A market held on regular weekdays, breweries and art-themed walking trails give Masham different reasons to visit. Add the wetlands on the edge of town and historical connections that unfold as you take in the town. Whether you plan your stay around a market day or prefer to focus on a walk, there is a range of options, from short themed trails to a guided history tour with a stated duration.
Market Place, Church and Breweries
The market takes place on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Mondays that are public holidays, in Masham’s Georgian Market Place. If you plan to visit the market, check that your preferred date coincides with one of these market days. St Mary’s Church overlooks the square; most of the building dates from the 12th to the 15th century. The market and church offer two different perspectives on the same public focal point: a regularly used square and a building with a long history.
The brewing heritage also has a firmly established place in Masham’s character. T&R Theakston is an independent, family-run brewery founded in Masham in 1827. The Black Sheep Brewery Visitor Centre offers a specific visitor experience that includes brewery tours. The information about Theakston tells the story of its origins and business history, while at Black Sheep, a tour is the main experience.
The Spirit of Masham Gin Experience combines a tour of the Spirit of Masham Distillery with a hands-on activity: participants use a copper still to make a personalised bottle of gin. The local experiences therefore have different focuses, from brewery tours to a gin experience that includes making your own bottle.
Walks with History and Art
The Masham Leaves Walk is a leisurely three-mile circular route around the town, following footpaths and fields. Oak-leaf sculptures stand along the route. Their stone slabs once formed the platform of Masham railway station. The Masham Swift Trail has a different theme: its sculptures celebrate swifts and were created by ten artists from Yorkshire. The trail is described as easy, short and accessible. