Category Archives: News

One of our favourite days of the year is approaching, as Kilnsey Show rolls into town this Tuesday.

It’s the 122nd year since the show first came to this spectacular part of the Yorkshire Dales in 1897, and this year promises to be a brilliant showcase of sports, animals, food & drink, country traditions and a great way to spend a day surrounded by some of the greatest landscapes on God’s green earth.

Kilnsey Park will be open for business as usual, so why not join us for some family fishing, walk our nature trail and enjoy a spot of lunch in the Cafe by the Lake?

Couples wishing to get married in the great outdoors can now exchange their vows at a brand new venue in scenic Upper Wharfedale.

Kilnsey Park Estate recently became the first place in Craven where civil ceremonies can take place in a haymeadow.

The family-run Estate and visitor attraction, once owned by the monks of Fountains Abbey, recently hosted its first outdoor ceremony and wedding. Mat and Lucy Evans from Leeds were the first lucky couple to tie the knot.

‘We were so lucky to be blessed with warm blue skies for our first ever outdoor ceremony,’ says Kilnsey Park owner Jamie Roberts. ‘Many guests commented that it was an unforgettable wedding made truly special by the beautiful location.’

Afterwards the wedding guests partied in a giant Teepee on the banks of the River Wharfe.

‘We’ve already had many enquiries from couples who love the peace and tranquillity of the Yorkshire Dales and to celebrate their wedding in it,’ says Jamie Roberts. ‘And where else can you have alpacas as wedding guests?’

To enquire about outdoor weddings at Kilnsey Park Estate call 01756 752 150 or email info@kilnseypark.co.uk

Cafe and visitor attraction move to summer opening times

Kilnsey Park Estate and the Cafe by the Lake are now on their summer opening times.

The Cafe by the Lake is open from 9am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

Kilnsey Park Estate attractions (family fishing, Discovery Trail) are open from 9.30am to 5pm, 7 days a week.

The fly fishing lakes open from 7.30am to 5.30pm.

A well known Yorkshire Dales smokehouse is being put up for sale with a year’s free rent in the offing for the right purchaser

The award-winning Kilnsey Smokery near Skipton is up for sale and the present owners are looking for an entrepreneur with a passion for quality food production who can build on the heritage and successes of the smokehouse including the smoked rainbow trout using fish sourced from the on-site trout farm.

Jamie Roberts, owner of the Kilnsey Smokery, explains: “We spent decades building up a successful smokehouse business and can look back with pride that our smoked trout has been recognized as some of the best in the country.”

“However with the increasing popularity and growth of Kilnsey Park as a visitor attraction, we needed to take a step back from the running of the smokehouse which stopped trading this spring. It’s now time for somebody else to enjoy the business and develop the brand while working in fantastically scenic Dales surroundings.

“We’re offering the rent-free enticement as we’re so keen for the right person to take over the reins and see the smokehouse thrive for years to come. We will also provide full training to those who are new to smoking food as we can see the potential for building on a great artisan brand.”

Prospective purchasers can expect to take on a business with a great heritage. The Kilnsey Estate harks back to the time when Cistercian monks from nearby Fountain’s Abbey farmed the surrounding lands and smoked fish and meat for their guests.

Then three decades ago the Roberts family resurrected the practice, learning the trade from master smoker Jurg Bleiker before developing a range of smoked fish and meat products inspired by authentic recipes and ingredients dating back to the 12^th century.

Since then the smokehouse has won a string of accolades including 13 Great Taste awards, a Deliciously Yorkshire Taste Award and a Yorkshire Life food award.

The smokehouse is ready to trade from day one, with premises comprising two smoking kilns, a separate processing room and vacuum packing machine.

The business will also appeal to those interested in sustainability as the smokehouse is powered by green energy and will benefit from Kilnsey Park’s Green Tourism Gold accreditation.

For more details contact Knightsbridge on 01204 227 661 or visit www.knightsbridgeplc.com 

New TV series highlights the delights of the Yorkshire Dales and other National Parks

This year Kilnsey Park welcomed a couple of keen cyclists who happened to be TV personalities Larry and George Lamb, plus a camera crew.

The first episode of new series Britain By Bike – broadcast on Channel 5 on Friday 29th September at 8pm – shows father Larry and his son George visiting Kilnsey Park to learn the noble art of fly fishing. Along the way they learn about why spring water makes our rainbow trout unique and how we produce 40 tons of fish each year.

Larry and George were given a crash course in fly fishing by Anthony Roberts, who established the trout farm and fishing lakes in 1978. It’s probably fair to say they didn’t take to it like ducks to water but they were determined to catch a fish for the BBQ.

Did they succeed? Well it’s probably best if you watch the episode to find out.

A preview of the series Britain by Bike can be seen here:

It’s official, the Yorkshire Dales (specifically Craven) is the happiest place to live in the UK.

The new survey by the government’s leading boffins highlights that residents of the area have the highest levels of happiness, highest level of life satisfaction and lowest levels of anxiety.

Unofficially we’ve known this for years but didn’t want to mention it for fear that a) we might be considered big-headed (never a good thing) and b) there might be a stampede of people disturbing our peace and quiet.

So if you’re looking for happiness (aren’t we all?) you could do worse than go for a relaxing drive in the Yorkshire Dales and drop into Kilnsey Park for a few hours of quiet fishing or a good lunch.

The Guardian report of the new survey can be found here: https://amp.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/26/yorkshire-dales-craven-happiest-uk-ons-hertsmere-london

You might recognise the photo that they used to accompany the article. Yes it’s the much-loved view of Kilnsey Crag across our fishing lakes.

The official government report can be found here: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/measuringnationalwellbeing/april2016tomarch2017