This fine market town is just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, but makes an excellent base for exploring the eastern Dales.
Bustling markets and shops
The town itself, pleasantly situated on a low ridge above the River Ure, offers a good choice of local shops, restaurants, cafés, and even a cinema. There are also banks, a post office as well as its celebrated Friday market, the town hosts a superb annual Dales Festival of Food & Drink in June, offering a wide range of organic food, drink and home-grown produce from throughout the region.If you miss the festival then look out for the monthly Farmer's Market for delicious local produce.
Great walks
There are superb walks from the town, none lovelier than the stroll up to the summit of Leyburn Shawl, a long low ridge covered with pine woods, which gives extensive views along the Dale to Pen Hill and beyond. Keen walkers can continue to Preston-under-Scar, Redmire and Castle Bolton.
Getting here
Leyburn has good bus connections. It is an excellent place to stay if you wish to explore the Dales without a car.