Buckden is a small yet charming village in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. If you’re after a quintessential Yorkshire Dales experience, which includes countryside walks, waterfall chasing and visiting traditional pubs, then you’ll want to head to Buckden. In this guide, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about visiting this beautiful place, including the best things to do during a visit.
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About Buckden, Yorkshire
Nestled in the fells of Upper Wharfedale, Buckden village is a civil parish in the Craven District of North Yorkshire. It’s one of the smaller villages in Upper Wharfedale, yet it’s one of the most picturesque to visit, with loads of great natural attractions nearby.
In terms of history, there is evidence of people living around the village during the Bronze Age. Yet, the village itself was formed during the 12th century. Lead mining became the main industry in the 17th century. In fact, the Buckden Gravel Mine operated for almost 200 years from 1697. If you’re interested, you can even explore remnants of the mine today. In terms of historical attractions, the Church of St Michael and All Angels is a Grade II listed building located in the neighbouring village of Hubberholme.
These days, the village’s main industry is farming and tourism. Certainly, Buckden is a popular place for walkers and holidaymakers to visit. Before we look at the best things to do during a visit, let’s see exactly where this pretty village is located.
Read about nearby villages Keld and Hawes
Where Is Buckden?
Buckden lies in Upper Wharfedale in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. To help you get your bearings, please click on the image below to access an interactive map of the village.
What to Do in Buckden: Walks, Waterfalls and Pubs
Now you know where the village is located, let’s look at the five best things to do during a visit. Indeed, it’s all about walks, waterfalls and pubs – all of the best things in life, right?
1. Buckden Pike Walk
At 702 metres, Buckden Pike is one of the highest fells in the Yorkshire Dales. In fact, it’s the seventh highest fell in the national park. Certainly, one of the main reasons to visit the village is to walk to the summit of this pike.
There are many different route options to reach the summit. We recommend the route that reaches the summit via Buckden Rake. You can then visit the Polish War Memorial. It’s a memorial to commemorate the five Polish airmen who died when their plane crashed there during a snowstorm in 1942. You can then walk to Starbotton and then return to Buckden via the River Wharfe.
Read more: Buckden Pike Walk In The Yorkshire Dales – The Ultimate Guide
2. Buckden Beck Waterfalls
One of the most underrated attractions in the village is the Buckden Beck Waterfalls. You’ll find a series of breathtaking waterfalls along Buckden Beck, which are just a stone’s throw from the village. Indeed, you’ll have to explore these waterfalls during a visit.
Read more: Buckden Beck Waterfalls – The Epic Buckden Pike Waterfall Walk
3. Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk
There are many spectacular waterfalls and cascades in and around Buckden. From the village, you can also explore a series of waterfalls along Cray Gill. Undoubtedly, add the Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk to your to-do list during a trip to the village.
Read more: Cray Gill Waterfall and the Epic Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk
4. Cow Close Gill Waterfall
Cow Close Gill Waterfall is yet another impressive waterfall near Buckden. You can find this waterfall during the Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk or you can simply do an out and back walk from Buckden. Certainly, Cow Close Gill Waterfall is one of the best waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
Read more: Cow Close Gill Waterfall – How to Find This Underrated Waterfall
5. Buckden Pubs – The Buck Inn
Of course, after walking up fells and chasing waterfalls, you’ll need somewhere to relax, dine and unwind. Buckden is home to one of the best country inns in the Yorkshire Dales – The Buck Inn. So, you’ll have to visit this traditional country pub during a visit to the village.
As well, there are fantastic pubs nearby. During the Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk, you’ll actually pass another two pubs. You’ll pass The George Inn in Hubberholme and The White Lion Inn in Cray. Perhaps, we should change the name of the Cray Gill Waterfalls Walk to the Buckden Pub Crawl!
So, there you have it – the five best things to do in Buckden. Now, we’ll look at some logistics and practical information to help you plan your visit.
How to Get to Buckden
The easiest and quickest way to get to Buckden is to drive yourself. If you don’t have your own set of wheels, then we recommend hiring a car using DiscoverCars.com. You’ll find a wide variety of cars on Discover Cars for very reasonable prices. Also, the website is user-friendly and booking online is super easy. Have a look at car hire from Manchester.
Car Hire
If you don’t have your own car, you should hire one using Discover Cars. Personally, we use Discover Cars and highly recommend them for finding your ideal car hire at an affordable price. Booking online is super easy and the free cancellation policy is great.
To find out more about renting a car with Discover Cars, read our Discover Cars review and Discover Cars Insurance review.
Currently, the parking fees at Buckden Car Park are £3.50 for two hours or £5.50 for over two hours. Other than parking at Buckden Car Park, there is some free parking in Buckden. But, street-side parking is extremely limited. If you arrive early enough, you may be able to find free parking in Buckden, opposite The Buck Inn.
