Quirky and Unusal Places to Visit in the Yorkshire Dales
Pendragon Castle is packed full of real life Kind Arthur vibes (I’ll tell you more about that below…)
Are you looking for an unusual place to visit in and around the Yorkshire Dales?
The Yorkshire Dales is PACKED full of the weird, wonderful and downright bizarre! In this blog, you’ll find places that are a little off the beaten track, places that are often overlooked, the interesting, the quirky and the quite out of this world (literally…) This is the stuff that you WON’T find in your regular guidebook to the Yorkshire Dales!
Whether you want to visit with the kids or just want to explore on your own, I have a whole great big list of ideas right here for you! We’re talking cool and unique geology, to the signature caves of the Yorkshire Dales. From record breaking waterfalls, to some quirky old legends… oh and some teeth. In a bridge.
So go grab a pen, you’re going to want to make a list of all the cool things you can see in the Yorkshire Dales!
The ruins of Crackpot Hall may look pretty normal enough, but have you heard the Legend?
Crackpot Hall, Swaledale
If there was a place that epitomised quirky in both name and nature, it’s Crackpot Hall near Keld in Swaledale. This ramshackle set of ruins are all that remains of a farmhouse that once stood on the site of an old 17th Century hunting lodge. Nothing hugely unique so far and miles away from the grandeur that the name suggests, right?!
WRONG! You just read on.
Crackpot was later used as a mining building during the 1800’s and there is evidence all over the area of the once thriving mining industry. Despite being a once bustling home, in 1950 it was abandoned after mining related subsidence rendered the building uninhabitable.
And? Well it began to crumble, leaving behind what is a little bit like a time capsule. If you head to the ruins, you’ll see the remains of an old bath, as well as the range, the fireplaces and the layout of some of the rooms. Pretty standard house-y stuff right? But after archaeologists visited the site, they found all kinds of artefacts in the area including newspaper wrapped dynamite left behind by the miners!
Not only is this remarkable place fascinating, but it has a tale behind it that is…. well, obscure to say the least!
During the 1930’s before the building started to crumble, it was visited by a pair of authors who specialised in local history. Whilst they were there, they reported sighting a four year old girl wandering barefoot around the rugged moorland surrounding the property. This girl was named Alice, but they were unable to decipher her dialect, and did not understand her.
CUE LEGENDS BEING MADE! This rumour spread far and wide and Alice was warmly welcomed into local folklore where she stayed for decades until… (it’s a cliff-hanger right?!)
In 2015, a BBC journalist began to unpick the story of our feral child and found that an Alice DID in fact live at Crackpot Hall back in’t day (technically accurate historical term there…) But….. (dramatic pause*) Alice wasn’t a wild phantom roaming the stark moorland of Upper Swaledale. No. She was cosy at home in Carlisle, where she now lived.
Myth? Or had they just encountered a different Alice…. (I’ll leave that one up to you!)
If you want to explore Crackpot Hall and the old lead mine workings of Swinner Gill, head to our walk!
Sources: Yorkshire Post ‘Crackpot Hall: The Yorkshire Ruins Defined by the Mystery of a Feral Child’ - BBC Between the Ears: Alice at Crackpot hall
Gaping Gill: Exploring the largest cave in not only Yorkshire, but the entirety of BRITAIN!
Gaping Gill, Ingleborough
If I hadn’t included this INCREDIBLE place on the unusual places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales list, then who even AM I?!
Did you know that the underground of the Yorkshire Dales is renowned for its caving possibilities. I like to think of it as being a little bit like Swiss Cheese, and it’s all to do with its geological history. In a nutshell, billions of years ago, the Dales used to be found at the bottom of a warm shallow Mediterranean-style sea, which is why it stands on what are the remains of millions of sea creatures, which over the many MANY years, formed limestone (it’s also why you’ll find fossils of sea creatures right in the middle of the land-locked national park!)
