor of theaeroplane, along with that of Leeds born RobertBlackburn, who established aircraft factories inLeeds and at Brough, East Yorkshire, which stillexists today as part of BAE Systems. Blackburnestablished an early Flying School at Filey andwent on to create a long line of successful,mostly military, aircraft. The exhibition alsocovers Hull born aviator Amy Johnson, whoserecord breaking solo flights to Australia andSouth Africa are indeed the stuff of legend. Astriking interpretation of the ‘Dambusters’ raidswith the Barnes Wallis designed bouncing bombis a major feature, along with Wallis’s work withthe R100 airship at Howden.

The Yorkshire Air Museum prides itself onbeing the unique Allied Air Forces Memorial,widely regarded as being the only such dedicatedMemorial. We take care to maintain theauthentic ambience of the wartime era, whilst atthe same time providing an exciting andinteresting day out for all the family.

There really is something for everybody here,from the tranquil Memorial Gardens that haveearned the coveted Silver Gilt commendation inthe Yorkshire in bloom competition, to all the

aircraft and exhibits mentioned before. Manyfascinating artefacts and stories can be found –you never know when you could find yourselftalking to a real veteran of WWII or someoneamongst our team of volunteers who has flownsome of the more modern aircraft.

Our exciting Events Programme features lecturepresentations, regular “Thunder Days” with thepowering up of our ‘live’ jets, and this year, forthe first time, several of our propeller drivenaircraft will be live and taking part, addinggreatly to the excitement with the special soundthat these aircraft make. The huge BattlegroupNorth militaria show in May combines a historicmilitary vehicle rally with a superb wargamingshow and living history displays and will thisyear mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee with a25 pounder Field Gun battery salute, in truemilitary fashion.

Telephone: 01904 608595 Web: www.yorkshireairmuseum.org email: [email protected]

77 Squadron aircrew - 1943

YYORKSHIREORKSHIRE

AAIRIR MMUSEUMUSEUM

RAF HOLMPTON

Bunker Tours 2012

RAF Holmpton was built in the 1950's as anEarly Warning Radar Station which operateduntil 1974. During the 1980's the site wasconverted into a massive headquarters for RAFSupport Command and this remained in operation until 1991. During it's most recent history a massive refit was undertaken in the mid1990's to provide an experimental HQ for thenew UK Air CCIS System.

Today, although still operational RAF Holmptonalso hosts an Award Winning Public Exhibition.Qualified Guides take visitors through themassive Underground Bunker nearly 100ftbelow ground and all tours are fully interpretedwith Films, Shows and Demonstrations. Forthose who may be a little apprehensive, thebunker is a huge space fully air conditioned,heated and well lit throughout, almost a wholeworld underground.

For 2012 there will be enhanced viewing areasand some new features,all part of our continuingimprovements to the site, where all visitors willreceive a warm welcome.

Full details and updates - www.rafholmpton.com

Telephone : 01964 630208email : [email protected] : www.rafholmpton.com

The Guardroom

Hospital

Blast Doors

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Hospital

Travel between Leeds, Skipton, Settle and Carlisle andenjoy some of the most spectacular countryside inEngland.

A scheduled diesel service operates on a daily basisthroughout the year (except Xmas and Boxing Day).

For details of times and fares call National Rail Enquirieson 08457 48 49 50 (24 hrs)

Group discounts are available for 10 or more people travelling together. For more information call

Freephone 0800 98 007 66Please quote the Yorkshire SignpostPlease quote the Yorkshire Signpost

All information, including a full MP3 audio guide to theroute, is available from the web site

www.settle-carlisle.co.uk

The Settle-CarlisleThe Settle-CarlisleRailwayRailway

Following a £1.7m refurbishment DarlingtonRailway Centre and Museum re-launched on 5thApril 2008 with a new name and a new look andre-branded as “Head of Steam”.

