Carperby can be discovered from several different angles: its elongated village layout between contrasting landscape types, the southerly views across Wensleydale and its sandstone market cross. The landscape, field paths and historic monument offer different points of reference when deciding whether the village is right for your stay.
A village between two landscape types
To the north, Carperby has an open moorland edge; to the south lie pasture plots enclosed by stone walls. The elongated village marks the boundary between these two landscape types. The settlement pattern is itself a point of reference: the compass directions help distinguish the moorland edge from the southern pastures while also revealing the transition between them. When exploring Carperby, you can take in the two sides separately without losing sight of the role played by the village’s elongated layout. The surroundings therefore do not appear as one uniform landscape. Instead, two clearly described forms meet at the village: the open edge to the north and the stone-walled plots to the south. This contrast offers a tangible way to experience Carperby’s landscape and how it is divided to the north and south.
Southerly views across Wensleydale
The described views also draw the eye south. From West End, there are expansive views across the valley to the peaks of Addlebrough and Penhill. A notable view across Wensleydale is also described from the western edge of the village. Southerly views may occasionally open up through gaps between the buildings along the village street. Here, wide views across the valley sit alongside framed glimpses through the row of houses. The peaks of Addlebrough and Penhill give the view from West End a specific focal point; the gaps along the street offer a different perspective on the southern landscape. The views in Carperby therefore cannot be reduced to a single vantage point.
The sandstone market cross
Carperby’s market cross is a Grade II listed sandstone monument with seven square steps. The lowest step measures 4.5 by 4.5 metres; its calculated base area is 20.25 square metres. This measurement gives a sense of the base’s dimensions, while the seven steps define the monument’s form. Its material, stepped design and listing grade are specific features to look for when viewing the structure. Alongside the expansive landscape views, a single monument with a clearly described form also takes centre stage. Shifting between views across the landscape and focusing on the market cross offers two distinct ways to discover Carperby: one through the expanse of its surroundings, the other through an architectural detail in the village.
Field paths and landscape
Carperby has a dense network of public rights of way through the fields. This network adds another tangible aspect to the description of the landscape: alongside the elongated village and southerly views, paths through the farmland also form part of the picture. The rights of way and the described glimpses address different things. The former run through the fields; the occasional framed views open up through gaps in the row of houses along the village street. When choosing Carperby for your stay, you can therefore consider which aspect appeals to you most: the stone-walled pastures, the field paths, the view across Wensleydale or the market cross.
Discover more destinations: Escrick, Wykeham, Cloughton, Reeth, Darley, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Castleton, West Rounton
Go to the main travel guide: North Yorkshire.
