Masham

With two famous breweries, the biggest market square in Yorkshire, an annual sheep fair, a B&B voted the best in the world (!) and a thriving arts culture, Masham is a fantastic place to visit.

Located in the breathtakingly beautiful region of Lower Wensleydale, Masham (pronounced ‘Massam’) is situated on the north-eastern edge of Nidderdale AONB, next to the beautiful River Ure. Masham has plenty to see and do.

It was once the venue of a huge sheep sale where 70,000 sheep were sold every year. To mark this heritage, the Masham Sheep Fair takes place annually on the last weekend in September. An annual steam rally is also held every July.

Masham is famous for its two breweries, Theakston’s and Black Sheep. It’s well worth taking a tour to find out about the town’s history of brewing and how the beer is now made.

The town has a strong arts culture with a thriving community of artists, authors and craftsmen highlighting the town’s creative side and established links to JW Turner and Lewis Carroll. There is an excellent arts festival each year and a wide range of restaurants, shops and galleries.

The town is a great place to use as a base for some lovely scenic walking routes.

Where: the A1 is only 10 minutes away. At junction 50, take the A61 exit to Ripon/Thirsk and follow signs to Masham.

W: www.visitmasham.com ​ ​

** Please note that the tourism information on this website is designed to provide an overview of opportunities in the area. The Nidderdale AONB team do not have the facilities or resources to deal with individual tourism enquiries and these should be directed to the tourist information office at Nidderdale Plus or one of the other local Tourist Information Centres.