Information on Leyburn, Yorkshire
Leyburn is a small town of 1800 inhabitants on the River Ure in Wensleydale, set around a market square. It’s famous for Leyburn Shawl, a 1.5 mile escarpment just outside town which provides panoramic views across Wensleydale and the Coverdale Hills. According to legend, Mary, Queen of Scots, upon fleeing captivity in nearby Bolton Castle, dropped her shawl en route to Leyburn. The Shawl is the start of several circular walks to the village of Wensley, from where Wensleydale takes its name. Leyburn hosts a Dales Festival of Food and Drink, held over May Day bank holiday weekend and also an annual Wensleydale agricultural show at the end of August. The town also has a local market in the town centre every Friday and a farmers’ market which specialises in local meats once a month. Leyburn is a stop on the Wensleydale Railway which runs for 16 miles between Leeming Bar and Redmire, with stops at Bedale, Finghall and Leyburn. The railway station is about a quarter of a mile from the town centre. Leyburn has a number of B+Bs, eating options and pubs (including the Golden Lion, The White Swan, The Dragon and the Sandpiper). It’s a good option to stay if you want more amenities than are available in most of the surrounding villages.
