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Holidays in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, holidays in the North Pennines, holidays in East Cumbria holidays in North Yorkshire in Northern England, interesting places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines areas of outstanding natural beauty, places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, good walks in the Yorkshire Dales |
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St Mary & St Alkelda's Parish Church and a circular walk down to the River Cover with great views of the Castle and surrounding countryside of Wensleydale See also 51a. Middleham Castle Scenes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire, England Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines Index
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(a) The Town of Middleham It is believed that there has been a settlement at Middleham since Roman times and Middleham is mentioned in the Domesday Book when its name was `Medelai`. The most pleasant village-town of Middleham is situated in Wensleydale, on the north-facing hillside between the River Cover and the River Ure dominated by the magnificent castle ruins towering over clusters of old grey stone cottages, fine old Georgian and Victorian houses and its two cobbled market squares. Middleham is noted for its connection with III, the great Castle (which for a period was Richard's childhood home) with the largest keep (by area) in the north of England and in more modern times its horse-racing industry. The racing industry grew in Georgian times which financed the rebuilding of much of Middleham and with it, around 1765, the first recorded racehorse trainer, Isaac Cape. Race meetings were held regularly on the High Moor above Middleham during the 18th Century when most of the town was being rebuilt. It is good that much of the town is protected as a conservation area and European funding has financed the re-cobbling of the towns squares, so all in all, Middleham is a lovely place to visit and not just the Castle, but also the town itself with its cafes and pubs and the interesting Middleham Parish Church of St Mary and St Alkelda.
THE WHITE SWAN in the centre of Middleham
The Market Cross in the centre of Middleham with some of the fine 18th century town houses.
Left and right: The Black Sheep Brewery's RICHARD III pub in Middleham, with a nice quiet south facing area round the back.
Left: Theakston sign outside the RICHARD III pub in Market Square. Right: Looking down the road to THE BLACK BULL pub in Market square.
Some of the fine looking houses in the centre of Middleham.
The market cross area of central Middleham.
A quiet side street below the Castle. Middleham is a nice place to potter around between visiting the castle and parish church.
(b) The Parish Church of St Mary & St Alkelda, Middleham PLEASE LEAVE A DONATION TO HELP WITH THE UPKEEP OF THIS FINE MEDIEVAL CHURCH
The fine looking Middleham Parish Church of St Mary & St Alkelda (of which the latter's origin isn't very clear). Maybe St Alkelda was an Anglo-Saxon princess killed in a Viking raid ~ AD 800 or she may have been Icelandic and her healing reputation brought to England by the Vikings, since 'Alkelda' is supposed to mean 'healing spring' though the Saxon word for Holy Well is Haeligkeld.
The Perpendicular west tower and south porch entrance of St Mary & St Alkelda church Middleham. The parish church of St Mary & St Alkelda, once a collegiate college established by Richard III.
Looking down the nave to the chancel, altar and east window of St Mary & St Alkelda church Middleham.
The nave and arches of the south aisle of St Mary & St Alkelda church Middleham. The Decorated arcades consist of four bays dividing the nave & chancel from the two aisles.
Looking west down the nave to the west window and on the right the arches of the north aisle of St Mary & St Alkelda church Middleham.
Some of the surviving fragments of 15th century medieval stained glass in St Mary & St Alkelda church Middleham.
Some of the Victorian stained glass windows in St Mary & St Alkelda Church Middleham.
Details of the lower panels of the right-hand stained glass window above.
More of the stained glass windows in St Mary & St Alkelda Church Middleham.
Last view of St Mary & St Alkelda Church Middleham.
(c) A circular walk via the River Cover south of Middleham Town
View of Middleham Castle from the south, on the start of our little circular walk via the River Cover, in which an OS map is needed (OL 30), though the route is not complicated.
Looking south-west up from Middleham Castle to the original motte-and-bailey castle which you see in the distance to your right before heading south-east.
Just SSE of the castle three paths intersect, you can take the diagonal path which runs more or less due south-east over the higher moor south-east of Middleham and then you drop down to the banks of the River Cover.
Molly had to go over the stepping stones BUT are route is turn right west and follow the north bank of the River Cover along what the OS map calls 'Cover Banks'.
The lovely River Cover from Cover Banks.
The River Cover
Before heading north back to Middleham the path climbs up above the River Cover which you can glimpse down below through the trees.
Looking down on the River Cover from the Cover Banks.
Finally at the west end of Cover Banks you reach Hullo Bridge, which you do NOT cross, other than to take photographs!
Views from Hullo Bridge.
Climbing back up northwards from the banks of the River Cover to return to Middleham.
Lovely meadow fields to walk across as the outskirts of Middleham comes into sight.
You eventually join a minor road but can fork right (eastwards) along a path that takes you past the original motte-and-bailey castle on your right.
