Last updated on August 12th, 2012 | Written By Darren Cronian
Ideas for things to do on a day out in Settle
Views of Settle and the Yorkshire Dales.
Cycling day out in Settle
The challenge for most parents during the school holidays is keeping their kids entertained within a budget. While I don’t have children, I do know how difficult it can be as I have a 15-year old nephew who I often take on day trips around the county. This weekend we opted for a day out in Settle, which is only a one-hour by train journey from Leeds. Tens of thousands of people visit the market town every year to travel on the Settle to Carlisle route, a 72-mile journey through the Yorkshire Dales, including over the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Here are a few Ideas for things to do on a day out in Settle.
Bicycle hire in Settle
We opted for cycling rather than walking and were pleased to find Off the Rails cycle shop in Market place, just a five-minute walk from Settle Railway station. To hire a bicycle for a day costs £20 per person and this includes a helmet and cycle kit. Unfortunately, they didn’t have any mountain bikes available when we arrived, so my advice would be to book in advance. The staff were helpful and provided alternative bicycles.
Cycling along the Settle Riverside
Cycling along the River Ribble was great fun, the paths were easy to cycle on and along the trail are places where you can sit down and relax or take photos. The Settle riverside connects Market Place with the North side of the town and is a haven for wildlife. We took some time out to paddle in the streams and had a picnic next to the river and the Memorial Bridge. It was great to see lots of families out enjoying the outdoors.
Around Settle
Considering neither of us had cycled on the road for a long time we found it easy to get around the town. There are some steep sections, especially if you want to find a good view of the three peaks and Castleberg Crag. While cycling around Settle we found the village of Giggleswick and a lovely pub called the Black Horse where we had a rest and a cold drink in the beer garden.
The Market Place is surrounded by cafes, shops and dominated by the Shambles, a historic 3-storey building and the Town Hall. Ye Olde Naked Man Café was busy with bikers and tourists.
The area around Settle has several caves where prehistoric remains have been found, the most popular being Victoria Cave, which was named this because the inner chamber was discovered in 1837 on the day of Queen Victoria’s accession. Victoria Cave contained remains of mammoth, bear, reindeer and hippopotamus, a harpoon head carved from antler, and other implements and ornaments.
Smallest gallery in the World
The Folly is a 17th century Grade I listed building on the main street, it houses the Museum of North Craven Life and hosts exhibitions. As we cycled past the Folly, we approached a steep hill, at the top we found a lovely green area where we relaxed. I noticed a telephone box with the words ‘Gallery’ across the top, being nosy I opened up the door and found an art gallery, with a number of exhibits – later I discovered it is called The Gallery on the Green and is rumoured to be the smallest art gallery in the world.
Victoria Theatre
The Victoria Hall and Theatre hosts a busy programme of events throughout the year. Apart from staging a number of drama and musical events, the hall is often the venue for markets and craft fairs. There’s a licenced bar so you can enjoy a drink before the performance starts.
Photos of Settle
Click on any of the images to view the photo slideshow.
Settle Tourist Information Office
The Tourist Information office is located at the side of the Town Hall on Cheapside, and is staffed by helpful and knowledgeable local people who can help direct you around the town. You can also pick up bus timetables and leaflets to other attractions like Malham Tarn.
You can purchase tickets, books on Yorkshire and gifts at the tourist information office.
Cheap day out in Settle
If you have your own bikes you can take them on the train. The route is very popular with walkers and cyclists so bear this in mind when you are travelling during peak times of the day. Without the bicycle hire the day out would be relatively cheap with the train tickets costing £20 for an adult and child, return. We took a picnic so didn’t have the expense of having to pay for dinner.
I hope this guide helps you plan a day trip to Seattle.
Map of Settle
Scroll around the map to find out places to visit in Settle.
About the Writer
Darren Cronian has worked in publishing within the tourism industry since April 2005. He has been interviewed on TV, Radio and quoted in national newspapers all over the world including the BBC, New York Times and the Guardian. He is incredibly passionate about Yorkshire and loves discovering new things to do in Leeds.
