Flax Mill, Wensleydale - Things for Children

Things for Children

Children’s Playground, Redmire
This has a range of recently installed fixed play equipment on a bark chipping surface. Walk up to the Bolton Arms pub and keep going up the hill past the houses. The playground is on the left before the railway bridge. Distance - 5 minutes on foot.

Watch the trains
Take the same route, on foot or by car up past the pub, to the west entrance of Redmire station. Diesel or steam trains arrive from time to time and can stay a while, shunting up and down, as this is the terminus - see Wensleydale Railway timetable for times.

Castle Bolton – location of Horrible Histories
Particularly in the Summer months there are children’s activities at the Castle in addition to the usual programme. Dist.: 2 miles

Say “Hello” to the Wild Boar and Birds of Prey
Castle Bolton is home to a small herd of wild boar, who live in a penned area to the north of the Castle’s visitor car park. Even see Wild boar piglets if you arrive at the right season. Displays of hawks and owls are part of the Castle’s attractions. Dist.: 2 miles

River paddling and picnics
A shallow area suitable for paddling (unless the river is in flood) is close to Redmire Force. Get there by turning left out of Flax Mill and walking (or driving) due south to the R. Ure, down a narrow lane. Pass Church Close on your left and go straight (instead of round the bend where the main road turns sharp right in the Carperby direction). The sign post at the lane top is marked towards the east for the Church – but you go straight ahead, down the lane for half a mile or so past the Scouts camping area (which is on the left). Turn to the right, through the tree plantation at the end of the lane, past a seat with views of the Castle. Descend to the river from here and find the sandy river bank ahead and places for skimming stones and playing among the pebbles. Dist.: ¾ mile.