The newly refurbished museum offers a uniqueexperience to visitors through interactivedisplays and audio visual equipment, telling thestory of the history of Darlington and theimpact of railways. Many of the highly popularold exhibits still feature, such as the locomotivesin the main area of the museum and these arecomplemented and enhanced with newexhibitions and interactive displays for people ofall ages. This includes the use of audio, visualand sensory information, as well as otheractivities such as handling objects, puzzles forchildren and much, much more.

A new and improved cafe facility providesquality drinks, snacks and light bites, and in thesummer months, this extends to include alfresco seating on the platform outside. There isalso a temporary exhibition room with ascheduled programme providing a variety ofexhibits

catering for different audiences. This newspace will include exhibitions from themuseum’s own collection, touringexhibitions from other museums andexhibitions of art and objects fromcommunity and school groups.

Other new facilities include The NorthernRail Activity Room – used for a wide varietyof activities from craft activities in schoolholidays, to school visits, to talks andmeetings. There is also a children’s play roomfor our younger visitors. The museum has aconference facility which can be bookedthrough the Council's Occasions team on01325 388410.

The Head of Steam - Darlington RailwayMuseum redevelopment has been funded by theEuropean Regional Development Fund,Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage,Northern Rock Foundation, Railway HeritageTrust, Museums and Libraries Archives NorthEast and Darlington Borough Council.

Telephone 01325 460532www.head-of-steam.co.uk

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HEAD OF STEAM

Locomotion No.1

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Over 60 television programmes and films havefeatured carriages and steam locomotives fromthe Ingrow Museum of Rail Travel, so there’s agood chance you may have seen some treasureditems from the museum’s Collection. Themuseum has just filmed sequences for BBC TV’sSouth Riding, starring Anna Maxwell Martin.

The whole family can enjoy a visit – you don’thave to be a confirmed railway enthusiast!Children and adults of all ages will enjoyexploring the differences between 1st, 2nd and3rd class, and listening to the soundpresentations as they sit inside the carriages.Video presentations help to bring the past to life,whilst the walls are covered with old signs andposters. Young children will enjoy hunting for

our little helpers, or finding items from our“look and find” worksheets. The confirmedenthusiast will enjoy our shop, which specialisesin out-of-print railway magazines and books.

Located adjacent to the Ingrow Loco Museum,and the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. WhenWorth Valley Railway trains are operating, askfor a Green Rover ticket, which includesadmission to both museums and one day’sunlimited travel on the KWVR

Location: South Street, Ingrow, Keighley BD215AX

Telephone 01535 680425www.vintagecarriagestrust.org

THE INGROW MUSEUM

OF RAIL TRAVEL

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What will you discover at thegreatest railway museum in theworld?

Get up close to iconic locomotives and carriages,from record breakers to history makers. Exploreour magnificent royal trains, see the replica ofStephenson’s world-changing rocket anddiscover the world of high speed travel on theJapanese bullet train.

Action-packed adventure

Live theatre, explosive science shows and realsteam rides will keep the kids entertained all day.Join in with our Explainers as they sharefantastic facts and stories. Get hands-on withcreative crafts and watch a real turntabledemonstration. Our railway-themed playgroundis the perfect place for the little ones to let offsteam.

Discover fascinating storiesWe’re home to the largest and finest collectionof royal railway vehicles in the world. Feel likeroyalty as you peek into the elegant carriages,and make sure you visit Queen Victoria’sfavourite saloon.

Lose yourself in thousands of books anddocuments in Search Engine, our library andarchive centre.

A hands-on experience youwon’t forget

Get on board awe inspiring locomotives, watchour engineers at work in The Workshop, uncoverhidden treasures in The Warehouse and maketracks to the outdoor area.

2012 Events

Wizard Week11 – 19 February 2012

The magic returns to the Museum once againwith a week of spells, tricks and mischief. Seethe steam star from the Harry Potter films.*Plus – new for 2012 – spell-binding activitiesfor wizards of all ages:

• All action wizard duels• Broomstick flying trick photography*• Best-dressed wizard competition• ‘Science of magic’ spectacular shows• Stunning owls on displayAdmission Free*A small charge applies

NATIONAL RAILWAY

MUSEUM

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Full details at www.nrm.org.uk/wizardweekDetails could be subject to change.

