Garsdale

Garsdale is a relatively little known area in the Yorkshire Dales. There is a scattering of farms and houses nestled amongst the hills and valley with a small hamlet locally known as 'the street'. Garsdale is a beautiful peaceful area with many walks, lovely scenery and a sense of being very close to nature and perhaps, a quieter way of life. As a nature lover it is ideal, always some birds to see, animals to watch, wild flowers, rivers and waterfalls. The weather can be exciting at times, with some beautiful sunshine and glorious days but also some serious rainfall and wild winds blowing, when it snows it looks wonderful. Spring is the best time, when the land begins to waken up, the seasons are very evident here and winter nights are very dark but on a clear night , every star can be seen, magnificent. Visitors may be surprised at the remoteness, the distance from shops, the peace, the close proximity to nature, the friendliness of the locals. Many people have moved to Garsdale from cities and large towns and never would dream of going back to that life. It is like a relaxing breath out.

Write about Garsdale in your own words. What's it like here? What do you love about it? What should visitors expect?

You don't need to cover everything - just write what you know and feel. A few genuine paragraphs are better than a lot of researched facts.

The Place

Garsdale probably has changed very little in the past 150 years, the houses will look very much as they always have done, stone cottages, farms and barns, that will last forever if they are loved. It is a sheep farming area. The lambs in Springtime are a joy to watch, racing around the fields with their new lamb friends, forgetting which is their mother and bleating desperately until they are reclaimed. The annual cycle of farming, lambs, hay making, tractors up and down the roads, sheep being moved from one field to another, sheep dogs showing their expertise on the hillside. Garsdale feels a safe place, doors can be left open, walks taken alone, parcels can be left on the doorstep, neighbour's will help if there is a problem, a message on WhatsApp asking for help and many will respond. The difference in the seasons can be heard. Spring comes with the curlews and cuckoos, chattering swallows mark the arrival of summer and the autumn the swallows leave and the owls can be heard in the trees, winter comes with the robins song and the redwings and fieldfares visit in their numbers.

What is Garsdale? What does it look, sound, and feel like?

What's Here

Garsdale is quiet, the peace and tranquility of the place is to love. There are walks, rivers, waterfalls, hills. The nearest pubs are the Green Dragon in Hardraw and the Sportsman in Cowgill near Dent, and there are several pubs and eating places in Sedbergh and Hawes. There are a number of churches in the valley and the services rotate between the different churches. There is a village hall and some local events such as quiz night, beetle drive, bonfire night are held there with notifications on the farm doors in the village. Garsdale Station is on the Settle Carlisle route so crosses some beautiful scenery and a trip to the Ribblehead Viaduct is well worth a visit.

What will guests find in Garsdale itself? The station? The pub? The church? Be honest if there isn't much - the remoteness is part of the appeal.

Wildlife

Link to the wildlife section on the Things to Do page, or write more here if you want to.

Staying Here

Staying in Garsdale is perfect for those who enjoy the countryside and the peace and calm of the area. It is an ideal spot for birdwatching, cycling and walking holidays , or for those who prefer countryside drives to villages, country pubs and gentle strolls, this too is here. A clear night can be wonderful with a perfect view of the stars, the area is Dark Sky friendly. For aeroplane enthusiasts there are occasional high speed Eurofighter Typhoon jet fly pasts, which can be loud but exciting to watch, if you are hill walking you may be able to look down on them as the fly along the valley. Along with these we see the occasional low flying Chinook helicopters and also what appear to be very elderly RAF planes too.

What's it like to stay in Garsdale? The quiet, the dark skies, the pace? Help people understand what they're coming to.

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