Settle
Settle is a market town in Ribblesdale just lying off the main A65 trunk road which skirts the Yorkshire Dales National Park en route to the Lake District.
Above the town's market square looms the dominant limestone outcrop of Castleberg Crag, and beyond that (but mostly out of view from the town) Scosthrop Moor and the spectacular limestone cliffs and caves of Warrendale Knots, Jubilee Cave, Victoria Cave and Attermire Scar.
Also nearby are the waterfalls of Scaleber Force (just off the road leading over Scosthrop Moor and on to Kirkby Malham and Airton in Malhamdale), Stainforth Force (on the River Ribble near Stainforth) and Catrigg Force (also near Stainforth).
Adjacent to Settle lies the village of Giggleswick, famous for more limestone cliffs and caves at Giggleswick Scar, and also Giggleswick School - with its distinctive green copper domed chapel.
As such Settle makes an excellent base for exploring the spectacular limestone scenery of the Yorkshire Dales, as well as the gentler rolling hills of Bowland (not part of the national park - but designated an area of outstanding natural beauty in its own right) to the west.
Interesting buildings in the town itself include The Folly (which dates from 1670 and is one of the oldest buildings in the town) and Victoria Hall (which is believed to be England's oldest surviving music hall and is now a popular venue for all kinds of arts and entertainments events).
There is also what is claimed to be the world's smallest art gallery (the "Gallery on the Green" which is actually a converted British red telephone box located on the village green in Upper Settle) and a special storytelling booth (the "Listening Galley" - another similarly converted telephone box located on Duke Street in the heart of the town).
Benjamin Waugh (the founder of the National Society of the Prevention of Cruelty to Children) was born in Settle in 1859, and George Birkbeck (the founder of Birkbeck College London) was born here in 1776. The composer Edward Elgar visited Settle on numerous occassions to visit his friend Dr. Charles William Buck, who was at the time the town's physician. More recently Settle was also birthplace of the folk singer and walking campaigner Mike Harding.
Settle is also famous as being the historic starting point of the Settle Carlisle railway, one of Britain's most spectacular railway lines.
During the summer the town also pays host to the famous Settle Flowerpot Festival, where a range of thematically attired flowerpot men can be seen adorning the streets and gardens.
Other Settle related websites:
For more information about Settle and the surrounding area, please also visit the following externally maintained websites and web pages:
- Information about Settle from a Yorkshire Dales Holiday Cottage
- Settle – Your Mountain Bike Destination - information from the King William the Fourth Guest House.
IMPORTANT: The above links may refer to external websites whose content, products and/or services are not necessarily recommended or endorsed by Eagle Intermedia.
[N.B. Please mention the Eagle Intermedia Yorkshire Dales website when making your enquiries.]
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