Masham and Surrounding Area

CarolynAndSteve
CarolynAndSteve
Masham and Surrounding Area

Entertainment & Activities

Unmissable with children and pretty fun as an adult - I'd say it's unique in the UK, a product of its owner's quirky imagination. Difficult to describe. Look it up! 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
96 locals recommend
The Forbidden Corner
96 locals recommend
Unmissable with children and pretty fun as an adult - I'd say it's unique in the UK, a product of its owner's quirky imagination. Difficult to describe. Look it up! 4.5/5 on TripAdvisor.
Erm... Is pretty dated if compared with anywhere 'proper' but a fun day out if you like that kind of thing. Still a few scary rides!
66 locals recommend
Lightwater Valley Theme Park
Water Lane
66 locals recommend
Erm... Is pretty dated if compared with anywhere 'proper' but a fun day out if you like that kind of thing. Still a few scary rides!
Clay pigeon shooting with instruction. Nearby activity - needs arranging in advance, although I'm not sure how much notice they need.
E.J. Churchill At The Swinton Estate
Crook Lane
Clay pigeon shooting with instruction. Nearby activity - needs arranging in advance, although I'm not sure how much notice they need.
Worth checking if there's any events on - sometimes cinema, comedy, bands...
Masham Town Hall
Market Place
Worth checking if there's any events on - sometimes cinema, comedy, bands...
Good rainy day activity with little people. In Bedale, 10 mins away. Indoor play (plus outside big sandpit and other bits to play on). Farm to visit, with feeding animals etc.
Big Sheep & Little Cow
Good rainy day activity with little people. In Bedale, 10 mins away. Indoor play (plus outside big sandpit and other bits to play on). Farm to visit, with feeding animals etc.
Two brewery tours available in Masham - Black Sheep or Theakston. Black Sheep is a 10 minute walk across the fields. You can also visit the Bistro or just have a drink. Sitting outside is lovely in summer.
29 locals recommend
The Black Sheep Brewery
Wellgarth Court
29 locals recommend
Two brewery tours available in Masham - Black Sheep or Theakston. Black Sheep is a 10 minute walk across the fields. You can also visit the Bistro or just have a drink. Sitting outside is lovely in summer.
Make your own gin! (Must be booked in advance)
6 locals recommend
Spirit of Masham Distillery & Gin Experience
Fearby Road
6 locals recommend
Make your own gin! (Must be booked in advance)

Drinks and pub food

Friendly welcome, local Theakston's beers, massive beer garden. Also good food (home cooked pub food) at reasonable price.
10 locals recommend
The Bruce Arms
3 Market Pl
10 locals recommend
Friendly welcome, local Theakston's beers, massive beer garden. Also good food (home cooked pub food) at reasonable price.
Nice pub and very popular. Food is pub standard (not hugely recommended but OK)
7 locals recommend
Kings Head Hotel
Market Place
7 locals recommend
Nice pub and very popular. Food is pub standard (not hugely recommended but OK)
Nearest pub to our house over the fields. Quirky 'snug' with comfy bench seating. Restaurant serves decent pub food and if you're a big party they have a nice big table in a private (ish) area...
14 locals recommend
The White Bear Hotel
6 Gun Bank
14 locals recommend
Nearest pub to our house over the fields. Quirky 'snug' with comfy bench seating. Restaurant serves decent pub food and if you're a big party they have a nice big table in a private (ish) area...

Essentials

Nearest supermarket - pretty well stocked and friendly staff. Lots of wine in refrigerated section (although Corks and Cases best for something special!)
Co-op Food - Masham
7 Leyburn Rd
Nearest supermarket - pretty well stocked and friendly staff. Lots of wine in refrigerated section (although Corks and Cases best for something special!)
Award winning sausages - Chorizo and Welsh Dragon are favourites if you like spicy.
Beavers Butchers
11 Silver St
Award winning sausages - Chorizo and Welsh Dragon are favourites if you like spicy.
We're not short of butchers in Masham - both are equally good. Locally sourced meat.
W S Rogers & Son
14 Church St
We're not short of butchers in Masham - both are equally good. Locally sourced meat.
Fab fish in Snape. Also veg and deli items - call in if on your way from Northallerton or Thorpe Perrow. About 15-20 mins from Masham.
Carrick's Fish Ltd
Fab fish in Snape. Also veg and deli items - call in if on your way from Northallerton or Thorpe Perrow. About 15-20 mins from Masham.

Shopping

Local wine supplier, family business. Excellent choice of wine with knowledgeable and friendly service.
6 locals recommend
Corks & Cases
17A Silver St
6 locals recommend
Local wine supplier, family business. Excellent choice of wine with knowledgeable and friendly service.
It's a sweet shop! Old fashioned and retro. Good gifts.
Bah Humbugs Retro Sweets Shop
2 Market Pl
It's a sweet shop! Old fashioned and retro. Good gifts.
Belgian chocolates, good cheeses, sweets, ice cream
Joneva
7 Market Pl
Belgian chocolates, good cheeses, sweets, ice cream
A beautifully curated store selling art and craft, a lot of which is from our very talented local makers.
The Gallery
A beautifully curated store selling art and craft, a lot of which is from our very talented local makers.
Really beautifully displayed gifts and homeware. Next to The Gallery. May not be open on Sundays if no special events on, so if you'd like to go, make it Fri or Sat!
The Curious Merchant
Really beautifully displayed gifts and homeware. Next to The Gallery. May not be open on Sundays if no special events on, so if you'd like to go, make it Fri or Sat!