Railfest 20122 – 10 June 2012

Get fired up at Britain’s biggest rail celebration,with 9 exhilarating days of amazing activities forall ages*. Experience a grand gathering of over30 awe-inspiring locomotives including FlyingScotsman, City of Truro, Tornado and manymore.

Climb inside drivers’ cabs, ride on trains big andsmall and see toy trains from big brands. Get upclose to the fastest, strongest and newest locos,and catch rarely-seen vehicles like snow ploughsand leaf blowers.

For information and tickets, visitwww.nrm.org.uk/railfest2012 In association with Rail, Model Railway andSteam Railway.

Open Daily (excl 24-26 December) 10.00-18.00Leeman Road, York, YO26 4XJ

Please note that charges apply for some NRMevents. Information is correct at the time ofgoing to print.

www.nrm.org.uk


All images © NRM

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The Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes tellsthe story of the Yorkshire Dales landscape andpeople over the last 10,000 years.

Stroll through the Time Tunnel to see uniqueexhibits from the Stone Age to Victorian times.Climb aboard our static train and find out howfamily life has changed in the Dales.

Take a walk down the 'lead mine' and discoverhow the industries of the Dales, together withfarming, have helped to shape this treasuredlandscape.

Events, demonstrations of traditional crafts andchanging exhibitions help bring the Museumalive. Hands on, interactive exhibits make it funfor children.

There are education programmes for schoolsand a research room where you can explore localand family history.

Take a look at the website for up to date information - www.yorkshiredales.org.uk

To contact the Dales Countryside MuseumTourist Information and National Park Centre

Open 10am to 5pm every day Telephone 01969 666210 or email : [email protected]

DALES COUNTRYSIDE

MUSEUM

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The Brontës are, perhaps, the world’s mostfamous literary family and Haworth Parsonage,now the Brontë Parsonage Museum, was theirhome from 1820 to 1861. Their short, brilliantlives have fascinated people ever since.Charlotte, Emily and Anne Brontë were theauthors of some of the best-loved books in theEnglish language. Charlotte’s novel Jane Eyre,Emily’s Wuthering Heights, and Anne’s TheTenant of Wildfell Hall were all written in thishouse. Many of the Brontës’ manuscripts and letters areexhibited in the Parsonage, but as well as itsliterary significance, the house still retains apowerful atmosphere of the Brontës’ time,giving a wonderful insight into their day to daylives. The rooms the Brontës once used arelargely unchanged and filled with their furniture,clothes and personal possessions, as well as arange of domestic artefacts of the period. In addition to the atmospheric period rooms ofthe house there is also a major, permanentexhibition on the Brontës' lives and works,interactive displays for families and children anda busy programme of special events through theyear.

New for 2012

Special Exhibition: Parsonage Treasures – a history

The Brontë Society is one of the oldest literarysocieties in the world and the Parsonagemuseum holds the world’s largest collection ofmaterial relating to the Brontës; including letters,manuscripts, artworks, furniture, clothing,domestic artefacts and personal treasures. Themuseum’s special exhibition 2012 will focus onthe fascinating history of this remarkablecollection and reveal some of the secrets certainartefacts hold about the Brontës and their livesin Haworth. How so much of this invaluablematerial was preserved and how it came to bepart of the museum’s collection, how thatcollection has developed over the decades andhow it continues to grow still with newacquisitions added each year. For further details,including dates, about the exhibition, pleasecontact the museum.

Telephone01535 [email protected]

BRONTË PARSONAGE

MUSEUM

Disused farm buildings transformed into stunning artgallery on Yorkshire Wolds

For artists and art-lovers alike, a new delightawaits on the picturesque Yorkshire Wolds. TheYorkshire Wolds Gallery and Coffee Shop hasrecently opened its doors as an exhibition spacefor artists from across Yorkshire and the NorthEast, as well as a much-needed studio space forworking artists in the locality.