Limestone is ever so slightly soluble and reacts to the small amount of acid found in rainwater. Over the years it erodes. Over millions of years, water finds its way, coursing underground and carving out the cave systems that lie below your feet in the Dales. In fact, a lot of the Dales geography is created by water and ice.
Gaping Gill is one such geological marvel.
Found on the side of Ingleborough one of the famous Yorkshire Three Peaks, from the surface, Gaping Gill is a yawning black hole in the ground into which Fell Beck is swallowed. On a normal day, to head into that supermassive black hole would mean certain doom (unless you were properly equipped with climbing equipment), as beneath you lies a 100 foot drop into nothingness. So not really where you want to end up unless….
You visit on Winch Day!
This happens twice a year in May and August, and allows you access to the largest cave in the country. Your point of entry? Down the 100 foot waterfall that cascades into the pothole from Fell Beck, which is also the largest unbroken waterfall in the country (except it’s underground). Cool Huh?
You can read about our Winch Day experience, with all the FAQs and details of how you can do the Gaping Gill Winch with kids on our Winch page. You can also head to the Craven Pothole Club website who hold the August meets or the Bradford Pothole Club Website who hold the May meets if you feel like exploring it yourself!
The Dent Vampire Stone in Dent village
The Dent Vampire Stone
Now don’t get me wrong, even if your heart isn’t deeply in love with gothic horror, Dent is still a stunning village well worth a visit for its stunning views, riverside and moorland walks, pubs, cafes and heritage centre.
But. If Dracula really floats your boat, then read on, because if you pay a visit to Dent, you’ll want to go and see its very own Vampire Stone!
The story begins in 1715, with the death of poor old George Hodgson. Why does the story begin with the demise of a seemingly regular human being? Well he was reyt old. He was a ripe old 94 years when he died and of course it being the 18th Century and all, NOBODY could achieve any form of longevity without a healthy dose of superstition being flung in your direction.
And that was the birth of the Dent Vampire. George’s good health was put down to a diet of sheep’s blood and after a few ‘sightings’ of George posthumously floating around the surrounding fields, he was declared a vampire before you could even utter the words ‘I vant to drink your blood…’ Chuck in a few mysterious disappearances (the final nail in the coffin as it were…) and poor old George was exhumed.
Yes, he was still there, but the story goes that there had been no deterioration in George’s body whatsoever since his death. He remained the same as he was on the day he was buried.
Well that was FAR too much for the Dent villagers to deal with, so George was reburied at the door of the church, with a cast iron stake through his heart. And so they say, George was never seen again…. best leave that stake in place then eh?
Worth a visit? I think so! We have an absolutely classic walk that starts and ends in Dent, taking you up the heritage trail in Flintergill and beyond!
SOURCE: The Dent Heritage Centre
The awesome Hoffman Kiln. A relic of industry in the Settle Area.
The Hoffman Kiln, Settle
This is one of the most unique relics to explore in the Yorkshire Dales and it’s open to visitors as part of the Craven Lime Works Trail. It’s really quite a sight to behold and you will quite rightly be wowed by it’s absolute immensity!
Built back in 1873, this huge structure is one of only a few left in the whole country, which already makes it well worth the visit! In its heyday, the kiln had 22 burning chambers, which burned limestone in a continuous cycle and the fire inside would burn continuously, often for years at a time. In fact there are examples across the world where the fires have burned continuously for decades! This type of kiln was invented by Friedrich Hoffman and was a highly efficient way of burning LOADS of limestone.
The structure once had a chimney, which managed to fall down the day before it was supposed to have been demolished, but what remains is the kiln, the ruins of the old railways and tunnels which used to bring the limestone to the kiln, then a series of other kilns and building dotted around the area.
A hidden gem, it’s possible that you’ve driven straight past this place without even realising it was there!
