British Falconry and Raptor Fair
Europe's biggest falconry gathering fills the walled parkland of Duncombe Park with swooping hawks and austringers, where a medieval art is practiced at elite modern competition level over two summer days.
Helmsley is a genuinely exceptional small market town: a Friday market with centuries of history, an independent high street that won a national award, a resident craft brewery in the CAMRA Good Beer Guide, a Michelin-listed restaurant on its doorstep, and a food scene so strong it was named the country's most exciting food destination in 2024 - all framed by castle ruins, a walled garden, and the moors on every horizon.
Cottages, B&Bs and hotels near Helmsley, North Yorkshire.
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"For nine days every August this Wharfedale village fills its gardens, walls and doorways with handmade scarecrows, and half the fun is the treasure hunt of finding them all."
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival
✦ Weird and Wonderful"Founded in 1871 and held in the Milburn Arms Field in the tranquil valley village of Rosedale Abbey, this long-running show features foxhound and terrier shows, gundog displays, terrier races, hound trails, and a gymkhana."
Rosedale and District Show
"Founded in 1871, this intimate show at Milburn Arms Field in the heart of Rosedale Abbey showcases heavy horses, cattle, goats, vintage tractors and local produce against the backdrop of a former ironstone mining valley."
Rosedale Show
"One of England's most singular calendar customs, this centuries-old West Witton rite sees a chanting crowd carry a glowing-eyed effigy of 'Bartle' through the village at nightfall before stabbing and burning him on the hillside above Wensleydale."
Burning Bartle
"Held in the grounds of Eshton Hall near Skipton, this traditional Dales show blends livestock and horticulture classes with show jumping, sheepdog trials and fell running."
Gargrave Agricultural and Horticultural Show
"Held in the grounds of Eshton Hall in a Dales village near Skipton, the Gargrave Show has cattle, sheep, showjumping and a fell race, a cornerstone of local tradition since the Victorian era."
Gargrave Show
"The 120th year of this tiny, utterly traditional Lakeland show at the foot of Helvellyn, with open sheepdog trials, foxhound and terrier judging and a fell race while the ancient sound of Cumbrian dialect fills the valley."
Patterdale Dog Day
"Since 1852 the Showfield at Grasmere has hosted Cumberland and Westmorland wrestling, fell guides racing, hound trailing and tug-of-war on the August Bank Holiday Sunday, and in 2026 entry is completely free."
Grasmere Sports
"Grown adults in fancy dress grapple for two minutes in a pool of cold Lancashire gravy on August bank holiday, scored as much on showmanship as on pins, all for the local hospice."
World Gravy Wrestling Championships
Villagly Award · Messiest in the UK ✦ Weird and Wonderful"Crabs (crab apples, thrown from a cart) in the morning, greasy pole and hound trailing through the day, and in the evening competitors push their faces through a horse collar to achieve the most grotesque expression possible, since 1267."
Egremont Crab Fair and World Gurning Championships
Villagly Award · Best Gurn in the UK ✦ Weird and Wonderful"The Lancashire ploughing society's annual match brings competitors to the Ribble Valley farmland each October where the Bowland fells rise to the north and the fields are some of the oldest continuously ploughed in Lancashire."
Lancashire Ploughing Society Match
"Two parishes play football across pasture below the castle, the ball piped to the field and won by carrying it home."
Alnwick Shrovetide Football
✦ Weird and Wonderful