Besides the obvious walks and biking in Swaledale, the Green Howards Museum in town is worth a couple of hours. The Norman Castle is worth a look as well, as are the old cobble streets underneath it. The town centre is pretty rubbish, nothing but charity shops, which really makes my pi$$ boil. Take a walk down the River and look around Easby Abbey ruins. ‘The Station’ has some good food, beer and coffee, and a smart Cinema as well. The Forbidden Corner at Middleham is definitely worth a visit just for its sheer oddity value – you will have to book tickets at Leyburn Tourist Office first though. A little known place is Thorpe Thewles Arboretum near Bedale if the sun is out its a lovely place. Bowes Museum up at Barnard Castle is another one worth a look, as is the Castle itself at Barney, there are loads of Antique shops as well if that floats your boat. ‘Big Sheep Little Cow’ is fun for the kids as well, as is another Farm just the far side of Reeth on the Main Rd out, i forget its name, Highbrow Farm or similar IIRC. Masham (Black Sheep Brewery) and Ripon are both nice towns nearby, a 20 minute drive to both. Hawes in Wensleydale is a smart little market town, and of course there is the TanHill Pub at erm, TanHill, or the CBInn at Langthwaite, where you can experience the full array of local inbreeding. For really nice food head to The Oak Tree at Hutton Magna just North of the A66 – expensive but i reckon the best food in the area, make sure you book in advance though or head to the Black Horse at Kirby Fleetham, which isnt too far behind. In the tTown Centre off Finkle Street is an arcade, in there is a French Restaurant, ‘Rustique’, which does by far the best food in Richmond itself, and has a really great ‘ambience’. Ive lived around here for years so i know it pretty well. Hope this helps.
