Rathmell

Rathmell is a small, unhurried village in the Ribble Valley, tucked between the market town of Settle and the village of Long Preston in North Yorkshire. Its name comes from the Old Norse for 'red sandbank', a reminder that Norse settlers were farming this stretch of the Ribble long before the dales became a National Park. Today it is a scatter of stone farmhouses, a handful of streets, and a parish church, with fields rising steadily toward the Pennine fells to the east.

The village sits just outside the southern boundary of the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which makes it a good quiet base for walkers who want dales scenery without dales crowds. The Ribble Way footpath passes directly through Rathmell on its route between Long Preston and Settle, and the village's network of quiet lanes and field paths connects easily to Stainforth, Langcliffe and the limestone country around Malham further east. Rathmell has no large visitor attractions of its own, but that is rather the point: it is a genuine working village, and its appeal lies in the walking, the views and the easy reach of Settle's shops, cafes and the famous Settle-Carlisle railway.

Top things to do in Rathmell

Rathmell is small, so most days out combine a look around the village with walks or short drives into the surrounding dale country. Here are the best of them.

• Holy Trinity Church — Rathmell's parish church was built in 1842, replacing an earlier meeting place used by the village's long tradition of nonconformist worship. It is a simple, unshowy building typical of small Dales parish churches and worth a look if you are passing through.
• Richard Frankland's Academy site — Rathmell's most notable claim to history is that nonconformist minister Richard Frankland (1630–1698) founded a dissenting academy in the village in 1670, one of the earliest of its kind in England and a direct forerunner of what is now Harris Manchester College, Oxford. There is little to see physically today, but it is a striking fact for such a small place.
• The Ribble Way — this long-distance footpath follows the River Ribble from its source near Ribblehead down to the Lancashire coast, and it runs straight through Rathmell. Walking a stretch north toward Settle or south toward Long Preston is an easy way to see the valley at its best.
• Settle — the nearest market town, about three miles north, has independent shops, cafes, a Saturday market and the southern terminus of the Settle-Carlisle railway, one of Britain's most scenic rail journeys.
• Stainforth Force — a short drive or walk north of Settle, this waterfall on the Ribble is one of the best-known beauty spots in the area and a popular spot for wild swimming in summer.
• Langcliffe and Catrigg Force — the neighbouring village of Langcliffe leads up onto the fell to Catrigg Force, a quieter and prettier waterfall than Stainforth, with views back over Ribblesdale and Pen-y-ghent.
• Pen-y-ghent — one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks, rising to the north-east above Horton in Ribblesdale, is within easy driving distance for anyone wanting a proper fell walk.

Getting to Rathmell

Rathmell lies just off the B6480 between Settle and Long Preston, roughly three miles south of Settle and eight miles north of Skipton. By car it is about an hour from Leeds or Preston via the A65, and around 90 minutes from Manchester. The nearest railway station is Long Preston, on the Leeds to Morecambe line, about two miles away; Settle station, on the celebrated Settle-Carlisle line, is a little further but has a much more frequent service and connects directly to Leeds and Carlisle. There is no rail station in the village itself, so a car is the most practical way to get around once you arrive, though the Ribble Way makes walking in from Settle or Long Preston an option for the energetic.

Best time to visit Rathmell

Late spring and summer (May to September) bring the best weather for walking the fells and river paths, longer daylight hours, and the chance to swim at Stainforth Force. Autumn brings good colour along the Ribble Way and in the wooded ghylls around Langcliffe, with far fewer visitors than the honeypot villages further into the National Park. Winter can be atmospheric but the surrounding fells are exposed, so proper kit is essential for anything beyond a village stroll, and some higher paths can be muddy or icy.

Where to stay in Rathmell

Rathmell itself has very little formal visitor accommodation, reflecting its size, so most visitors base themselves in or around Settle, three miles north, which has a good spread of B&Bs, inns and self-catering cottages, or look for farmhouse B&Bs and holiday cottages scattered through the surrounding villages. Camping and glamping options in the wider area range from simple farm campsites to more comfortable options with better facilities, giving easy access to both Rathmell's quiet lanes and the busier attractions of the National Park.

Food and drink in Rathmell

Rathmell does not currently have a pub or cafe of its own, so for food and drink most visitors head into Settle, which has a good choice of independent cafes, tearooms and pubs including traditional Yorkshire inns serving local ales and hearty menus. It is a short and pleasant drive or walk from the village, and combines well with a look around Settle's market square and shops.