The stylish contemporary gallery is housed inrestored Victorian farm buildings whichthemselves lend charm and atmosphere to itsrural location on top of the rolling chalkland ofthe Yorkshire Wolds, two miles south ofStaxton, near Scarborough.

The Gallery is the brainchild of artist GinnySutton, who saw the potential of the spaciousbut disused outbuildings at Willerby Wold Farm.

The farm has been in the Sutton family for threegenerations and has seen many changes over theyears, from the days of horse-drawn ploughs tothe first combine harvester. The traditionalrange of farm buildings is no longer needed forfarming purposes and Ginny saw an opportunityboth to diversify into this new development andrestore the farm buildings as a long terminvestment.

“During the last year of my Fine Arts degree atHull, I started thinking about studio space andrealised how difficult it was for new artists tofind adequate space to work or exhibit and toretain the companionship of a college settingwhich can be such a positive influence. I beganto see the potential of our old farm buildings fora community of artists,” says Ginny.

“Very few galleries have coffee shops attached,and given that I have a background in catering, itmade sense to introduce a complementarybusiness, which will add to the appeal of theGallery as a visitor destination."

With the support of her husband Oliver, and histwo brothers who share ownership of WillerbyWold Farm, Ginny set about realising thatpotential and applied to DEFRA (Departmentfor the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)for a farm diversification scheme grant.

With very few tourist attractions on the Woldsand after Scarborough recently received aninjection of EU funds to promote the artisticand cultural development of the east coastresort, planning permission for the YorkshireWolds Gallery got the green light and the dreamstarted to become a reality.

YORKSHIRE WOLDS

GALLERY

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Over the course of 12 months, the tin-roofedbrick barns formerly used to store tractors andother farm machinery, were transformed into astunning 90 sq m contemporary art gallery,retaining the character of the barn’s manyoriginal features, and providing a magnificentspace in which to promote and showcase thework of the many professional artists andsculptors living and working in Yorkshire andthe North East.

The size of the gallery enables large works of artto be exhibited, allowing for an interesting andvaried programme of exhibitions, fromlandscapes to still life, from sculpture to nudeand figurative.

“The main gallery also makes a fantasticentertaining space for weddings, private lunchesor as a lunch or tea-stop for tour groups visitinglocal gardens and attractions,” says Ginny. “Tobe surrounded by beautiful works of art orsculpture makes it a venue with a distinctdifference.”

The Yorkshire Wolds Gallery is open fromWednesdays to Sundays plus Bank Holidays,from 10am until 4pm.

In addition, the old two-storey Victoriangranary, derelict since the 1940s, has re-openedits doors as a 40 sq m private exhibition space on

the ground floor. The original stone steps leadupstairs to two connected studios, eachcomprising five partitioned workspaces forartists complete with kitchen and bathroom,original high beamed ceilings and plentifulnatural light.

A graduate of the Central School of Art inLondon, and more recently Hull University’sFine Art degree course, Ginny’s life-longambition has been to get back to working as anartist. “To be able to do this, and at the sametime create a small community here, which hasbeen lacking since the farm workers left theWolds, is absolutely a dream come true for me,”she says.

Yorkshire Wolds Gallery is supported by theEuropean Agricultural Fund for RuralDevelopment; Yorkshire Forward, the region’sdevelopment agency; and DEFRA, theDepartment for the Environment, Food andRural Affairs.

Telephone 01944 710747www.yorkshirewoldsgallery.co.uk


Yorkshire Wolds Gallery Cafe

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The National Coal Mining Museum for Englandoffers you the unique opportunity to travel 140metres underground, down one of Britain’soldest mines. Take a step back in time with anex-miner as your guide who will take you aroundthe underground workings, where models andmachinery depict methods and conditions ofmining from the early 1800s to the present day.

