Wharfedale

Wharfedale is a river valley in the Yorkshire Dales, stretching from its source in North Yorkshire through West Yorkshire. It begins as a narrow upland dale and widens as the River Wharfe flows eastward. The upper section, known as Langstrothdale, passes through remote settlements like Beckermonds and Hubberholme, where J. B. Priestley is buried. Limestone cliffs such as Kilnsey Crag rise above the green valley, while stone barns and drystone walls mark old farming use. The lower dale broadens near towns like Ilkley and Otley before joining the Vale of York. The valley’s shape was carved by the Wharfedale Glacier between 18,000 and 12,000 years ago. Evidence of settlement dates back to Neolithic times, with Celtic, Roman and Anglo-Saxon traces found throughout. Most place names in Upper Wharfedale come from Anglo-Saxon roots. Artists including John Atkinson Grimshaw and J. M. W. Turner captured its landscapes in paintings like “Moonlight, Wharfedale” and views of Kilnsey Crag. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust works to protect the river’s ecological health across several dales. Visitors walk along riverside paths or climb Ilkley Moor to see the Cow and Calf rocks. The contrast between limestone crags and millstone grit outcrops is clear near Ilkley and Otley. Woodland and limestone scars line the upper dale, while stone barns and field walls show the valley’s long farming history. The river’s winding course and surrounding moorland create quiet, open landscapes.