7 things to do in the Yorkshire Dales

Meander through the rolling countryside and quirky sites of this sprawling national park

- JILL STARLEY-GRAINGER

1 Fall for it

You’re spoilt for gorgeous walks in the Dales, but the loveliest is Aysgarth Falls. This series of rolling cascades in the River Ure is so enticing that the poet William Wordsworth spent his honeymoon nearby. You’ll need about an hour to take in all three tiers of the falls, starting with the Upper Falls near the car park, then walking for a mile to reach the thunderous Lower Falls. Don’t be surprised if this looks familiar – it’s where Robin fought Little John in 1991’s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

2 Secret garden

Something mysterious lurks on the eastern edge of the Dales. In The Forbidden Corner, surprises await at every turn in a folly-filled sprawling park. Spend a couple of hours looking for gargoyles, grottos, and giant’s faces carved into granite. Race through tunnels to escape Medusa’s glare, and get splashed by frog-shaped fountains. Recuperate with a picnic by the lake.

3 Capture the castle