Reeth Tourist Information
If you are looking for a quiet getaway you should visit Reeth. This little village is perfect for walking enthusiasts as it is situated in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Most places are best to visit in summer, but that isn't so with Reeth - if possible, it's even more attractive in winter when the countryside is covered in snow.
Reeth is a great destination for families too - there are loads of things to see and do, including lots of museums, stately homes and a treasure hunt. In the evening, you can always find a restaurant to eat in. Reeth also has a surprising number of pubs, and there are places to buy gifts for your friends and family all over the village.
Walking in Reeth
There are walking routes available for all levels of experience in and around Reeth. If you aren't a very experienced walker, or if you don't want to go on a long walk, you can take a trip to the River Swale, which runs through Reeth. You can reach the river in just ten minutes if you are staying in the town centre, so this is an easy walk for children too.
For a longer walk that is still easygoing, you can walk to Healaugh, which is a mile and a half away. To get there, use the moor paths and tracks that are available so that you can see some stunning scenery. Once you have finished enjoying the shops, pubs and cafes in Healaugh you can either walk or take a bus back to Reeth.
If you are an experienced walker and you require something more difficult, you can walk from Reeth to Richmond. This is a very long walk of ten and a half miles and can take up to four hours. This route takes you through some of the other villages around Reeth and also along the River Swale. There are regular bus services that can take you back to Reeth.
The area of the Dales around Reeth is good for cycling and horse riding as well as walking. There are a lot of bicycle paths and bridleways available, and some superb mountain biking trails as well. If you want to go riding but don't have a horse, you can call into one of the riding centres in the area where you can borrow a horse for the day.
Attractions in Reeth
Reeth's history has been traced all the way back to Saxon times, and you can see the village's ancient heritage for yourself at the Swaledale Museum. The museum is staffed by volunteers and sits in the heart of the village. They have exhibits on local geology, mysterious archaeological finds, old toys and information on Reeth's previous trade in lead and hand knitted textiles.
An equally interesting day out can be found at Bolton Castle, near Leyburn. If you are driving, it only takes ten minutes to reach this fascinating castle, where you can learn all about the different generations of people who have lived there and what their lives would have been like, as well as what was going on in the world in those times.
Reeth has been the centre for crafts for centuries, and the tradition still lives on there today. If you are interested in learning some of the old techniques, visit Shades of Heather. Heather Ritchie, one of the best rug makers in Britain, teaches classic rug making techniques, such as how to make hooky and proddy rugs.
The Reeth National Park Centre is a mini-museum, providing information and exhibits on the National Park itself. You can discover Reeth's long-gone lead mining industry, the styles of architecture used in the village, the plants and animals that live and grow in the area and more.
Places to Eat in Reeth
You should never be stuck for a place to eat in Reeth; there are enough restaurants, cafe and tea rooms to suit a town of a much larger size. You can pop into The White House to sample some delicious meals and snacks, as well as smooth coffees, teas and soft drinks.
If you enjoy seafood the Overton House Cafe is the place to go - they serve contemporary and imaginative meals with locally caught shellfish alongside some wonderfully cooked meat dishes. They have lunch, dinner and dessert menus and they obtain all of their ingredients from local suppliers that they have been using for years.
To taste some divinely baked treats you have a few good tea rooms to choose from in Reeth. The Reeth Bakery is one of the best though, as they bake all of their bread, cakes and scones from scratch every day. They have a range of traditional teas and coffees, as well as some herbal and fruit teas to try.
There are many pubs and hotels in the area that you can have a good hearty meal in, such as The Punch Bowl Inn, in nearby Arkengarthdale. Their menus stand out as they are constantly changing, so that their customers can always try something new, their prices are reasonable and they use local and seasonal produce.
