Visitors can go on a cheese pilgrimage during the Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival, enjoying cheesy-themed events at many venues that are getting involved for the first time.
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The Yorkshire Dales National Park has announced the week-long programme which runs from 15-23 September and includes a celebration of the county’s fine local food.
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Several new cheeses are expected to be launched including Stonebeck farmhouse cheese that visitors can try for the first time during the open weekend at Low Riggs Farm in Nidderdale at the beginning of the Festival.
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The Yorkshire Dales Cheese Festival starts with the two-day mini Festival at the Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes and then dropping in at various venues including several new ones right across both the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
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Plenty of cheese for the FamilyÂ
For youngsters there are plenty of events and activities to keep them entertained from cheese tasting and making cheese scones through to going on a guided walk to see red squirrels and taking an imaginary flight in a helicopter after donning virtual reality goggles courtesy of Yorkshire Air Ambulance. There’s a cheese-themed Forest School for kids at Aysgarth on September 20 and the Cheese 2 Dales off-road children’s bike ride starting from Hawes on 22 September.
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Meanwhile history buffs and those interested in the art of cheese making are well-catered for with days devoted to the region’s rich dairying heritage.
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For instance on September 18 visitors can while away time learning more about the fascinating history being uncovered by the Dairy Days project at Askrigg Village Hall while on September 23 expert Andy Swinscoe will be talking about his research into 1930s cheese-making and how it’s leading to a revival of farmhouse cheeses.
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The event then begins winding down in spectacular style with the North of England’s first Beer and Beef Festival on 22 September featuring rare breed Dexter beef reared on the host venue, Springhill Farm at Jervaulx near Masham.
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Helen Dalton, destination co-ordinator for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: “We’ve aimed to make the Festival family-friendly so that people of all ages can savour the spectacular range of cheese and other great produce that is produced locally, make a stronger connection between the landscape and the region’s dairying heritage while also enjoying the great scenery we have right across the National Park and Nidderdale Area Of Outstanding Natural Beauty.â€
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More information including the booking details for individual events on www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/cheese-festival.
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