Leyburn, North Yorkshire, The capital of lower Wensleydale is a vibrant market town and gateway to the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The shawl in Leyburn is so named because Mary, Queen of Scots’ imprisonment in 1569 is said to have escaped nearby Bolton Castle and dropped her shawl there. The views of Penhill and Wensleydale are stunning from the Shawl and there is a children’s playground that overlooks them.

Leyburn has very wide main street which forms an extensive market-square where stall holders can be seen plying their trade every Friday and there are livestock sales at the nearby auction mart. The market is also home to a regular farmers market.

Leyburn is also home to Tennants the largest provincial Auction Centre in the country, a small but charming cinema (The Picture House) that hosts films both new and old and the odd live performance, a violin maker, a tea pottery, a chocolate maker and many more.

There are four public houses namely The Black Swan, The Kings Head, The Bolton Arms, and The Golden Lion, all have their merits but (at the time of writing) by far the best dish is cooked at the Black Swan.

Other eateries include Penleys a coffee shop and bistro, Saffron an Indian restaurant as well as various tea rooms and the local chip shop.