You can walk to this, and take in the renowned Stainforth Force (brilliant in October when you might be lucky enough to catch salmon leaping up the falls) if you check out our Hoffman Kiln and Stainforth Force Walk or the area has now been regenerated with a large visitor car park, so you can simply park up and explore!
Here, is hands down (or mouth down) the weirdest thing you’ll find in the Yorkshire Dales
The Teeth in the Bridge, Bewerley
Should I have lead with this one? Because this is HANDS DOWN the weirdest thing you’ll find in the Yorkshire Dales. If not Yorkshire. Or possibly the whole of England!
The Teeth in the Bridge.
I posted about these teeth a couple of years ago on our social media pages and got an INSANE response to them, but the best response was from those who live locally, who filled me in with their story. Here it is….
Way back when the road bridge was constructed over the beck, the creator of said bridge decided he was going to give the bridge a soul, so he gave it a smile! The teeth are in fact false teeth and when the bridge was resurfaced, a new set was donated by the local dentist so the bridge could retain its weirdly wonderful secret. And so that’s why, there are false teeth in a bridge in Nidderdale.
Now THAT’S quirky.
I have been told that there are MANY other versions of why there are teeth in the bridge, (many made up by the staff of the nearby Bewerley Outdoor Education Centre to entertain the kids whilst they are out and about) but this one possibly rings the most true!
The Loki Stone in Kirkby Stephen, one of only a few in Europe
The Loki Stone
They just keep coming right? Here is one of the most interesting things that you will find in the Yorkshire Dales. The Loki Stone.
And I’m not talking about Tom Hiddlestone’s Marvel version, although he may give you a rough idea about the character of the Norse God Loki… bit mean, bit mischievous, master of deception and all that. But this Loki stone is a step away from the infinity version and more rooted in Viking stone carving territory.
Yes this stone, found inside Kirkby Stephen’s Parish Church was stumbled upon during renovations to the church building in 1847, but dates back MUCH further to around 900-1000 AD. It depicts the image of a devil-like character, bound by restraints, giving it the name the ‘bound devil’.
Research was conducted into the stone upon its discovery, which found there to be links to both the carving styles of Viking Northumbria, as well as there being a nod to Scandinavian artistic styles too, but this stone seems firmly linked to the Vikings.
They are remarkbly rare in Europe, one being found in nearby Gosforth in Cumbria, the other in Gotland in Sweden.
So rare, quirky, weird and totally wonderful. You can find it in Kirkby Stephen’s town centre in the parish church.
Make a day of it by heading for a wander in Stenkrith Park!
Source: Kirkby Stephen Parish Church
The Buttertubs on Buttertubs Pass… mmmmmm Buttery!
The Buttertubs, Swaledale
If you ever drive between Hawes and Keld or Muker in Swaledale, it’s likely that you’ll head over Buttertubs Pass, which in my humble opinion is one of the most beautiful drives in all of the Yorkshire Dales. On a clear day, you will have beautifully dramatic views as the road climbs up high above a steep drop in the valley below.
It’s on this pass, that you will find The Buttertubs. These quirky little potholes are so called because it was said that farmers taking their butter over to market in Hawes, would stop here on a hot day for a rest and would lower the butter into the holes to cool it off before getting to market.
But other than a great way to keep your butter cool, what ARE they? Welll…. What they are, is a work in progress…
The Yorkshire Dales is full of Carboniferous limestone that is BILLIONS of years old (I mentioned that earlier) and limestone is soluble in slightly acidic rainwater (mentioned that too!) Over thousands of years, the rainwater has eaten away at this limestone and has created these vertical shafts (or potholes) some at over 24 metres deep! As the water keeps trickling over the rock, the erosion continues and the Butterttubs continue to grow! Cool huh? (Apparently both literally AND figuratively!)
Walking towards the ruins of Hartlakes, reportedly the most haunted place in the Dales
Hartlakes. The Most Haunted Place in the Yorkshire Dales?
From bound devils to spooky tales. The picture above isn’t actually the house in question, this was in the Summer of 2025 before I had stumbled across the story of Bogle Hall and its tragic history.
