A Full Guide to the Best Things to do in Settle North Yorkshire
You should not miss visiting the idyllic market town of Settle in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. So whether you want to cosy up in a pub, go on an outdoor activity, go to waterfalls or walk in the beautiful countryside with its spectacular limestone scenery – there are always great things to do in Settle.
The small town is steeped in history and was founded in 1249 by settlers. Today it is a beautiful tourist attraction, with many people flocking to see the welcoming views or backdrop of the Castleberg Crag. It is also well known for its market, the Settle to Carlisle railway line and the impressive musical venue of Victoria Hall.
It was granted a Market Charter in the 13th Century and has 70 Grade II Listed buildings, which you can see as you wander around the town.
Although the town has a population of less than 3000, it has many attractions that should not be missed. Our guide explains how to get there and what you can do to make the most out of your trip to Settle and the surrounding area.
How to get to Settle
It is 29mi from Leeds Bradford Airport. The main road through Settle is the B6480, which links to the A65, connecting Settle to Skipton and Kendal.
The town is served by Settle Railway Station and Giggleswick Railway Station, which is a mile away.
Settle Tourist Information Centre
We recommend popping into the Settle Tourist Information Centre if you require further advice on the best things to do in Settle. It is found in the Town Hall in Market Place and has guides, leaflets, important event information and maps.
They also offer advice on accommodation options to suit your needs!
Things to do in Settle: 10 + Amazing must-see Settle attractions
Victoria Caves
This cave can be easily accessed in one morning by hiking 4.5 miles around the Dales. Having been discovered the same year as Queen Victoria’s throne accession, Victoria Cave received its name after her.
Interestingly, Victoria Cave was discovered with bones dating back 130,000 years from elephants, hippos, rhinoceros, and hyenas. It is a steep walk to see, but you can walk from the town centre and have beautiful views of the Dales.
Settle Train Station
The Settle railway station is located on the Leeds to Morecambe line and is operated by Northern Trains.
The line was originally built in the 1870s and has been in operation ever since. The station is a popular tourist attraction and we loved walking around and crossing the bridge over the line. It is beautifully presented and looked after! Gorgeous!
Browse Local Shops
If you love independent shopping, Settle is the place for you, from outdoor wear to butchers, jewellers, books and outdoor clothes. It’s fun to walk around and browse!
Our favourites were, Settle Cheese & Charcuterie Shop, Castleberg Outdoors, Teatime Vintage and Wholesome Bee (for local products).
Castleberg Crag
For incredible views over Settle, you must visit Castleberg Crag – a tall limestone rock that towers over the town. It is well-signposted from the centre and is definitely worth the uphill! It has been a popular spot for a long time due to the railway and its close proximity to the town centre.
A path to the top leaves from Constitution Hill or Castleberg Lane. It is a beautiful walk, and we recommend it for the extraordinary views!
Settle Attractions DIY Walking Tour
Settle town has several attractions that you should not miss. We enjoyed wandering the streets and made sure we visited the following Settle attractions on our own mini-walking tour. We recommend you do the same!
- Market Place and The Shambles
- Mural by Signs by Umberto
- Victoria Theatre
- The Folly (A Grade I Listed building)
- Quaker Meeting House (built in 1678)
- Thomas Proctor’s House (a painter and sculptor born at the Eagle Inn)
- The Water Tower
- Gallery on the Green (The smallest gallery in the world)
- Settle Railway Station (opened in 1876 and is beautiful)
- Settle Signal Box (at the train station)
Settle-Carlisle Line
The Settle-Carlisle route is ideal for contemplating the stunning beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines. It is often regarded as one of the UK’s most beautiful railway lines and journeys. Not only is the journey beautiful, but you can also see the incredible Yorkshire Dales’ landmark – the Ribblehead Viaduct. The fantastic 24 arches T
Good to know: you can take your dogs on the train for FREE!
Museum of North Craven Life at The Folly
One of the best things to do in Settle is to visit the Museum of North Craven Life at the Folly. If you want to understand the area’s history and local life, this is the attraction. It is in the town centre, open year-round, with many different exhibitions.
Victoria Hall
One of the 70 Grade II Listed buildings in Settle is Victoria Hall. It opened in 1853 and is said to be one of the oldest music halls in the UK and the world. It hosts events throughout the year and is well worth visiting with the family.
If you’re interested, you can see the current events on their website here.
Stainforth Force
If you wish to see jumping salmon in the river, you should head towards Stainforth Force from Settle. You can drive in 5-minutes or walk on the Ribble Way in 45-minutes.
