Little Wickets

Local Area

Little Wickets is set in Thornton Watlass, a sleepy and pretty little village on the cusp of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The village is set around a large village green where during the Theakston Nidderdale League cricket season the boundary of the field is right by the cottage. The village pub is within easy walking distance and serves local cask ales and traditional pub fayre. There are some lovely walks right from the door, and even more choice a short drive away.

Thornton Watlass has been used many time as a location for television and film including the BBCs 'All Creatures Great & Small', ITV's 'Heartbeat' and 'Wuthering Heights'. Most recently it featured on 'The Thirteenth Tale' with Vanessa Redgrave and Olivia Coleman.

Nearby you'll find Masham, a thriving market town where handsome old Georgian buildings gather politely around a cobbled square. The square is one of the largest and finest in England famous for its sheep sale where in the past as many as 70,000 sheep were sold here every year! The popular Masham Sheep Fair is held in September each year and commemorates these times. There are lots of delights to discover in the town including an excellent fine dining restaurant, a host of lovely cafes, a top-notch wine shop and several very good butchers. And if you enjoy a tipple or two, it's also home to two award-winning breweries, Theakstons and Black Sheep. Both have visitor centres where you can take brewery tours, sample their ales, enjoy excellent food and perhaps take a few bottles home for later too! A lovely 9 hole golf course awaits if you enjoy a round of golf.

Heading west will take you over the high ground of Nidderdale and down into Pateley Bridge, a very popular and bustling market town and to the South the Cathedral City of Ripon with its vibrant Thursday market. A few miles in the opposite direction takes you further up into Wensleydale with the wonderful Jervaulx Abbey and Brymor ice-cream parlour just a short drive away.

Little Wickets is also just a short drive to Middleham, one of Yorkshire's loveliest towns. Famous for its castle (once the childhood home of Richard III) it's also a centre of race horse training  and known as the 'Newmarket of the North'. 14 stables are open to the public every Good Friday and you can also arrange tours for some on request. If you are there early on most days of the week you can see the horses being ridden through the town up to the gallops every morning. And to top it off there is a lovely collection of pubs, cafes, restaurants and shops.

Or how about a morning visiting the charming market town of Leyburn.  Leyburn is an archetypical slice of Dales market town life.  You'll find traditional shops, pubs and cafes all gathered around the handsome town square, which hosts a busy market every Friday.  Leyburn is also home to Tennants Auctioneers, the biggest auction centre outside of London if you fancy picking up a bargain.  Discover its newly opened cafe & restaurant serving excellent food along with its gift shop and galleries. The nearby historic town of Richmond is similar in many ways, and has a lovely setting along the River Swale.  Highlights include Richmond Castle, the historic Georgian Theatre Royal and The Station (a lovely old building housing a cinema, art gallery and brewery).

Enjoy a relaxing Spa Day in Swinton Estate's fabulous new Country Club & Spa. Facilities include 8 treatment rooms, an indoor pool, gym and Terrace restaurant.

There are lots of other pretty villages and stunning natural sights all within close range of Little Wickets.  Aysgarth Falls and Bolton Castle are just a few miles away and the gorgeous villages of West Burton and Askrigg are within easy driving distance, so lots of choice for things to do if you want to get out and about.  If walking is your thing, the Yorkshire Dales are something of a walker's paradise.  And there are plenty of options for cycling too in Tour De France country.  Our concierge will be more than happy to recommend some walks and cycle routes for you if required. 

And when you need to refuel stop at one of the areas many excellent gastro pubs.  Our favourites include the Wensleydale Heifer in West Witton and the Blue Lion at East Witton, all within a short drive of the cottage.

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