Kilnsey

Kilnsey

Kilnsey and Crag over Wharfedale, from Conistone Pie: Mastiles Lane, left
Kilnsey
Kilnsey shown within North Yorkshire
OS grid reference SD973678
Civil parish
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town SKIPTON
Postcode district BD23
Police North Yorkshire
Fire North Yorkshire
Ambulance Yorkshire
EU Parliament Yorkshire and the Humber
UK Parliament

Kilnsey is a small village in Wharfedale, North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the B6160 road, between the villages of Grassington and Kettlewell, near Arncliffe and just across the River Wharfe from Conistone.

The most notable feature of Kilnsey is a large limestone cliff called Kilnsey Crag, overlooking the road and the River Wharfe from the west. The crag is around 170 feet high, with an overhang of 40 feet. It was painted by J. M. W. Turner in 1816. West from Kilnsey towards Malham Tarn runs the historic Mastiles Lane, a Roman marching road, later an important route for monks leading sheep from Fountains Abbey to summer pasture on higher ground. This is now a Dales walking track.

The village of Kilnsey is a small collection of stone built Yorkshire Dales cottages, many dating back to the 1600s. The Old Hall in the village is believed to have been a medieval administrative site for the monks of Fountains Abbey who farmed huge flocks of sheep in the area. Most of the present building dates from 1658.

Kilnsey Park is a visitor attraction and fishing lakes that was established in 1978 by the Roberts family. The park provides a fun day out for families, with attractions including fishing, a nature trail and farm animals. There is also a working fish farm and a small smokehouse producing smoked foods. There is cafe on site offering home-cooked meals and cakes.

Kilnsey has one pub, the Tennant Arms, named after the Tennant family that owned the Kilnsey Estate up to 1911.

Each autumn the village hosts Kilnsey Show, one of the largest one-day agricultural shows in the country. The show was established in 1897 and regularly attracts over 12,000 visitors. One of the highlights is the Kilnsey Crag Race, a 1.5 mile dash up and down the side of a cliff.

On 5 July 2014, the Tour de France Stage 1 from Leeds to Harrogate passed through the village.[1] Regarded as one of the best places to watch the race, an event, VeloFest, was hosted directly alongside the route to allow thousands of spectators to camp and watch the race.

History

Old Nan

Old Nan was allegedly a witch living under Kilnsey Crag and well known locally.[2] She was known as far as Skipton, where she had a stand in the market.[2]

Views of Kilnsey

References

  1. ↑ "Tour de France Stage 1". Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 Pontefract, E. & Hartley, M. Wharfedale (Reprint 1943) Dent & Sons


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