Parks & Nature

Jervaulx Abbey - small and beautiful and very photogenic. Can combine with a trip to Brymor Ice Cream or Jervaulx tea rooms.
Jervaulx
Jervaulx Abbey - small and beautiful and very photogenic. Can combine with a trip to Brymor Ice Cream or Jervaulx tea rooms.
Beautiful place for a walk around. Has falconry displays where kids (and adults) can hold a bird of prey on a big glove. Also now meerkats and other furry things (ferrets and wallabies I think!)
41 locals recommend
Thorp Perrow - Arboretum and Bird of Prey & Mammal Centre
41 locals recommend
Beautiful place for a walk around. Has falconry displays where kids (and adults) can hold a bird of prey on a big glove. Also now meerkats and other furry things (ferrets and wallabies I think!)
Beautiful National Trust property. Lots of stunning grounds and a tea room. Near Ripon
185 locals recommend
Fountains Abbey
185 locals recommend
Beautiful National Trust property. Lots of stunning grounds and a tea room. Near Ripon
It's a really cool and quirky place. I think originally built as a 'pleasure garden' it's good for a long or a short walk, and with follies and photo opportunities along the way. Five minute drive from Masham next to Grewelthorpe.
24 locals recommend
Hackfall
24 locals recommend
It's a really cool and quirky place. I think originally built as a 'pleasure garden' it's good for a long or a short walk, and with follies and photo opportunities along the way. Five minute drive from Masham next to Grewelthorpe.
Opens just a few months each year (Rhododendron time - Mayish?) and is a fascinating few hour trip - sculpture, water, pretty things...
23 locals recommend
Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park - Closed until Sat 5th October 2019
23 locals recommend
Opens just a few months each year (Rhododendron time - Mayish?) and is a fascinating few hour trip - sculpture, water, pretty things...
A lovely local charity-run garden, on the way to Ripon. Also sells very well-priced plants and does have a cafe on site.
Ripon Walled Garden
A lovely local charity-run garden, on the way to Ripon. Also sells very well-priced plants and does have a cafe on site.
Right outside the door! Depending on the season look out for: Deer - you just need to be first up and out the door, before the dog walkers. Winter months quite often see them, and they sometimes make it as far as the garden. Barn owls, tufted ducks, Grebe, Canada geese, Orchids... Check out Steve's book - the green one marked 'An Ordinary Place', usually a copy in the kitchen. Anything photographed in there was on the nature reserve.
Marfield Wetlands Nature Reserve
Right outside the door! Depending on the season look out for: Deer - you just need to be first up and out the door, before the dog walkers. Winter months quite often see them, and they sometimes make it as far as the garden. Barn owls, tufted ducks, Grebe, Canada geese, Orchids... Check out Steve's book - the green one marked 'An Ordinary Place', usually a copy in the kitchen. Anything photographed in there was on the nature reserve.

Cafes and Restaurants

Excellent reviews for this place - a really high quality restaurant for a small town. They also have a private room downstairs to be booked for around 10 guests. Great with food intolerances but do book WELL in advance.
Where There's Smoke Restaurant
Excellent reviews for this place - a really high quality restaurant for a small town. They also have a private room downstairs to be booked for around 10 guests. Great with food intolerances but do book WELL in advance.
Formerly 'Suncatchers'. Near the church. Lovely atmosphere, excellent lunches, or a great place for coffee and cake. Log fires on a cold day.ops. (Could combine with trip to Forbidden Corner or carry on to Leyburn
10 locals recommend
Johnny Baghdad's Cafe on the Square
52 Market Pl
10 locals recommend
Formerly 'Suncatchers'. Near the church. Lovely atmosphere, excellent lunches, or a great place for coffee and cake. Log fires on a cold day.ops. (Could combine with trip to Forbidden Corner or carry on to Leyburn
Really quirky place for a quick walk and a long coffee/cocoa. Beautiful surroundings both outdoor and indoors. Nice story about the 'druid's temple' - ask me or google it!! 5-10 mins drive from Masham.
9 locals recommend
Swinton Bivouac
Knowle Lane
9 locals recommend
Really quirky place for a quick walk and a long coffee/cocoa. Beautiful surroundings both outdoor and indoors. Nice story about the 'druid's temple' - ask me or google it!! 5-10 mins drive from Masham.
5 minutes up the road towards Leyburn. Very popular with tourists, so can be very busy. Lots of choice of ice cream, and indoor seating. Drinks available but don't plan on lunch..
19 locals recommend
Brymor Ice Cream
19 locals recommend
5 minutes up the road towards Leyburn. Very popular with tourists, so can be very busy. Lots of choice of ice cream, and indoor seating. Drinks available but don't plan on lunch..

Traveler advice

Book before you go

Some places book up fast

Places to book up in advance: Anywhere you'd like to eat out - most of them will get booked up in advance. The brewery tours - both are bookable in advance on line.
Ways to save

Be aware - Masham doesn't have a takeaway

Masham has a sad lack of take away options. I believe 'Belly Busters' in Bedale deliver, but no idea what they sell! (pizza?) Other options we would try if we've left it too late to book somewhere, and had hoped to get a take out: Make a huge curry with any of the spices from the drawer to the left of the cooker. Our favourites: Dishoom's 'Ruby Murray' (best cookery books are in the corner cupboard) Lazy version: Spice Tailor packet from the Co-Op and choose your ingredients. Other lazy options: Booths in Ripon sells 'Cook' meals to heat at home, or pizzas from Co-op (nicer ones from Booths)