Location & History

Grassington is a picturesque village in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire. It is about 9 miles from Bolton Abbey and is surrounded by limestone scenery. Nearby villages include Linton, Threshfield, Hebden, Conistone and Kilnsey.

Often described by local people as a village, it is really a small town, as indicated by its name and the fact that it was granted a charter for a market and fair in 1282, which continued to be held regularly until about 1860. A change in land use from the early 17th century, when lead mining began to assume more importance, brought some prosperity, but Grassington's heyday arrived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The opening of the Yorkshire Dales Railway to Threshfield in 1901 brought new visitors, many of whom settled, some finding work in Skipton or in the developing limestone quarries.

Today Grassington is the main residential and tourist centre in upper Wharfedale. Centred around its small cobbled square is a selection of shops offering food, clothing and gifts, alongside small cafes, restaurants and hotels.

A Yorkshire Dales National Park information centre is located on Hebden Road.

Three miles north of Grassington at Kilnsey is the dramatic, glacially carved overhang of Kilnsey Crag. Lower Grass Wood, a large area of ancient woodland including an Iron-Age fort, is situated just over a mile north-west of the village.

Public Transport/Directions

• Coming by car? Get a route plan from the AA web site.
• For train times to Skipton see TheTrainLine.com.
• For bus timetables see Pride of the Dales and Little Red Bus.