Above ground, the story of coal is brought tolife through the Museum’s interactive exhibitionsand audio-visual plasma screens. In the MiningLives gallery it gives a glimpse into the life of aminer at home, on the pit surface and at play.There is the chance to see into a mining family’sback yard from the 1940s and find out what theminers did during World War II.

Coal mining was dangerous and difficult work.The Coal Interface gallery shows a few of thehazards of working underground. There is theopportunity to see some of the problems minershad to deal with and to try and solve them.

Visit the pithead baths and the Victorian steamwinder; follow the nature trail and find theadventure playground, and then meet the poniesalong with Finn the Clydesdale heavy horse.

The Hope Pit complex, a secondary colliery siteat the Museum is where visitors can explore theinteractive displays and multi-media scienceexhibits. The science of coal mining bursts intolife and promises to send you away buzzing withideas!

There is free admission to all visitors andopening hours are 10.00 am - 5.00 pm dailyexcept for 1 January and 24-26 December. Doarrive early to book onto an underground tour.Temperature underground is 12c; we stronglyrecommend warm practical clothing andsensible flat shoes. Unfortunately children underfive years old are not permitted on theunderground tour, however there is an indoorplay area especially for them.

For more information contact the Museum on01924 848806 or visit www.ncm.org.uk

Caphouse Colliery from Hope

THE NATIONAL COAL MINING

MUSEUM FOR ENGLAND

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After an 18 month long restoration programme– during which the mill’s cap and sails had to beremoved completely for some months, and thenrun on two sails for a further six months – thenew sail was completed and replaced duringsummer 2010, and Skidby Windmill is nowoperating with all four sails!

While the restoration project was in progress,the new miller, Neil Johnson, took theopportunity to work through the formal millingqualifications offered by the NationalAssociation of British and Irish Millers(NABIM) with the result that Skidby now has itsfirst qualified miller. As a result, Neil has beenexperimenting with different methods ofrunning the mill to produce a fine, almost silky-textured wholemeal flour. Skidby now supplieswell-known East Riding restaurants such as thePipe and Glass at South Dalton and theMichelin-starred White’s in Beverley with flour;this same flour is available for visitors topurchase in the mill shop, and is also used bySails, the café in the mill courtyard for some ofits products.

Historically, grain from the various farmssurrounding Skidby mill was brought to the millto be ground into flour. However, at the end of

the 19th century, British agriculture wasseriously depressed; many small farms failed,while grain from North America was‘dumped’ – that is, imported at prices socheap that it undercut home-produced wheatcatastrophically. The implications forwindmills were equally catastrophic; NorthAmerican grain was too ‘hard’ to be milledconsistently in traditional windmills, and wasprocessed using steel roller-mills, built in theports through which the grain was imported.In East Yorkshire, where hundreds of millshistorically operated, the numbers weredrastically reduced by the early 1900s, and ofthose that did manage to stagger on, mostwere grinding animal feed products. SkidbyWindmill survived as a working mill becausethe Thompson family who bought it in the

mid-19th century had also invested in a steamroller mill in Hull, and kept the windmill goingout of sentiment. This was primarily for theproduction of animal feed, although the millcame back into its own producing flour duringthe two World Wars.

The mill was eventually sold by the Thompsonfamily, along with the Hull business, andproduced animal feed for another decade beforebeing ‘sold’ to the then Beverley BoroughCouncil to be a ‘museum of milling’. Nowowned by the East Riding of Yorkshire Council,the windmill is maintained and managed as aworking windmill, open daily to the public. Thestory of the people who worked the land in theYorkshire Wolds, and of the Thompson familythemselves, is told in a series of displays in thetwo warehouses either side of the mill tower.Neil Johnson runs the mill – which is the lastworking example of those hundreds of EastRiding windmills - Wednesdays to Sundays,weather permitting.

Telephone 01482 848405

SKIDBY MILL

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LIGHTWATER VALLEY, THEME PARK

& SHOPPING VILLAGEEscape to Lightwater Valley and discover theexcitement of a day bursting with thrills, chillsand adventure; catapult to dizzying heightsaboard Whirlwind, a typhoon of screams that’lltwist even the bravest of souls, and hurtlethrough some of the deepest, darkest forestaboard Europe’s longest roller coaster – TheUltimate.

