Activities at Nethergill Farm

• Guided farm walks - discover more about the flora and fauna and farming activities at Nethergill
• Self guided farm walks - marked trail around the farm taking in the new woodland area of 18,500 trees.  Download this trail direct from the Yorkshire Dales Ntional park website   - http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/audiotrails-nethergillfarm
  
• Farm fun - collect the eggs in the morning, help feed the cattle and sheep or watch the lambing (depending on the time of year)
• Dales Way walk - Nethergill is on the Dales Way and provides the ideal overnight (or longer) stop, also tea and coffee with honesty box available for those walkers passing by.
• Bird watching - Nethergill is part of an ongoing bird recording project and has many interesting species, with black Grouse recently arriving
• Sketching and painting - inspiration all around, tuition available with notice, art groups very welcome
• Photography - stunning subject matter, tuition available with notice
• Explore the Dales - easy access to Wharfedale, Wensleydale, Swaledale, Bishopdale, Littondale and many more
• Pony treking - can be arranged at nearby Kilnsey
• Dry stone walling - plenty of opportunity here, very theraputic, tuition on hand
• Fly fishing - challenging head waters in peaceful scenic surroundings
• Reading - choose a book from our library and curl up in front of the log burner
• Special Breaks
  

Guided Farm walks. We can take you on a guided farm and wildife trail to examine the link between Dales farming, food, environment and sustainability. Discover a brief insight into the natural flora and fauna present in this varied landscape. Trails can last approximately 1 - 2 hours, with refreshments, taking in stunning scenery, wildlife, whilst experiencing that 'get away from it all feeling'. Wellingtons are essential - we can supply most sizes. Each walk is tailored to suit all walking abilities. Prices available on request.

Short trail: 1 - 1.5 hours. Staying fairly close to the farm buildings, the tour will include feeding the rare breed cattle, meeting Curly the Dalesbred ewe and learning about their roles in the Nethergill farming system. You will also meet Bracken the Dalesbred pony and find out about ‘snigging’, as well as learning more about the diversity of the environment around you.

Long trail: 2 - 2.5 hours. As well as taking in the activities on the short trail, you will be able to venture further afield up on to The Moss. Here you will explore the Sink Holes and some of the many habitats in this wild and rugged landscape. Learn more about Ellbeck Wood, the newly planted 30 acre woodland project that has over 18,000 newly planted trees.

All walks are suitable for up to 6 people, please contact us for costs.

Self guided farm walk. During your stay at Nethergill you are most welcome to wander down to the river or follow the newly formed farm trail through Bilberry Wood.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Interpretation Officer - Karen Griffiths is currently creating an audio tour of our Bilberry Wood trail which can be downloaded onto an MP3 player.  Click here for a 'taster'

Dales Way walk. Situated on the famous Dales Way, Nethergill provides the ideal stop on the 74 mile path from Ilkley to Windermere, passing through some spectacular scenery. Why not stay for two nights at Nethergill whilst doing the Dales Way to soak in more of the Dales scenery and enjoy some real home comforts.

Local walks. We can suggest many picturesque walks in and around Wharfefdale, Langstrothdale, Wensleydale and Swaledale, all taking in breathtaking views.
There are many circular walks starting directly from Nethergill. We can point you in the right direction and supply you with maps.

Farm fun. Come and feed the chickens and collect the eggs for breakfast (all ages welcome). You can also, feed the sheep and watch the lambing around April and May.
Feed and learn about the rare breed White Shorthorn cows.

Meet Bracken, the latest addition to Nethergill Farm. A traditional Dales pony highly trained to perform all types of farm work, such as harrowing and rolling the fields, pulling trailors, and 'snigging' (pulling felled trees out of woodland).

Birdwatching. All bird and mammal life is recorded at Nethergill and their records form part of the data submitted to the Wharfedale Naturalist Society and the RSPB and is important for monitoring behaviour patterns and populations. A wide range of bird life is present all round the farm, including high numbers of Swallows nesting in all the old farm buildings, making a wonderful spectacle on Summer evenings.  Small flocks of Crossbills are present in Bilberry Wood and Black Grouse have returned to our farm after many years.  We had the first sighting of a Kingfisher last Summer and with the ever increasing cover along the riverbank hope to attract more this year.  Curlews and Oyster Catchers nested with us last year and with the new scrape we hope to attract many more wading birds this coming season.

Volunteer and Farmer Alliance Project -  a scheme run by the RSPB to monitor bird life in specific parts of the farm  click here to view the results from the survey carried out at Nethergill Farm 2010.  click here to view the area monitored at Nethergill

Sketching and painting. Maximum of six people per group. A local professional artist will help bring alive your creative talent, there is no shortage of subject matter, with vast open skyscapes and wonderful views. Suitable for all levels of experience. With notice guests are welcome to use the Nethergill studio to sit and paint or draw the stunning landscapes looking through the floor to ceiling window. Also endless subject matter in and around the farm.  Artistic break group prices
Picture shows one of a group of Canadian artists lead by Crystal Beshara who came to stay at Nethergill 2010
 

Photography. Nethergill Farm provides some wonderful photographic material for both the amateur and professional alike. Wide open skyscapes, dramatic cloud patterns and stunning light across the dales, together with all the flora and fauna.

Pony treking. We can organise pony treking across the hills to take in the breathtaking scenery, before coming back to all the home comforts at Nethergill.

Dry stonewalling. Recapture the simplicity of life, working outdoors amid the stunning Dales scenery with the sound of Curlews overhead. Expert tuition provided by local wallers

Fly fishing. We have been thrilled to find lots of trout in our Beck and we have had many delighted guests in 2011.  Pass happy tranquil hours amid glorious Dales scenery fishing for wild brown trout in the waters of the Oughtershaw Beck, which meanders all along the front of the farmhouse.   More fishing can be arranged further down the Wharfe as well, please ring for details. All fish must be caught using a barbless hook and returned to the Beck as quickly as possible.

Reading. Enjoy a quiet read, curl up in front of the log burner in the sitting room in the evenings. We have a wide selection of naturalists books, maps, guide books as well as many fictional reads.

Throughout the year there are many shows and festivals in and around the local area. Please contact us for more details so you can base your stay around one of these events.
Please let us know if you would like any other activities and we will see ‘whats on’ in the local area at the time of your stay:

Just a few of the many sights and attractions a short drive away:
Aysgarth Fall
Hardraw Falls and Buttertubs
Malham Tarn
Malham Cove
Hawes Market Town
Wensleydale Creamery
Gayle Mill, Nr. Hawes
Dales Countryside Museum
Bolton Abbey
Skipton Castle

2012 Confirmed Events:
April 26-29 Harrogate Spring Flower Show
May 5-7 Dales Festival of Food, Leyburn
June 9/10 and 16/17 North Yorkshire Open Studios (Art Festival)
June 15-30 Grassington Festival
July 10-12 Great Yorkshire Show, Harrogate
August 25 Wensleydale Show, Leyburn

We will be happy to host a rural craft weekend break for up to 6 people.
Please ring or email fiona.clark@nethergill.co.uk for more details on any of the above.

If you would like to receive regular news updates, please email fiona.clark@nethergill.co.uk