Where to stay in Richmond

Richmond is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. It is located at the point where Swaledale, the upper valley of the River Swale, opens into the Vale of Mowbray.

The military connections of Richmond go back to Saxon times, when it was in the Wapentake of Gilling. That means a weapon-take or muster of the troops it could raise when called upon - there would be no standing armies for another 600 years. The Domesday Book of 1086 recorded six villagers and two smallholders divided into four ploughing teams, plus one priest, and the whole lot was worth 16 shillings. The wealth of the area increased in the 17th and 18th centuries from wool and from lead mining, so Richmond became a prosperous Georgian town.

Getting in

Newcastle (NCL) is the nearest usable airport. Teesside (MME) is closer but has hardly any flights and its days may be numbered. For long distance flights use Manchester and take the train. Darlington is the nearest railway station, with frequent trains on the London Kings Cross - York - Newcastle - Edinburgh line. Arriva Bus X26 / X27 runs from Darlington town hall and railway station, taking 40 min via Scotch Corner and Skeeby, and continuing to Catterick Garrison, Scotton, Kemmel and Colburn. It's every 30 min M-F, hourly Sa Su.

Getting around

Richmond is best explored on foot, including to Easby Abbey. You need wheels for Middleham Castle and to explore the Dales. Half a dozen parking lots in town, the market place is often full and is unavailable Saturday morning for the weekly market. Taxi firms are Jet Cars (+44 1748 554433), Amalgamated Taxi (+44 1748 825112), and Tom's (+44 7802 332185).

Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.