Home to more than 1,000 sheep, this traditional Yorkshire Dales hill farm is one of the country’s best rural attractions for outdoor enthusiasts with restricted mobility, says Debbie North
DAY OUT: Ravenseat, North Yorkshire
At the head of the sweeping valley of Swaledale, you will find the remote Yorkshire Dales farm of Ravenseat. Footpaths coming from Keld, Nine Standards Rigg and the Tan Hill Inn (the highest pub in England) all pass through or nearby the 81-hectare farm. Ravenseat sits exactly halfway along Alfred Wainwright’s Coast to Coast, a journey that takes the hardy hiker on a 190-mile trek across country.
It’s a working farm, home to the Owen family, and has become well-known since the airing of Channel 5 show Our Yorkshire Farm, which follows the daily farming life of Amanda, Clive and their nine children. The family work hard all year round, tending to their flock of over 1,000 Swaledale sheep, a breed that is native to the valley and can be easily recognised by their black faces, white noses and eyes.
WILD YEAR
In June and early July, the wildflower meadows are a blaze of colour with more than 50 different species of wildflower. In September, the purple heather is in full bloom and the shy brown hare can be seen exploring the moorland. Swaledale is an ideal location for birdwatching, too.
Sandpipers can be seen on the moors, close to Birkdale Beck, skylarks and snipe fill the air with their cheerful song and, if you’re lucky, you may spot the rare black grouse.
FUN ON THE FARM
Between May and ear