It was a classic motte-and-bailey castle.
Heading down to Middleham and its magnificent Castle.
The south-west 'back' view of Middleham Castle near some race horse stables.
Some thoroughbred racing horses I presume?
Northern England docspics images photos © Phil Brown Tourist information, Walks, Holidays in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, North Yorkshire England, Top tourist attractions, luxury hotels, self-catering holiday cottages, B&B, friendly pubs, eating out in fine restaurants, walking holidays, touring coach tours, pretty villages, historic towns, museums, local art galleries, guided walks, excellent fell hill walking in limestone country, good locally sourced food docspics images photos of Middleham, North Yorkshire © Phil Brown Tourist information on Middleham, North Yorkshire, Walks near Middleham, North Yorkshire, Having holidays near Middleham, North Yorkshire, England, Top tourist attractions near Middleham, North Yorkshire, luxury hotels near Middleham, North Yorkshire, self-catering holiday cottages near Middleham, North Yorkshire, airbnb air B and B near Middleham, North Yorkshire, quality B&B near Middleham, North Yorkshire, friendly pubs near Middleham, North Yorkshire, cafes near Middleham, North Yorkshire, eating out in fine restaurants near Middleham, North Yorkshire, weekend breaks near Middleham, North Yorkshire, wining & dining weekends near Middleham, North Yorkshire, walking holidays around Middleham, North Yorkshire, touring coach tours including Middleham, North Yorkshire, pretty villages near Middleham, North Yorkshire, historic towns and pretty village near Middleham, North Yorkshire, museums near Middleham, North Yorkshire, local art galleries near Middleham, North Yorkshire, guided walks from Middleham, North Yorkshire, excellent fell hill walking around Middleham, North Yorkshire, rambling near Middleham, North Yorkshire, exploring the landscape near Middleham, North Yorkshire, good places to eat near Middleham, North Yorkshire, tourist attractions near Middleham, North Yorkshire, tourist information for places near Middleham, North Yorkshire, good places for wining and dining near Middleham, North Yorkshire, good walks near Middleham, North Yorkshire, properties for sale near Middleham, North Yorkshire, renting a flat or house near Middleham, North Yorkshire, property for rent near Middleham, North Yorkshire, houses for sale near Middleham, North Yorkshire, lettings near Middleham, North Yorkshire, places to rent near Middleham, North Yorkshire, holiday cottage accommodation near Middleham, North Yorkshire docspics images photos of Middleham, North Yorkshire northern England © Phil Brown Tourist information on Middleham, North Yorkshire, Things to do in Middleham, North Yorkshire, What to see in Middleham, North Yorkshire, guided walks in Middleham, North Yorkshire, weekend breaks in Middleham, North Yorkshire holidays in Middleham, North Yorkshire, Top tourist attractions in Middleham, North Yorkshire, luxury hotels in Middleham, North Yorkshire, self-catering holiday cottages in Middleham, North Yorkshire, airbnb air B and B in Middleham, North Yorkshire, B&B in Middleham, North Yorkshire, friendly pubs in Middleham, North Yorkshire, cafes in Middleham, North Yorkshire, eating out in fine restaurants in Middleham, North Yorkshire, bargain holiday breaks in Middleham, North Yorkshire, wining & dining weekends in Middleham, North Yorkshire, touring coach tours visiting Middleham, North Yorkshire, pretty areas in Middleham, North Yorkshire, historic buildings in Middleham, North Yorkshire, visiting museums in Middleham, North Yorkshire, local art galleries in Middleham, North Yorkshire, guided walks in Middleham, North Yorkshire, history of Middleham, North Yorkshire, architecture of Middleham, North Yorkshire, trains to Middleham, North Yorkshire, historic houses in Middleham, North Yorkshire, historic churches in Middleham, North Yorkshire, information centre in Middleham, North Yorkshire, heritage places in Middleham, North Yorkshire, good places to eat in Middleham, North Yorkshire, top tourist attractions in Middleham, North Yorkshire, tourist information for things to do and see in Middleham, North Yorkshire, good places to eat out in Middleham, North Yorkshire, good places to walk to in Middleham, North Yorkshire, tourist attractions properties for sale in Middleham, North Yorkshire, renting a flat of house in Middleham, North Yorkshire, property for rent in Middleham, North Yorkshire, houses for sale in Middleham, North Yorkshire, lettings in Middleham, North Yorkshire, places to rent in Middleham, North Yorkshire, holiday cottage accommodation in Middleham, North Yorkshire
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Holidays in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, holidays in the North Pennines, holidays in East Cumbria holidays in North Yorkshire in Northern England, interesting places to visit in the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines areas of outstanding natural beauty, places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, good walks in the Yorkshire Dales |
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