Explore the swashbuckling world of SkeletonCove, from the spinningly explosive PowderKegs to the mighty Black Pearl, before venturinginto the mysterious subterranean word ofRaptor Attack’s abandoned mineshaft, shootingthe raging water of the Wild River Rapids and‘taking to the skies’ in the powerful grip of the Eagle’s Claw.

Events for 2012 :

The Ultimate PlungeMonday 4th June & Saturday 8th September

Always fancied taking the ultimate plunge from160ft above the valley? Then now’s your chanceas the UK BUNGEE CLUB will be joining uson-site and giving guests the opportunity to scaleinsane heights and to take the ultimate plunge!Must be pre-booked throughwww.ukbungee.co.uk

Swashbuckling September :Pirate Weekends

8th & 9th, 15th & 16th, 22nd & 23rd, 29th & 30th

AVAST YE SCURVY LANDLUBBERS! ThisSeptember, join us aboard the Black Pearl &Flying Cutlass to meet the marauding pirates ofSkeleton Cove. Learn to talk & fight like abuccaneer, listen to tales of seafaring heroicsfrom our old sea dogs, win chests full ofdoubloons in our valley-wide treasure hunt andwatch our marauding filibuster of a show! Withcompetitions also running for the best dressedpirate, have your finest Tricorn at the ready …

The Ultimate

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Frightwater Valley31st October - 4th November

From terrifying live actionhorror mazes and hair-raising frightmare zonesto gruesome Halloween shows and blood-curdling inhabitants, watch light turn to dark asthe valley becomes shrouded in a menacingcloak of supernatural delight.

Usual all day rates apply.Entry after 1:00pm for only £13.00 (must bepre-booked online).

NightwaterValley

10th & 11th November

Fireworks are back as the2012 season finishes with abang! Come and see a

thrilling cocktail of pyrotechnical wizardry,awesome rides and chilled out vibes as insaneexplosions light-up the valley.

Rides close at 5:00pm. Firework displays fired at5:30pm.Event close at 6:00pm.

Entry after 1:00pm for only £13.00 & entry after4:00pm for only £9.00 (must be pre-booked).

Telephone 0871 720 0011leisure@lightwatervalley.co.ukwww.lightwatervalley.co.ukRipon, North Yorkshire HG4 3HT

This year the Museum celebrates its first QuarterCentury. Going strong for 25 years and seen byhalf a million visitors! A favourite among‘personality’ museums, the Captain CookMemorial Museum tells the story of Britain’sgreatest explorer. A wealth of authenticpaintings, contemporary maps, and originalletters bring his world to life, from his early yearsin Whitby to his death in Hawaii in 1779 – hisassociates, his supporters in the Navy, the crews,the artists and scientists who sailed with him tothe South Seas.

The Museum is located in Walker’s House inWhitby’s Grape Lane backing on to the harbour.The 17th century house, an oasis of peace intoday’s bustling town, was home to threegenerations of the ship-owning Walker family towhom Cook was apprenticed.

Last year’s acquisitions, on display for the firsttime, are about Mrs. Cook: a copy of the seashanty composed by a sailor on Resolutionhonouring Cook, and treasured by Mrs. Cookthe rest of her life; a signed letter about herpension; a mourning ring commemoratingAdmiral Isaac Smith (midshipman First Voyage;first to set foot in eastern Australia).

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The Captain CookMuseum, Whitby

John Webber, View in Queen Charlotte’s Sound, NewZealand © CCMM Whitby

Mourning ring in memory of Isaac Smith ©CCMM Whitby

2012 special exhibition

‘Eating the Exotic: Food on a voyage to Polynesia’

This exhibition, the second in our ‘Fish &Ships’ series, examines the foodsencountered in the South Seas. With originalCook material loaned by the Pitt RiversMuseum, Oxford, we explore how food wasgathered, cultivated and eaten in Polynesia.What did Cook and his companions think ofthe strange and exotic foods they ate, andwhat impact did transplantation andintroduction of species have?