Had I known, I would almost certainly have paid more attention as we strolled through the stunning Swaledale scenery in the height of a gloriously sunny Summer!
Hartlakes can be desribed as being a tiny abandoned settlement, strung out along the Coast to Coast path between Keld and Muker, near to the River Swale. You’d be forgiven for assuming that these properties were no more than abandoned farm out-buildings (because that is exactly what I had thought!) But these properties were once homes.
And one such home was Hartlakes Hall. This property was abandoned over 100 years ago by its then tenants, John Alton who was known locally as ‘Snapper John’ and his family. One day, him and his wife had made the journey to nearby Muker market, leaving their children back at home. In a horrific accident, their daughter managed to set fire to herself and she tragically succumbed to her injuries. A horrific tale, which is so very sad.
It was after this point, that the Alton family reported violent disturbances, sounds of wailing and rattling which caused so much distress, the family moved out. The house was never occupied again and is now locally known as Bogle Hall (pronounced Boggle Hall).
The residents of nearby Keld know to steer well clear of the now ruined house. Particularly after dark, when the wails can still be heard. Spooky huh?
Sources: Coast to Coast and Swaledale History.
Sitting on top of the Coldstones Cut looking across to the working quarry
The Coldstones Cut, Nidderdale
Sitting high above Pateley Bridge is the absolutely enormous modern art installation, The Coldstones Cut.
Created by artist Andrew Sabin, it is the largest and highest public artwork in Yorkshire and offers you stunning views across Nidderdale and also into the working Coldstones Quarry, creating an impressive link between the managed and industrial land, and the wild beauty that surrounds you.
Speaking of wild, the kids will undoubtedly love running up and down the spiral pathways leading to the viewing platforms (good luck keeping up with them!) and to top it off, there’s a super little cafe (with cake. Cake is always good) just down the road, at The Toft Barn Cafe.
You can pay this place a visit for free and you can find the details of it over on our Coldstones Cut walk page.
The demon statue in the Underworld at Forbidden Corner
The Forbidden Corner
It is a fact that if you are writing about Quirky and Unusual places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, it cannot be complete without mentioning The Forbidden Corner, which is both quirky AND unusual and a whole load of other descriptive words too!
It is impossible for me to do this place any kind of justice in just a few paragraphs, (which is why I have written an entire blog just about this place) but I’ll give it a shot!
What started off as a private garden, with a few follies (buildings designed just for enjoyment) turned into an expanse of labyrinths, ruins, statues, soundscapes and more with a feeling of the macabre mixed with wonder and whimsy.
Nope. I tried. It’s impossible to describe this place in words. You just have to go and see it to believe it and I didn’t even touch on the mice…
You can read the full blog about The Forbidden Corner right here!
The plaque on the Drummer Boy Stone in Richmond
The Drummer Boy Stone
Have you ever heard of the Legend of the Richmond Drummer Boy?
The plaque above is in memory of the lost soldier who was tasked with the job of finding an illusive passageway rumoured to stretch between Richmond Castle and Easby Abbey.
After they found the location of the likely passage and that it was simply too dilapidated for a fully grown soldier type to get through, the Drummer Boy was sent on a subterranean journey to see where the tunnel ended up, beating his drum all the way so the soldiers on the surface could hear where he was.
It was at the point where the plaque and rock are placed, where the last drum beat was heard and the boy was never seen or heard from again. The favoured theory at the time was that he was attacked by a monster from the chasms of Hell, but the alternative was that he entered the chamber of the sleeping knights of the round table (King Arthur and all that) and lay down to sleep with them until the time comes that they were needed in battle.
Both of course, logical conclusions.
The sad reality is that the boy was never recovered, presumably succumbing to suffocation or tunnel collapse, but at the moment the Drummer Boy fell silent, he was written into local legend where his memory is kept alive as long as people keep telling his story.
