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The approach by road up the valley into Upper Wharfedale reveals dramatic
views of the dale from Bolton Abbey right up to the river's source
many miles away on Cam Fell. The hillsides throughout Upper Wharfedale
are marked by white scars of limestone. This is the Great Scar Limestone
of the Craven Pennines which sometimes forms spectacular outcrops
such as Kilnsey Crag. |
Click
on the smaller images for a larger view 
Conistone
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Bolton Abbey
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Many of today's
village settlements - Bolton Abbey, Appletreewick, Hebden, Burnsall, Thorpe,
Linton, Threshfield, Grassington, Conistone and Kettlewell were established
during the 6th and 7th centuries when the Angles moved into the valley
from the east. Every village has its own distinctive appeal, Grassington
being the largest with a wide selection of shops, restaurants and pubs.
The Grassington Festival held in June is a major arts festival, with a
varied mix of events including classical music and jazz.
Grassington
has good car parking at the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre. Burnsall
is thought by many to be the prettiest village in England, and Linton
is known for its village green with the beck flowing down the centre.
At Kilnsey there is a Nature Park with trout fishing and a river-life
Visitor Centre. The Kilnsey Show (at the end of August) is a leading
northern agricultural show, and Kettlewell's Scarecrow Festival is
held in mid-August. Roads lead out of Upper Wharfedale to Malham.
After Kilnsey, the Kettlewell road has a branch off to
Littondale, with links to Malham and Ribblesdale. From Kettlewell a wild
upland road crosses to Coverdale and Wensleydale, whilst Wharfedale continues
via Starbotton to Buckden. Here the B6160 diverges through Bishopdale
to Aysgarth in Wensleydale whilst Wharfedale itself narrows, changes
its name to Langstrothdale, and passes Hubberholme's ancient pub  and
church. The dale and road continue together, the river tumbling over
limestone ledges, past Yockenthwaite to the Wharfe's source above Beckermonds
and Oughtershaw.
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