To photograph the salmon, you’ll have to be pretty patient (which we are not), but we met another photographer who showed us some spectacular pictures. The waterfall is beautiful to see and the walk there is lovely too. There’s so much natural beauty in the area!
Scaleber Force
Scaleber Force waterfall falls into the River Ribble between Settle and Long Preston. This waterfall is in Scaleber Wood, a 10-acre Woodland Trust site on Stockdale Beck.
A plunge pool is popular with photographers at the base of the falls. It is undoubtedly one of the best things to do in Settle.
You can choose to walk from Settle town, but you will have to walk up the aptly named High Lane, which can be pretty steep, or you can park just outside on the road. From the road, the walk is steep, but you can enjoy the waterfall from the top too.
Are you interested in visiting? Please read our full guide to Scaleber Force here.
7 Things to do near Settle
Janet’s Foss
Another fantastic natural attraction near Settle is Janet’s Foss waterfall, home of the fairies. It is small but popular among walkers and wild swimmers who take a dip in the plunge pool. You can combine a visit to the waterfall with Malham Cove and Gordale Scar and then have a bite to eat in the Buck Inn or Old Barn Cafe in Malham afterwards!
Hoffman Kiln
Take a short drive out of Settle, and you’ll find the Hoffmann Kiln, an old industrial feature that isn’t widely known. This immense structure is a feat of Victorian engineering and has been preserved for posterity by its owners, who run the site to explain how it worked. Venturing inside its gloomy tunnels will give you an eerie feeling of stepping back in time.
You can reach the kiln from Stainforth, walk along the River Ribble to Stainforth waterfall, Langclifee, and then reach the kiln!
Malham Cove
You can visit a Harry Potter filming destination only 6.5 miles from Settle. It is impressive with unique limestone pavement. You can park from the village of Malham and walk towards the giant limestone rock that is 260ft high! It is a great walk.
Please read our guide to the Malham Cove Walk.
Only 6-miles from Settle, you can walk to see incredible boulders formed from glacial activity and erosion. They were developed from glacial action and erosion of their limestone bases. If you love Geography or don’t – this is a must-see spot!
White Scar Cave
White Scar Cave is another beautiful attraction that you can visit near Settle. It is the most extended cave tour in the UK, and you can see waterfalls, a devil’s tongue and a witch’s fingers. It is a fun experience and only 20-minutes from the town.
You can book tickets here on their website: White Scar Cave
Gordale Scar
Now, Gordale Scar is a beautiful limestone ravine that is 330ft high with crashing waterfalls. It has inspired many writers due to its beauty, and Wordsworth wrote a poem about it. But there is something special about turning the corner and seeing the magic unfold for yourself.
If you know what you’re doing (and it’s been dry), you can climb up the waterfall! You can combine this walk with Malham Cove and Janet’s Foss on a walk from Malham. If you’re interested, we recommend reading more about it in our guides:
Ingleborough Cave
For something, a little bit different and one of the best things to do near Settle is to visit the incredible Ingleborough Cave. It was found in 1837 by Victorian explorers.
Although they found it by candlelight, you won’t have to, and you can walk along the Ingleborough Esta Nature Trail, past the lake, towards the cave. Here you will be able to see stalactites and stalagmites.
You don’t need to book in advance – just turn up and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Settle get its name?
The word Settle is the Angle name for the settlement. The town is said to have Anglian origins from the 7th Century!
Is Settle worth visiting?
Absolutely, Settle is worth visiting. There are many things to do in Settle, from waterfalls to caves, incredible places nearby, galleries, museums and more. So if you’re going to the Yorkshire Dales – you must make a stop in Settle!
When is the best time to visit Settle?
Settle is a town that loves an event and festivals. Therefore, you should check what’s going on. These include Scarecrow festivals, Dales day festivals, Sheep fairs, flowerpot festivals and the Settle Stories Festival. The last time we visited, we found these events were usually in summer.
Also, the historical weekly market runs on a Tuesday!
Where is Settle?
Settle is a small market town and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England, in the United Kingdom.
There you have it, our guide to things to do in Settle in the Yorkshire Dales. We hope you enjoy your visit. If you’re in Yorkshire, read our other guides here:
Goathland to Grosmont Walk – An Exciting 3-Stage Route
Places to visit in Leeds, UK – The Complete 3-Day Guide
11 Best Things to do in Knaresborough, Yorkshire
Photo Credits: Averagelives.com