Settle

A working North Yorkshire market town of roughly 2,600 people, set at the gateway to Upper Ribblesdale beneath the limestone escarpment of Attermire Scar. A market charter was first granted by Henry III in 1249, and the name comes from the Old English Setl, meaning seat or dwelling. Much of the centre is a Conservation Area with 76 listed buildings, mostly 17th to 19th century, so the appeal is more streetscape than single showpiece.

• The Folly, a Grade I listed 17th-century yeoman house, now home to the Museum of North Craven Life.
• The French-style town hall and the Shambles, a distinctive row of shops facing the square.
• Market Square and the narrow alleys, courtyards and stone yards running off it.
• Victoria Hall, a Grade II listed venue, and the independent shops, galleries, cafes and pubs scattered through the centre.
• The Settle-Carlisle Railway, which dominates the lower town and is a working line rather than a heritage attraction.

Both the Ribble Way and the Pennine Bridleway pass through, and old packhorse and drovers routes now serve as footpaths and bridleways into the surrounding dales. Quiet lanes in the Ribble and Wenning valleys suit road cycling. Walkers can also use train services to link routes toward the Three Peaks country without a car.

Castleberg is the obvious short option: a 63m (206ft) limestone crag rising directly above the marketplace, with a wide view over the rooftops. Be honest with yourself about it, since the path is short but steep, with boulders and a little scrambling near the top, and it is best avoided in wet or icy conditions or with unsteady footing.

• Three main town-centre car parks, plus parking on the market square on non-market days. Arrive early on busy days.
• Public toilets at Whitefriars car park, including a RADAR-key accessible toilet.
• A Tourist Information Centre in the Town Hall on Cheapside (BD24 9EJ) stocks free leaflets, maps, books and guides, and staff can advise on beds, meals and local walks.
• Regular trains from Leeds and Carlisle, plus buses from Skipton and onward services toward Kirkby Lonsdale. By car it sits just off the A65.
• A supermarket, petrol stations and everyday shops make this a sensible restocking point for a wider dales trip.

The centre is compact and can be seen fairly quickly, so it works better as a base or a half-day stop than a full day out. Market days and fine weekends fill the square and car parks and take away some of the quiet small-town feel. The railway is central to the town's character but it is a functioning transport line, so do not expect a preserved-railway experience.