Public Transport
It’s also possible to use public transport to get to Buckden. From Skipton, it’s possible to get a bus to Buckden. Generally speaking, buses alight at The Buck Inn and also at Buckden Car Park. We recommend using Google Maps, Traveline or Dales Bus to plan your journey.
Booking Trains
Trainline is one of the best online platforms for booking trains. By using Trainline, you can easily find the best available prices and times for your journey. We always use Trainline to book our train journeys in the UK and in Europe.
Although public transport is an option, we don’t recommend it. Depending on where you’re travelling from in the UK, you’ll likely have a slow and tedious journey to get to Buckden. Whilst, buses are often very infrequent. Certainly, it’s best to drive there yourself.
Where to Stay in Buckden
Despite being a small village, Buckden has a fair amount of accommodation options. In the village, there are plenty of excellent cottages and bed and breakfasts. Below, we’ll look at the two best bed and breakfasts.
- Romany Cottage B&B: this is one of the most highly-rated B&Bs in the village.
- Greystones: there are a variety of cosy cottages to choose from at Greystones. These include The Snug at Greystones, The Wharfe at Greystones and The Dale at Greystones.
As mentioned, Buckden is also home to many fantastic country inns, which all provide highly-rated accommodation. Indeed, for the quintessential Dales experience, you may want to spend the night in a traditional country pub. Below, we’ll outline the three best country inns to stay at, in and near Buckden.
- The Buck Inn: the rooms at The Buck Inn are very cosy and comfortable. Whilst, guests always rave about the breakfast!
- The George Inn: the inn is beautifully located on the River Wharfe in Hubberholme. Guests often speak highly of the staff and praise the value for money. Indeed, since taking over in 2013, the new owners have really brought this historical inn back to life.
- White Lion Inn: it’s yet another cosy country inn and perhaps one of the best places to stay in the Yorkshire Dales! Indeed, The White Lion Inn comes highly rated!
In terms of other Buckden accommodation, a popular choice is Town Head Barn Bunkhouse, which is managed by National Trust. Please head to the National Trust website to see if it’s available!
Buckden Campsites
Camping is another accommodation option in Buckden. The Heber Farm Camping and Caravanning Club Site offer basic facilities, which are located next to the Buckden Car Park. Whilst, for a more luxurious experience, you’ll want to head to Buckden Camping and Pods.
Where to Eat and Drink
If you’re getting peckish during your stay, we recommend heading to The Buck Inn. They put on hearty pub grub and have plenty of beers on tap. Otherwise, the other nearby pubs (The George Inn in Hubberholme and The White Lion Inn in Cray) also serve up classic English pub meals.
For supplies, snacks and lighter meals, head to the Buckden Village Store.
What Is Near Buckden?
There are plenty of other great villages to visit in Upper Wharfedale, including Kettlewell, Conistone, Grassington and Bolton Abbey. There are also plenty of nice walks and natural areas to explore just outside of these villages. Below, we’ve listed some other great walks and attractions to visit in Upper Wharfedale, near Buckden and these other villages.
- Great Whernside: climb the highest fell in Upper Wharfedale from Kettlewell.
- Conistone Dib and Pie: explore magnificent limestone landscapes around Coninstone.
- Trollers Gill: an underrated limestone ravine near Appletreewick.
- Grassington Walks: explore Burnsall, Linton Falls or the Grassington Lead Mines during a walk in or near Grassington.
- Bolton Abbey Walks: there are plenty of great walks in Bolton Abbey, including Simon’s Seat and Valley of Desolation, which can also include a visit to Bolton Abbey Waterfall and The Strid.
Otherwise, Buckden isn’t too far from the well-known Aysgarth Falls in Wensleydale. Certainly, there are plenty of brilliant things to do in Wensleydale. You should visit Hawes, Hardraw Force, Cotter Force, the Askrigg Waterfalls, Aysgill Force, West Burton Falls and the Snaizeholme Red Squirrel Trail.
FAQs About Buckden, Yorkshire
Below, you’ll find the most frequently asked questions about Buckden.
What Is Buckden Famous For?
Buckden is well-known for Buckden Pike, which is the seventh highest fell in the Yorkshire Dales.
How Old Is Buckden?
The village was formed in the 1100s.
What Is the History of Buckden Yorkshire?
Please read the About Buckden, Yorkshire section for information about the village’s history.
How High Is Buckden Pike?
It’s 702 metres high.
Bonus Tips
- Cycling and mountain biking: there are some excellent biking trails around the village in Upper Wharfedale.
- Best time of year: perhaps, summer is the best time of year to visit as you’ll likely have better weather for outdoor activities. But, heavier rainfall, usually outside of summer, ensures the waterfalls are looking their finest. And, the village looks truly magical under a blanket of snow. So, it’s really up to you when to visit!
- Explore more of the Yorkshire Dales: make sure to check out the other Dales in the national parks. Read our Best Walks and Best Waterfalls guides for the lowdown on the best experiences in the Dales.
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