You can walk from Richmond to Easby Abbey on our circular walk that passes the Drummer Boy Stone.
SOURCE: The Vintage News: The Legend of the Richmond Drummer Boy, The Little Drummer Boy Cafe
Pendragon Castle, the legendary home of Uther Pendragon
Pendragon Castle and Lammerside Castle
Heard of Pendragon Castle?
It’s a little bit well known isn’t it? Associated with Arthurian Legend, the original Pendragon Castle is rumoured to have been the home of Uther Pendragon, King Arthur’s Dad, waaaay back in the 5th Century. In grizzly news, the rumours were that old Uther (along with all of his soldiers) were poisoned by the Saxons on the site when their water supply was tampered with.
The reality is, that there is no evidence that there was any castle here before this one (seen above) was built in the 1100’s, but who wants to let that get in the way of a good story eh?
Speaking of good stories…
I’ll bet you’ve never heard of Lammerside Castle, which is the next door neighbour castle and legendary home of another character from the King Arthur legend, this time the unsavoury giant Sir Tarquin who had a penchant for eating children.
Lovely right?!
Oh and if you want yet MORE quirk and character to add to Pendragon, there’s rumoured to be buried treasure underneath it, that’s guarded by a chicken.
And I’m going to leave it riiiiiiight there.
SOURCE: Yorkshire Dales National Park, Ghostly Yorkshire Dales by Summer Strevens
The wishing tree in Flintergill
The Flintergill Wishing Tree
In the super cute village of Dent (of Vampire Stone fame), you will find a beautiful waterfall that flows through the stunning ancient woodland that lines Flintergill.
If you follow the trail upwards through the woodland, you will chance upon the ancient wishing tree. The gnarled roots form an archway large enough to walk through, and it is said that the spirit of the tree will grant a wish to anybody who walks around the roots three times in a clockwise direction.
Ooh…. But make sure not to head around it anti clockwise though or else you’ll be DOOOOOOMED (*disclaimer, not technically true. Unless you believe in fairies… which of course I do!)
There is a heritage walk available from the Heritage Centre if you fancy a wander, or you can follow our Flintergill walk that is a little further.
Quirky? I think SO!
SOURCE: Dent Heritage Centre
The Nine Standards that sit above Kirkby Stephen
The Nine Standards
It’s time for some massive and mysterious cairns. The Nine Standards sit well above Kirkby Stephen on Hartley Fell and can be seen for miles around. They almost appear to be like jagged teeth along the ridge line of Nine Standards Rigg, each one unique in structure and different to the rest.
But these massive structures are more than just a simple pile of rocks put there by the hundreds of hikers who make the Coast to Coast journey every year. The existence of the markers are thought to perhaps date back as far as 800 years.
I say perhaps, because there is no real clear cut answer as to why or even when these towers were built. Certainly, records can confirm that the nine markers have been there for at least 500 years acting as perhaps a boundary line, but still no definitive answer as to why there were nine or why they were put there in the first place! The existing structures that we see today seem to be much younger, dating to around 200 years and have in recent years been restored to their former glory.
But still. Why?! One such theory is that they are standing on ancient burial mounds, one is that they were created to dominate the skyline to ward off the Scots from attack by fooling them into thinking that they were warriors and another is that they are follies, just built for fun. What is clear is that Kirkby Stephen has strong ties with the Vikings (see the Loki Stone) and that perhaps the origins of these markers have some link to that.
Why nine? Well, nine is a significant number in so many cultures. If we focus on the Viking theory, they had nine worlds in Norse mythology, could there be a link there? We may never know.
What is clear is that they hold great significance to Kirkby Stephen and these nine protectors of the town are not allowed to fall down. They are looked after by the local townsfolk.
They are also a fantastic place to walk, and you can read more about our trip there by reading our Dales Mountains page!
