Barden in Wonderful Wharfedale - just the place for a cottage holiday in Yorkshire. The Wharfedale valley is a fine area to explore in the Yorkshire Dales and here we find the village of Barden. This is an excellent part of the country for hiking with good opportunities for woodland walks and riverside walks.. If it’s heather topped moorland that stirs the blood, Barden Moor and Barden Fell offer 15,000 acres of open access. Please note that dogs are not permitted in the open access. Also, check local information, as the access is sometimes closed in the event of fire risk and access is denied during the shooting season. Enjoy browsing for country cottages and rural retreats in and near Barden.
The village gives its name to the so-called Barden Triangle, an area in Lower Wharfedale reputed to have supernatural activity! The Troller’s Gill gorge is said to be haunted and fairies have been ‘spotted’ on Elbolton Hill. Ghost dogs and gnomes are also said to frequent these parts. Whether you call it local superstition or a result of too much of the local ale, it certainly adds intrigue to anyone’s cottage stay in this part of Yorkshire!
Barden Tower was a medieval hunting lodge, which was rebuilt in the 1400s and fell into ruin by the start of the 1600s. The artist, J.M.W. Turner visited Barden Tower in 1808 and produced a watercolour from the sketch he drew there. Near the Tower, Barden Bridge is a pretty little crossing over the River Wharfe.
A visit to Bolton Abbey whilst on your cottage holiday comes highly recommended. Bolton Abbey has long been a popular site for families, especially in the warmer months when families come with picnics and to enjoy walking through the woods. Ruins remain of this 12th century building and it’s possible to imagine what the monastery would have looked like originally.
Said to be one of the prettiest villages in Yorkshire, a village to Linton whilst enjoying a self-catering break is to be recommended. Linton is an unspoilt picture postcard with the added virtue of Linton Falls nearby. The village is mostly known for Fountaine Hospital, which was built in 1721 to be used as an almshouse for the poor. St. Michael and All Angels is the attractive parish church.
The village of Grassington is another good place to visit and is known for its abundance of festivals and events, despite being a small community. The annual Grassington Festival takes place over two weeks in June and the 2012 headliner was singing star, Billy Ocean. The run up to Christmas is very festive with the annual Dickensian Festival, complete with traditional market and Christmas lights. Add to this, the excellent Grassington Folk Museum and it really is a highlight of anyone’s visit.
Barden is a gateway to this beautiful part of Yorkshire, ideally suited for family self-catering breaks or self-catering walking holidays for those who like to be in the wide open spaces, enjoying warm, Yorkshire hospitality. If you’re really lucky, you might even see a fairy at the bottom of the garden.
Do view our selection of country cottages and self-catering cottages in the Yorkshire Dales and around Yorkshire. Click on each Yorkshire Cottage to find out more about a possible self-catering holiday or weekend break.
What Barden offers for Self-Catering Breaks
Whether you choose to book a holiday cottage in Barden, an apartment, a lodge or another type of self-catering holiday accommodation, we hope you have your best holiday yet in North Yorkshire.
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