Explore Ingleton and the Yorkshire Dales…Things To See and Do For Everyone

Ingleton and the surrounding area have so much to offer people of all ages and physical ability.

Within Walking Distance……..

The start of the waterfalls trail is only a few minutes walk from Falls Cottage. It is a 4.5mile walk through beautiful woodland and Dales scenery, passing some spectacular waterfalls en route. A truly stunning walk no matter the weather, although it is especially impressive just after rainfall and wondrously spectacular in the sun. Part way round there is a superb tuck shop with all sorts of goodies and in summer there is also an ice cream van making the trip all the more pleasurable!

Just 2 minutes of walking takes you to Ingleton Swimming Pool which is an open air heated pool on the banks of the river. Open between the end of May through to September it caters for all ages and is literally just moments from your door. Just along from the pool there is a lovely park which features one of the best children’s playgrounds in the area. There are actually 2 playgrounds together – one for younger children and one for older kids with a tunnel slide and climbing ropes.

Looking out from your self catering cottage not only do you have the calming sounds of the river Doe but up above Ingleton Viaduct spans the valley. No longer used for trains but an impressive construction none the less.

As for shops, Ingleton is surprisingly well catered for due to its popularity as a tourist village. There is the ‘Ye Olde Village Sweet Shoppe’ which is a quaint old shop packed with rows upon rows of jars filled with all the classic sweets plus more, they also sell ice cream for those summer days. Visit the sandwich shop on the main street for a good selection of freshly made sandwiches, soup and other hot foods – just the thing to prepare you for a walking trip. 

There is a market day every Friday in the square. Just past the Market square there is Inglesport which hosts all sorts of walking, caving and camping equipment. It is a first class stockist of outdoor gear and has an in store cafe too, great for cooked breakfast before a day’s walking. There is an impressive climbing wall which is immense fun if you like that sort of thing. Just up the road from the cottage is Curlew Crafts. A great place for a bite to eat, especially Sunday lunch, and also sells original pictures from local artists. There is a Barclays and Co-Op too, all of this and more is just moments from your door. We haven’t touched on the 4 village pubs which all serve food and are worth a visit!

Perhaps closest of all is Ingleton Pottery just at the end of the street which is a friendly family run business with many lovely things for sale.

Within A Few Miles…..

The cottage is an excellent base for many walks. Each of the 3 peaks has its own walks which combined form the lengthy 3 Peaks Walk. The views from the top of Ingleborough are stunning and well worth the effort. The start of the Ingleborough walk is just a few minutes from the cottage. Here is a great site detailing other local walks. Ingleborough Cave can be reached via a short drive to Clapham whereby a woodland walk alongside the river is rewarded with a show cave that is accessible by all. Come at Christmas and you may even find Santa in there preparing his toys. 
 
Just a mile out of the village towards Hawes there is White Scar Caves. The longest show cave in Britain that is accessible to all ages. Visit to see amazing waterfalls deep underground. the website has a virtual tour which gives very brief glimpses of some of the sights. There is also a visitor centre and somewhere to eat. 

The Settle Carlise Railway can be travelled there and back easily within the day giving you some time in the historic city of Carlisle. You will ride over the legendary Ribblehead viaduct and travel through England’s highest railway station at Dent.

Just 4 miles away in the village of Kirkby Lonsdale there is The Enchanted Chocolate Mine. Even if you get lost in this place it doesn’t matter as you can just eat your way out! Also in Kirkby there is a great place to eat out in an evening with the stylish Avanti restaurant and wine bar.

In the nearby village of Bentham there is a pottery featuring some really quality items. If you fancy horse riding then Greenhall Riding School is a very friendly family run business that caters for all skill levels from beginner to advanced rider.

Britain’s biggest cave is at Gaping Gill which is one of the country’s longest cave systems. Just a few miles from your self catering cottage. Every year at the end of May non-cavers are given the opportunity to see Britain’s biggest cave chamber and biggest unbroken waterfall.

If you are feeling flush then Hipping Hall offers exquisite dining with food and service second to none. With excellent reviews from both The Times and The Independent you are assured a memorable evening.

At the edge of Ingleton towards Kirkby there is Country Harvest. This shop stocks fine goods featuring superb meals, a varied cheese counter with cheeses from lots of local and not so local regions. They also sell clothing and other crafts. It’s a fantastic shop for local produce. They also provide an on-line ordering facility to pre-order your holiday shopping ready for your arrival.

Within 30 Minutes Drive…..

Don’t forget that The Lakes are only a short drive away. Within 30 minutes you can be within the glorious countryside of the lakes and all it has to offer. For a great day out there is Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway which features Thomas the Tank days. These days are well planned out events which young children will love. You can combine this with lakeside boat trips across Windermere and a lakeside aquarium featuring an underwater tunnel.