Settle is a small, attractive market town on the south-western border of the Yorkshire Dales, between Skipton (16 miles) and Ingleton (10 miles). The town is overlooked by the imposing Castleberg Crag - a 300 foot high outcrop of limestone, with routes to the top accessible to walkers, as well as various more direct routes accessible only to experienced climbers.
Settle has a Tuesday market which is very popular. The Market Square is ringed by some marvellous shops, most of which are still owned by residents of the town. One of the most impressive features of the Market Square is a building called the Shambles, which dates back to the 17th century and comprises two stories of shops with dwellings above. Also of note is the Town Hall, a splendid building in Elizabethan style built in 1832. Thomas Preston’s Folly - a grand stone house - was built in 1679.
Settle is a popular tourist location for climbers, cavers, walkers and anyone who likes stunning scenery.
The River Ribble runs between the town and the nearby village of Giggleswick on its way from Ribblehead to its estuary near Preston, and there’s an attractive riverside walk - the Ribble Way - along much of its length, which can be joined a short walk from the town.
There are many interesting places to visit nearby, including the highest lake in England (Malham Tarn), waterfalls, and caves.
Interesting fact: The founder of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (the NSPCC), Benjamin Waugh, was born in Settle in 1839.
You can read a visitor review of Settle here.
Things to do and places to visit:
Catrigg Force
Scalebar Force
Malham Tarn
Ribble Way
Victoria Cave
Gaping Gill
Ingleborough Cave
Ingleborough
Ingleton Pottery
Pen-y-ghent
Ribblehead Viaduct
Settle-Carlisle Railway
Station House Pottery, Kirkby Lonsdale
Whernside