Lupin Cottage in Gunnerside, North Yorkshire

29/06/2024

24/06/2024

Ever tried to unlock the 'code' of different place names in the Yorkshire Dales, or worked out why we say 'Massam' not "mash-em'? With thousands of years of history and Roman, Celts, Saxon, Viking, Norman and other settlers, it’s no surprise that place names give us an insight into how they've evolved.

I still remember my history teacher, Mr. Milner telling me this over forty years ago, and thinking he'd just given us the key to a secret code! You don't need to know that many words to get a good handle on who lived here before us and why.

First came the Brigantes, a Celtic tribe. Some of the names from this time remain, sounding a bit Welsh perhaps.

An example is anywhere with pen in the name, meaning ‘hill’. For example, Penhill, (so good they named it twice?!) and Pen-y-ghent.

Anglo Saxon was the next influence. Look out for names ending in ham or ton (eventually leading to town) which meant a farmstead. The name before –ton or –ham was often either the name of a person who owned that land, geographic feature or a trade carried on there.

Masham was the farmstead owned by the Saxon chief, Massa so it was Massa’s ham. This is why it’s pronounced Mass-ham not Mash-em! Skipton originally meant sheep farm! It’s hard to imagine that once woods and forests covered much of the Dales. Ley meant ‘clearing in the woods’ e.g. Wensley.

The Vikings contributed to our language in a really significant way. They gave us suffixes like thwaite meaning ‘clearing’, keld meaning ‘spring’, foss or force for ‘waterfall’, and gill or ghyll meaning ‘ravine’.

Many landscape features still use names from the time of the Danelaw:
Beck – stream
Cam – bank or ridge
Carr – wetland
Fell - mountain
Garth – enclosed grass paddock by a farmstead
Ling – heather
Mire – a pool e.g Redmire would have been a reed pool
Moss – boggy land
Nab – outcrop
Scar – steep rock face
Sett or seat – upland fields, often summer pastures
Syke – gully
Tarn – upland lake
Thorpe - settlement
Whin – thorny bushes

You may have noticed some more fanciful French-sounding names like Jervaulx which came from the Norman. Richmond was originally a strong hill, Richemont, which makes sense when you see the castle!

In the Dales we’re used to the importance of rivers in naming places – most dales are named after their river e.g. Wharfedale, Ribblesdale. A valley is called a dale, although in some areas you might see words like dean instead, and the valley bottom was called… bottom! Lots of place names end in ford, as in a shallow river crossing. Kirk was the Scandinavian word for church. Kirkby would have meant church by…

​Maybe now when you look at the map or drive around the Dales, you'll also see it through the eyes of those ancient settlers. They're long gone, but the names remain.

16/06/2024

It’s been a beautiful day in Swaledale today. A great way to spend Fathers Day 💙💙

30/03/2024

Some great news to share.

We surpassed our target of £320,000.

This is a real milestone and takes us one step nearer to purchasing the pub as a community.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to the 418 people that have pledged. It means a great deal to know that so many people are behind us.

And it's not too late. You can still pledge if you would like to, you will then be added to our distribution list to receive advanced notification of the formal share offer.

The formal share offer will begin in the next few weeks, and we will of course post an update when it is launched.

In the meantime the Committee are working hard to complete the necessary plans and supporting documents to submit our funding application to the Community Ownership Fund.

Thanks once again to all who have pledged, shared and supported us so far

18/03/2024

✨☀️ SUMMER TIMETABLE☀️✨
As of Monday 25th March we will be running off our summer timetable.
We are still finalising the timings so keep an eye out at the end of this week to see the changes to your local stop.

Please note that our change to the summer timetable does not guarantee summer weather ☀️🌦️❄️☔️

18/03/2024

NEW MENU LOADING 🙌
It’s that time of year again where the Chefs bang heads to make incredible changes to our menus! 🧑‍🍳
We bring you the best in fresh, homemade food so you know this new menu will not disappoint!
Tell me one thing on our current menu that you LOVE ⬇️ 🖤

18/03/2024

We're delighted to confirm further dates for The Cheese Bar!
Join us in our atmospheric tasting room for sharing boards and individual cheese plates.
Drop us a message or call the shop on 01748 829789 to book your table 🧀🍷

06/02/2024

Leyburn Band

Tuesday 28 May 2024 19:30 - 21:30

Dulcet tones from Wensleydale’s finest

Venue: St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth

Tickets are not due to go on sale until 11/03/2024.