Bartle the Giant. A legend that is still celebrated today
Bartle the Giant and his annual Burning
This is up there with one of my favourite Tales of the Dales EVER and as with only the FINEST folk tales, it has SO many blummin versions of it, which is always a true testament to how many times the tale has been told and how much it is revered.
But before we launch into his story, let’s take a second to a appreciate one of the most unique traditions in Yorkshire. The Burning of Bartle. This is a tradition that happens in West Witton in Wensleydale every year in August. This beautiful village is found on the edge of the National Park near Leyburn and is tucked away under the prominent Penhill, it is the unassuming setting for what is one of the Yorkshire Dales’ oldest traditions, dating back at least 400 years and possibly pre-dating ACTUAL bonfire night and the Gunpowder Plot in 1605.
Penhill boasts Robin Hood’s Well, an historic beacon, a thriving adder population and…. the Giant of Penhill. The Giant was not a particularly friendly sort and became renowned for being downright mean. The Giant lived in a castle on Penhill, with panoramic views stretching across Wensleydale. His prized possessions were his pigs. He loooooved his pigs. Some say his pride and joy were stolen from the village of West Witton, some say he murdered a shepherdess from the village after killing her flock of sheep because they weren’t as wonderful as his beautiful pigs and SOME say, he was murdered by the ghost of his wolf hound. BUT.
Some say, he is the inspiration for the Bartle burned every year in West Witton. What’s the story behind that?
Well…. as the doggerel goes…
‘On Penhill Crags, he tore his rags
At Hunter’s Thorn he blew his horn
At Capplebank Stee he brak’ his knee
At Grassgill beck he brak’ his neck
At Wadhams End he couldn’t fend
At Grassgill End we’ll mak’ his end
Shout, lads, shout!’
So…. as it turned out things didn’t end well for the giant of Penhill.
The truth is, the origin of the tradition is unknown and in all likelihood the doggerel doesn’t refer to a pig-loving giant with a penchant for real estate, but it speaks about the unfortunate demise of a prolific livestock thief. But either way, I know which version I prefer!
If you fancy trying the trail, the wonderful folk of West Witton have created a Bartle Trail Map and why not check out the two pubs in the village (both know for being haunted - bonus!) Parking for the trail is near the play park in the parking layby before you enter the village.
The millennium stone depicting the story of Alice Ketyll of Clapham
Alice Ketyll of Clapham 1468
This is one of my absolute FAVOURITES, because this tale is not all that it seems, and I had a LOT of fun researching it (history geek at play!!!)
It’s a story that starts not in Yorkshire, but in Ireland….
Have you heard of Dame Alice Kyteler? The answer is more than likely to be no.
Alice Kyteler had the absolute displeasure of being heralded as the first woman in Ireland to be convicted of witchcraft back in the 1200’s (yes, the 1200’s bear with me….)
Why? In a nutshell (and with a HEFTY handful of my bias) Dame Alice was born wealthy, married wealthy, and stood to gain quite a lot from the untimely deaths of each of her husbands (all four of them… draw any conclusions you like, it was the 1200’s…) So ‘unfortunate’ was she in becoming widowed four times, she was known as the ‘Merry Widow', but it was only upon the death of her fourth husband that she became a tad ‘unstuck’. When he died shortly after signing all his worldly possessions over to her and her son (and thereby severely pissing off the rest of his family) she suffered from the wrath of said family and was on the receiving end of an accusation of witchcraft.
Sad times for old Alice, but luckily she was rich and therefore managed to flee. At least for a bit. She returned to protest against her accusations, but that didn’t go so well and she ended up being convicted of witchcraft… at which point she promptly disappeared, apparently headed to England, never to be seen again…..
BUT WAIT!
Let’s pick up that story in Clapham, North Yorkshire (famous for lying under Ingleborough mountain, you know, the Yorkshire Three Peaks and all that...)
Keep reading, it gets better….
Now, in the 1400’s (yes 200 years later…) an Alice Ketyll pops up to play.
