Villages, towns and cities:

Pateley Bridge (4 miles,10 mins) Small market town on the river side. Speciality shops, cosy tearooms, public houses. Experience the Nidderdale folk museum for an authentic taste of early Dales life. Enjoy the local Playhouse, 'Little Theatre of the Dales'. See potters, jewellers and glassblowers in action.

Ripley (6 miles, 15 mins) Visit still-occupied historic Ripley Castle, gardens and parkland, background for films and TV. Speciality shops in the courtyard Little open farm with horses, sheep and petting animals.

Ripon (10 miles, 20 mins) Old Cathedral market town. Police museum, old workhouse. Variety of shops, supermarkets and restaurants. Racecourse, canal and river walks.

Knaresborough (10 miles, 20 mins) Ancient market town and Castle above the River Nidd with boating, Mother Shipton’s Cave and fascinating houses huddled on the gorge side.

Harrogate (10 miles, 25 mins) Beautiful floral spa town, exhibitions, art galleries, Turkish Baths, Harlow Carr Gardens (RHS), Betty’s Tea Rooms and wide variety of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Grassington (15 miles, 30 mins) Delightful popular village above the River Wharfe with bustling cobbled square and intriguing alleyways. Open limestone countryside and a multitude of walks.

Masham (15 miles, 30 mins) An historic town with a weekly market in the town square, held since 1393. Well known for its food and breweries of Black Sheep and Theakston's Ales.

Skipton (19 miles, 30 mins) Gateway to the Dales. Street market Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Walk by the canal with its barges and houseboats and visit the historic castle.

York (28 miles, 50 mins) Historic walled city, capital of the North. York Minster, The Shambles, Jorvik Viking Centre, River Ouse and much more.