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A brief history of the Yorkshire Dales National Park

A brief history of the Yorkshire Dales National Park including how the land was shaped during the ice-age, the formation of the park itself and who lives and works there now

The Yorkshire Dales National Park was established in 1954 and now attracts in excess of nine million visitors each year to the region. There are approximately 60,000 people working and living in the Yorkshire Dales and the local economy is heavily dependant for its living on farming although tourism does provide a lot of additional contribution and continues to grow.

The many original features of the Yorkshire Dales National Park were created during the Ice Age when melting glaciers eroded the landscape. This is one of the reasons there are so many stunning sites with spectacular scenery and unusual features. Hence there are many areas where visitors can ramble and explore lots of hills and uplands to roam, and caves and crags to investigate.

There is a lot of history steeped in the Yorkshire Dales. Many came to conquer, including the Romans who built roads as well as The Danes, The Norseman and The Angles. Castles were built leading to settlements forming and forests were used for hunting. They have all left their mark in the Dales and some of the sites have revealed many interesting architectural finds over the years.

Farmers today still graze their sheep in the many green valleys where the grass is lush and inviting. High up on the fells the hardy Swaledale sheep are framed. Cheese is still manufactured in the region; monks who lived in the abbeys were the first to make cheese in Wensleydale. The remains of many castles and abbeys are still around today and they continue to provide a popular attraction for visitors to the Dales.

Today the Yorkshire Dales National Park is a bustling thriving community living off the land and increasingly relying on tourism. The rich history through the ages combined with modern forward thinking professional management by The National Parks Authority, makes the region a wonderful place to visit. Come and have a look you will not be disappointed.

A Selection of Yorkshire Dales Tourist Information:
Addingham | Appletreewick | Austwick | Aysgarth | Bainbridge | Barnard-Castle | Bedale | Bentham | Bolton-Abbey | Bowes | Burnsall | Carlton | Clapham | Fremington | Gargrave | Giggleswick | Grassington | Harrogate | Hawes | Horton-in-Ribblesdale | Ilkley | Ingleton | Masham | Keighley | Keld | Kendal | Kettlewell | Kirby Lonsdale | Kirby-Stephen | Knaresborough | Leeming Bar | Leyburn | Lofthouse | Malham | Masham | Middleham | Northallerton | Pateley-Bridge | Reeth | Richmond | Ripley | Ripon | Sedbergh | Settle | Silsden | Skipton | Stackhouse | Stainforth | Thirsk |