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Grade
Easy
- Moderate. Some long steep hills. Really
what you do on this break is up to you, so you can
have an easy or a more strenuous break! Most of our options are
easy to moderate, but nothing
is too challenging!
Season
Available
throughout the year.
Travel Information
Starting
point: Richmond.
End
of tour: Richmond.
Most
convenient major city with international airport:
Teeside,
also Tyne and Wear.
Outward
journey from London to starting point: For
main line trains London Kings Cross - York - Northallerton - Darlington. For trains phone 08457 48 49 50. (24
hour service, local rate call) for current train times and operators.
London to Darlington by train takes 2.5 hours, then onwards to
Richmond by local bus service from Darlington Station No:29 every 2
hours during day, none on Sundays or evenings. Otherwise take a taxi.
Approx £20.
By
road Richmond is on the A6108 from the Dales and from "The
South" it is off the A1 from Catterick and then Catterick Garrison.
Public car parks at Richmond Green (signposted ‘Coaches’) just a few
metres from The Old Brewery.
Inward
journey to London at end of tour: Bus / taxi to Darlington to U.K.
mainline rail services.
Bikes
Please
let us know if you will be requiring bikes. These will normally be
‘Hybrid style,’ we will need to know
your approximate inner leg measurement or height.
They will be rented on a daily basis. You are welcome to bring
your own bike if you want to. There
is a hire charge for the bikes on a daily basis.
Accommodation
In
Richmond.
Our guesthouse is a charming Grade II listed Georgian building
nestling in a quiet secluded corner of historic Richmond by the ancient
Green. General Facilities: include residents lounge,
beautiful patio garden, Drying facilities, town centre 5 minutes walk,
packed lunches available and a riverside
walk
starts only 30 meters away, Car parking is only 10 meters away. ETB 3
Diamonds Rooms. A four poster room maybe available (book early for
this!). Fully centrally heated, tea & coffee making facilities,
colour TV in all room and private bath or shower for all rooms.
For breakfast one can choose from cereals and fresh fruit
followed by a traditional English breakfast or smoked salmon and
scrambled eggs. Freshly baked bread and croissants are also available. |
Itinerary Guide
DAY
1: Arrive Richmond: This
attractive Georgian town
was formally established
by the Normans in 1071, as they rapidly progressed up the country
after the 1066 invasion. They quickly constructing timbered
fortresses and later remodelled them with full stone work defences. The
name Richmond is derived from ‘riche-mont’ or ‘strong-hill’ and
whose massive keep dominates all other buildings that have grown up
around it in the town.
During
the medieval period the town became an important market place, royal
charters were granted giving it rights to hold markets and fairs. Hence
the substantial cobbled open market place, surrounded by shops and pubs.
The market square today is, apart from some modern shop fronts,
unchanged for decades and has a brooding quality on a grey blustery day.
You will notice around the square and as you stroll through the town,
some very fine stone buildings, many
from The Georgian era when mercantile dealings and the wool trade
brought much wealth into the town.
You
can follow following the Town Trail and the Plaque Walk which take you
through the fine Georgian streets and little alleys. Explore Castle Hill
and Castle Walk, also Millgate where you can choose to walk down to the
river and falls. The Keep is looked after by English Heritage and can be
climbed up (£3 entry) for an even more sumptious view of the town and
countryside. From the
Market Place, Friar’s Wynd takes you through one of the two remaining
medieval gateways, past the Georgian Theatre to the Friary Gardens where
the fine 12th century Franciscan Friary bell tower, amidst well kept
gardens, still stands. Richmond has a number of good restaurants
and pubs of varying quality.
Walking & Cycling options examples:
1)
A round walking Tour to Easby Abbey (Drummer Boy's trail)
Distance: 4 miles (6.4 kin) A
largely flat route following
the River Wharfe, past the Town Falls and
then downstream to the secluded leafy delights of Easby Abbey.
This was dissolved by Henry VIII in the reformation, but there is enough
left of the structure for it to be interesting. You should
perhaps take a picnic to have in the pastures near the monument or by the river. The abbey
can also be reached by bicycle on a gravel track
on the other side of the river.
2)
Circular Walk from
Richmond through Low Bank and Billy
Banks Woods. Distance 3.5 miles. This is
an attractive little walk down
by the River swale and then along and
into the riverside woods for a
picnic.
3)
Circular
Walk Richmond-Swale-Applegarth-Richmond 7 miles. This takes you along
part of the famous
coast to Coast route out of Richmond.
4)
Reeth to Richmond. A delightful walk through lower Swaledale
along the route of the Coast to Coast path, this time into Richmond. It
is an attractive ramble past
Marrick Priory, and up to a high
scarp by Willance’s
Leap before reaching Whitcliffe Wood and then walking down into
Richmond, with good views of
the keep from
a few miles away.
Approx: 10.5 miles from Reeth.
5)
Reeth, Arkengarthdale and Grinton. Approx. 5.5 miles
or a shorter walk of 3.5
miles. A lovely ramble through fields
and by rivers in Arkengarth dale.
6)
Possible walks into and around Wensleydale.
DAY
2: Hawes to Grinton (20
miles), return to Richmond (+ 12 miles approx). From Hawes your
route lies down Wensleydale, perhaps the easiest of the Yorkshire Dales.
From Askrigg, a delightful village featured in television’s All
Creatures Great and Small, a steep climb takes you high onto the moors
of Askrigg Common. The descent into Swaledale and the trip down dale to
Grinton will make it clear why this dale is held by many to be the most
beautiful of all. From Grinton you cycle back to Richmond on
quiet roads, via the village of Marske.
DAY
3: Richmond. Depart after breakfast.
Included in price of tour
Bed
and breakfast with ensuite facilities where available. Luggage transfers
from Inn to Inn. Route
notes and map package.
Extend your stay
Any
additional nights are at a cost of £36
per person or £40 for a
single room.
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