Bransdale

Bransdale is a quiet valley in North Yorkshire, part of the North York Moors National Park. It lies between Bilsdale to the west and Farndale to the east, with three smaller dales inside it: Bransdale itself, Sleightholmedale and Kirkdale. The Hodge Beck river flows through the valley from Cockayne to the River Dove, passing near Kirkbymoorside before reaching the Vale of Pickering and the River Rye. The valley is also a civil parish, once part of Ryedale district until 2023, now run by North Yorkshire Council. The dale has a divided history. Bransdale Westside belonged to Kirkdale parish, while Bransdale Eastside was in Farndale High Quarter. In 1866 these became separate civil parishes, but they were abolished in 1934. The modern parish of Bransdale was formed from parts of Bransdale Westside, Farndale Westside and Farndale Low Quarter. Visitors find peaceful walking paths through open moorland and wooded sections. The Hodge Beck offers gentle streams and small waterfalls along the way. Farms and stone barns dot the landscape, showing how the dale has been farmed for centuries. The listed buildings in the area include old farmhouses and chapels that reflect its past. The silence and wide views make it a place to walk without meeting many others.