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CLUB SITES ROWNTREE PARK & LOWER WENSLEYDALE Like chocolate and cheese? Andy Stothert visits two very different sites – but is pleasantly surprised by the opportunities at each HEY MAY be in the same county factories in the world, and our first very far away from it all, and is but this month’s pair of sites site is even named after the park next constantly serenaded by the soothing ❖ T could hardly be more dissimilar. door which was donated to the songs of the natural world. However, while Wensleydale is certainly community by Rowntree and Company Rowntree Park isn’t nearly as famous for its cheese, we were denied after the First World War. spacious as its country cousin where, the perfect chalk-related headline The differing nature of our two sites in places, you can only just see your Ordnance Survey opportunity since York is not renowned starts with their settings. Rowntree Park temporary neighbours. Even the Landranger Maps 99, 105 The historic city of York is captivating for the powdery white stuff. But it does enjoys a city-centre site location, facilities vary between these two – those by day or night have one of the most famous chocolate while Lower Wensleydale seems so at York meet the usual high expectations, >> 22 The Caravan Club Magazine February 2011 The Caravan Club Magazine 23 CLUB SITES ROWNTREE PARK & LOWER WENSLEYDALE tributaries, it offers endless options for relaxed, fairly easy strolling. I have to admit right here that I have an incurable fascination with waterfalls, and will walk or ride miles to see them. Fortunately, in Wensleydale the opportunities for folk like me to wear themselves out inspecting watery cascades are all too numerous. There is also a couple of the nation’s most striking-looking fortresses nearby, should castles be your poison rather than waterfalls. Add in the locally-run train service, some big hills to scale and a stately home or two, and that desire not to drive anywhere is well taken care of. So yes, if you want to walk yourself to a standstill, a few days at Lower Wensleydale can help. However, if rambling’s not your thing, car travel in the area and, perhaps just as importantly, parking, is hassle-free. DID YOU Lower Wensleydale KNOW? Fast forward a few months and I was anticipating an easier time in The original Rowntree’s companyby HenryRowntree was founded Isaac York. The bikes were left at home, whereas those at the Club- in 1862 which proved to be an error, as there ATTRACTIONS managed (but privately-owned) are a couple of good, traffic-free cycle n National Railway Museum, Lower Wensleydale are, if decent and routes straight from the site, and they York – call 08448 153139 York’s amazing clean, a little older. could have provided an alternative day Minster or see nrm.org.uk So surely a city-centre site with instant, out from city-centre activities. n Jorvik Viking Centre, York – on-the-doorstep entertainment and That said, the main menu at Rowntree call 01904 615505 or see jorvik-viking- immaculate facilities will appeal to a very Park just has to revolve around the centre.co.uk different kind of caravanner than a goings-on in the centre of York, which is n York Minster – call 0844 939 hideaway in the country with slightly a 10-minute stroll from the site. Once 0015 or see yorkminster.org more rustic facilities and landscaping? you start, with the city walls usually, n York Castle Museum –call That’s how I thought it would work out, everyone just gets sucked along from one 01904 687687 or see but things didn’t turn out exactly the way place to another, and before you know it, yorkcastlemuseum.org.uk the theory might suggest. If, like us, your a day in the city is a more exhausting n YorkBoat – see the ancient city from the water. Call desire to drive disappears once you have experience than a 30-mile bike ride. 01904 628324 or see yorkboat.co.uk settled somewhere, and boots and bikes So you do it all again the day after: the n Wensleydale Creamery, Hawes – call 01969 667664 tend to take over, rather unexpectedly Minster, Jorvik Viking Centre, The or see wensleydale.co.uk York proved as enjoyable as Lower Shambles, The Castle Museum, a boat n Middleham Castle – call 01969 623899 or see Wensleydale did. More unpredictably, we trip, Clifford’s Tower and several hours at english-heritage.org.uk were rather fascinated by the historical the National Railway Museum. n Wensleydale Railway – call 08454 505474 or see wensleydalerailway.com establishments in Wensleydale, and the So is there really any difference n Constable Burton Hall Gardens, Leyburn – call 01677 proximity of the quaint and ancient little between these two sites, or to whom 450428 or see constableburtongardens.co.uk market town of Leyburn, where there is a they will appeal? I’m not so sure now, larger than anticipated selection of shops as we were equally rewarded, satisfied, and eating places. contented and physically exhausted at To put a bit more flesh on the bones at both. And there were tired-looking INFORMATION Lower Wensleydale, the watercourse in ducks waddling about on both sites, too. SITE this valley isn’t called the river Wensley, They may even have been the same ducks Full site details can be found on p221 (Lower Wensleydale) and but the Ure, and, along with its for all I know… ■ p228 (Rowntree Park) of the Sites Directory & Handbook 2011/12 TOURISM Rowntree Park n York TIC – 01904 550099 n Leyburn TIC – 01969 623069 CYCLING n From Rowntree Park: there’s a huge choice of cycle routes in and around York and the Rowntree Park site lies right on National Cycle Route 65, the Trans Pennine Trail. For a great easy ride, which takes in a scale model of the solar system, download the cycle notes from the Club website. n From Lower Wensleydale:National Cycle Route 71 passes close by along minor roads from York and Harrogate. A Sustrans volunteer has suggested a number of rides of varying distances –you can download cycle notes from caravanclub.co.uk. See sustrans.org.uk for more details. 24 The Caravan Club Magazine.

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