Rebecca Lundberg conducts Lower Wensleydale’s award-winning brass band in the superb acoustic of St. Andrew’s Church.

Adults £10; Under 25s £3

Generously supported by Stewart and Sue Nicholls

06/02/2024

Walking is one of the easiest ways to improve physical and mental health, and there’s nowhere better to enjoy a walk than in the Dales 🚶 This is a favourite circular walk from Muker to Keld you can do on our free walking app 👇

https://yorkshiredales.org.uk/things-to-do/get-outdoors/walking/short-walks/

06/02/2024

Fascinating talks about the universe and stargazing experiences as part of our (9-25 February) 🔭

🌠 Stargazing with The Starsmith at The Station Inn
🌙 Night of Cosmic Wonder at Kings Head - Ravenstonedale
🌟 Pie at Night at Fairhursts Farm Shop

Events are booking up fast, so grab your space now 👉 www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/dark-skies-festival
(pun intended 😉)

📸 Diamond Skies

06/02/2024

Delighted to share this event on Sat 6 April hosted by our friends at Arkengarthdale Community Hub. Reeth Brass Band, The Pearls and special guests The Hub Pop-Up Choir will be performing. What's not to love?!

06/02/2024

Have you ever thought about where your money goes once you've spent it? That probably sounds a bit odd... I'll explain.
I remember going to our local shop when I was about 15. There was always a queue, in part thanks to the sign on the counter: 'local news desk'. It was tongue-in-cheek but also true. Almost every one stopped to talk, ask about families and exchange news. At 15 I was impatient, anxious to be on my way and out into the world so I found it really frustrating, but it was that sense of community that brought me home again. There's real heart in every local business.

There's a big difference between shopping in independent businesses in rural areas, and in large shops in bigger towns. When you walk into a shop, gallery, cafe, pub or any other small business here, you're likely to be greeted by the owner, a member of their family or someone who lives locally and has worked there for a while. There's a sense of welcome and connection. It doesn't take long before they remember you and what you like. There's banter in the butchers, the wine shop owner who always remembers your favourite wine even when you don't, the gallery owner who can second-guess not only your preferences but those of the friends you've bought for in the past.

Shopping can take a bit longer here, as you go from shop to shop in search of each of their specialities. But that's a good thing. Slowing down can do us all good, and the conversations along the way are uplifting and satisfying. You're not just spending money in a shop - you're investing in a sense of community. It might be easy for me to drive to the nearest supermarket but they won't remember me next week, nor will they gather up produce and take it out to the person on a mobility scooter outside, checking that they're well. Shops here perform a service beyond their basic sales.

Research found that when you shop locally, for every £10 you spend, about £50 is generated in the local economy through the multiplier effect. You spend £10 in the grocers, and then they go and buy a paper from the newsagents, who pays a local window-cleaner for their services, who can then afford dance lessons for their daughter in the village hall, and so it goes on.
Photo: Guy Carpenter

06/02/2024

06/02/2024

Head to the hills for Sunday Lunch & drink in the views from our doorstep . Sunday Lunch served from 12 noon - book your table now ! ⬇️
https://www.pbinn.co.uk/Eat-and-Drink/Book-a-Table

06/02/2024

06/02/2024

Mother’s Day is Sunday March 10th 💐 Book your tables now to avoid disappointment . We will be serving a special Mother’s Day two or three course menu including everyone’s favourite Roast Lunch !
You can book now online here https://www.cbinn.co.uk/Eat-Drink/Book-a-Table or call us on 01748 884567

27/12/2023

Boxing Day hike around Gunnerside Gill.

27/12/2023

Get the best price on AirBnB

15/12/2023

Below are our hours for the Bar and kitchen over the festive period. Look forward to seeing you for a bit of Christmas cheer. All at The Kings Head

26/11/2023

23/11/2023

NEW FOOD SERVICE!

From Friday 24th, we shall be serving food as follows:
Wednesday & Thursday 5.30 - 8.00
Friday & Saturday 12.00 - 2.30, 5.30 - 8.00
Sunday Lunch 12.00 - 4.00

Booking advised. Looking forward to seeing you!

23/11/2023

Apologies for resharing as the day was wrong in the original! Coming up in Reeth Memorial Hall on Friday 1st December – The Wilderness Yet weave a tapestry of traditional & original songs and tunes to welcome the Christmas season. Tickets £16 advance (£18 door) u 16s half price – contact [email protected] or see: www.reethmemorialhall.co.uk