The Museum is independent, a charityreceiving no regular public funding. Its 25thanniversary is an opportunity to lookforward, launching the Quarter CenturyFund, the springboard for the next 25 years.For details see our website.

Grape Lane, Whitby YO22 4BAOpen Daily – 1 March to 31 OctoberTelephone 01947 601900www.cookmuseumwhitby.co.uk

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Tahitian shark hook ©Pitt Rivers MuseumOxford

Botanical drawing of breadfruit plant,© CCMM Whitby

From coast to woodland, moorland to lushgreen dales, the scenery in the North YorkMoors is simply breathtaking. There’s plenty ofheritage and local history too from the largestIron Age hill fort in the north of England toatmospheric ruined abbeys and the signs of aonce bustling industrial past.

Charming moorland and coastal villages nestleamongst the landscape each with their owntraditions, customs and tales to tell. Pubs andcafes offer a warm welcome and there is an

eclectic mix of museums and attractions thatprovide a fascinating slice of the area’s history.

If you love the great outdoors, then this is theplace for you. Cycling, walking, horse riding,surfing, sailing, gliding – there is something foreveryone. There are walking routes for allabilities from short strolls to the morechallenging Cleveland Way National Trail and anextensive network of bridleways to take you uphill and down dale for as far as your legs (orhorse!) can take you.

NORTH YORK MOORS

NATIONAL PARK

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To get a feel for the people, places and wildlifeof this special place and for inside informationon must sees and dos, head to one of twoNational Park Centres. New for Easter 2012, afascinating exhibition at Sutton Bank NationalPark Centre will take you on a journeythrough time to discover how this iconiclandscape was created and the influence it’shad on people through the ages.

At The Moors National Park Centre, Danbythe kids can play on the indoor climbing wallor outdoor play area or you can wander alongriverside and woodland trails and take a lookat the Inspired by… Gallery with itschanging exhibitions of local arts and crafts.

This year, the North York Moors iscelebrating 60 years as a National Park. Tomark this special occasion, there will be arange of events taking place throughout theyear. To find out more, pick up a copy of thefree Out & About Guide at National Parkand Tourist Information Centres. You canalso get a copy by calling 01439 770657 oremailing [email protected]

For more information on the North YorkMoors National Park go to :www.northyorkmoors.org.uk

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All images © Mike Kipling

YORKSHIRE WATER

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At yorkshirewater.com/enjoyment you can now download our country walks. Just the joB YorkshireWater

Langsett Reservoir between Sheffield and Huddersfield, which now boasts itsown three-mile easy access woodland walk for pushchair and wheelchairs.

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At yorkshirewater.com/enjoyment you can now download our country walks. Just the joB YorkshireWater

Yorkshire is home to some breathtaking sceneryand it really is the land of opportunity when itcomes to the great outdoors.

But when you take to the rolling landscapes ofYorkshire for a walk around a reservoir, youprobably wouldn’t realise the land is owned andmaintained by Yorkshire Water. In fact, watercompanies are among the largest landowners inthe UK and play a significant part in the way thecountryside looks today.

Yorkshire Water owns just over 72,000 acres ofland and more than a hundred reservoirs, withdetails of more than 30 circular walks availableon its website since 2004.

More recently, the company has been workingon new ways of enhancing visitors’ experiencesand is encouraging more people to make themost of the countryside on their doorsteps.

“Research told us the majority of people whocome to our reservoirs have been before – andprobably keep coming back,” said spokesmanSteve Parsley. “However, although most peoplehave their favourites, what they may not realise isthat there is often another site within easy reachwhich offers something completely different.

“As a result, we’ve been looking at how we cantell people about the options they have whenthey’re planning a day out in the countryside.”