(That’s a familiar sounding name right?)
Now Alice was said to live in a pretty standard cottage at the end of Trow Gill (that’s just up from Ingleborough Cave). Her foster son (stepson, dependant on what you read) was based at the far more important sounding Clapdale Hall (or castle, again dependant on your source)
The story goes, that she was asked by her stepson to aid in the Lancastrian cause in the War of the Roses by calling upon the aid of the devil himself. What did she have to do? Sweep the dust off the bridge in the direction of Clapdale Hall and then stand in a circle of 9 dead cockerels on the bridge in the upper part of Clapham (near the church). Simple standard witchy style stuff, right?…
So notorious is the story of Old Alice, that her ring of cockerels is immortalised on the millennium stone near St James’ Church in Clapham. Yes Dear Reader…. She’s that blummin’ famous.
Or at least Dame Alice Kyteler is. Because there are some striking similarities between the story of Alice of Clapham and the famous first witch of Ireland. So similar, it’s almost as if the story was …. very influential in the creation of the story of Alice of Clapham….
SO similar that the incredibly well documented trial and history of the famous witch in Ireland was pretty easy to research (even back in the day) and so compelling were the allegations that even several hundred years later it was the perfect story to create a bit of a tourist spin to draw some lovely folk into the area perhaps.…
But I don’t like to speculate of course……
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story I say, but a good story this seems to be…. as after investigation by a couple of local historians, there is absolutely no factual basis at all for our witch of Clapham.
Still a good story though! And if you fancy a trip to Clapham, check out our Gaping Gill walk!
The Dales Countryside Museum where you’ll find the Buckden Bill artefacts
The Mystery of the Body in the Mine: Buckden Bill
It’s unlikely that back in 1890 when this gentleman took a foray into the disused mine workings that he realised what a mystery he would become! But man…. WHAT A TALE!
In 1960, a group of students from Birmingham University were exploring the mine network, on the western slopes of Buckden Pike. An expansive labyrinth of mine shafts, the tunnels under Buckden Pike had not been used since the lead mining industry collapsed in the 1870s, and it was during their exploration that they stumbled upon the remains of Buckden Bill.
A murder investigation was originally launched, until it became apparent that Bill had been a resident there for quite some time. But despite scouring the scene of the possible crime, investigators could find very little to point to this man’s identity. The clues he left? A felt hat, a walking stick, some coins and a card from a funeral in Settle.
Investigating the clues he left, has lead to some coming to the conclusion that this poor soul was an ex-lead miner, who had returned for old time’s sake, but whilst there are theories, we shall never know for sure who he truly was, and the mystery endures...
Even more fascinating was the fact that when the investigations began, the mine was found to be untouched since its closure. Stubs of old candles remained in their place, boot prints preserved in the level floor and abandoned tools, left where they were last used.
QUITE the image right?
And an image it will have to remain, because the mines are now in such a perilous state that entry will probably leave you ending up like Old Bill, another mine mystery.
Some petrifying items… no wait, some PETRIFIED items!
The Petrifying Well
I can’t possibly finish a quirky, weird and wonderful blog without mentioning the Petrifying Well at Mother Shipton’s Cave.
Located in Knaresborough, this is the oldest visitor attraction in the country, where you will find a waterfall that quite literally, and I REALLY mean literally, turns items to stone.
Yes the Petrifying Well at Mother Shipton’s has a reputation for turning things to stone, because…. well that’s what it does! The water that flows over the top of the waterfall is rich in minerals, including calcium and sulphur which creates a stone-like coating on any items hung under the cascade.
After weeks, the item will be turned to stone!
And that, is SO quirky.
The Petrifying Well at Mother Shipton’s Cave
There you have it! Our cool and unique list of stuff to see in the Dales!
But if all this has done is whet your appetite? Then you might also enjoy reading about…
The Folklore of the Yorkshire Dales
The Ghost Stories of the Yorkshire Dales