More information on walks on Yorkshire Waterland – including the long-distance YorkshireWater Way – can be found on the companywebsite at www.yorkshirewater.com Leafletswhich include maps and directions can also beobtained by telephoning 01274 692856.

Peace and quiet is a given at North Yorkshire's Swinsty Reservoir -one of the country's best-known waters for fly fishing.

Land of Opportunity

The Trans Pennine Trailcomes of age.

2010 was the 21st Anniversary of the TransPennine Trail and things have been very hectic tosay the least!

In June there was a baton relay from all fiveterminals of the Trail (Southport, Hornsea,Leeds, Chesterfield and York) through toBarnsley, the mid-point of the Trail. Each ofthe batons were carried by an extremely widerange of users through their own local area –from your everyday walkers, cyclists and horseriders to large penguins, blade runners, afantastic array of schools, Volunteer Rangersand Friends of the Trans Pennine Trail. Indeedmany of the Mayors across the Trail also cameout to support this momentous occasion.People turned out in force to support the Trailand the weather was perfect.

During June there was also the ‘CelebrationFestival’ at Barnsley. This event was theculmination of the baton relays arriving at theirfinal destination. The President of the EuropeanRamblers Association, Lis Neilsen, was presentto accept the batons arriving. The festival was agreat way for everyone to enjoy lots of activitiesto help promote healthy living including a cyclesmoothie maker, Play Bus, Rangers making birdboxes / bat boxes with children and adults,health sessions (including seated aerobics, healthchecks, blood pressure checks etc), penalty shootout with Barnsley Football Club mascot, stuntbike team, bike sculpture, free runners,inflatables, climbing wall, roller hockey, Nordicwalking group, cheerleaders, and lots of stallsfrom user groups, visitor attractions and healthorganisations.

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County Signpost

THE TRANS PENNINETRAIL

Telephone 01226 772574 email: [email protected].

Throughout the year there have also been horseevents across the Trail to support the 21stAnniversary but also to raise awareness of theBritish Horse Society’s Fighting for AccessFund.

…and it doesn’t have to stop there. Rememberthat the Trans Pennine Trail is a free facility foranyone to use and it’s open 24 hours a day 7days a week. It’s a great way to explore thecountryside whether you want to go for anafternoon stroll or cycle right across the northof England. As much of the Trail follows oldrailway lines, canal towpaths and riverside pathsit is relatively flat and well signed. The easygradients and surfaced paths make manysections suitable for families with young childrenand provide a great facility for gentle exercise forpeople recovering from health issues and thoseusing wheelchairs or pushchairs.

The Trans Pennine Trail is a great place to getout and take some exercise – whether you wantto walk, cycle or horse ride. Experts agree thatregular moderate exercise can help protect thebody from many illnesses an conditions,including heart disease, stroke, high bloodpressure, osteoarthritis, obesity, diabetes andcancer. It’s also a great way to relieve stress andstay happy by providing a great way for everyoneto re-connect with nature right on theirdoorstep.

Get in touch with your Local Authority and askabout nature walks, health walks and cycle rides.There will also be a good number of localwalking and cycling groups that are always keento welcome new members on board – so don’tworry about having to get active on your own,there’s always someone there to lend a helpinghand.

As the route is well served by public transportit’s easy to plan a walk or cycle ride along theTrail. There are also a number of car parksaccommodating horse boxes providing greataccess for our equestrian users.

So what are you waiting for…

Please contact the Trans Pennine Trail Office fora free information pack and details of the threesaleable route maps available.

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County Signpost

Richmond Brewing CompanyRichmond Brewing Company

Richmond, North Yorks DL10 4LDtel: (01748) 828266

[email protected]

A six barrel microbrewerysituated in The Station, a new

tourist attraction inRichmond.

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Grape Lane, Whitby YO224BA

www.cookmuseumwhit ?by.co.uk

Tel/Fax : 01947 601900

Captain Cook MemorialMuseum, Whitby.

Documents

2012 Yorkshire Signpost Magazine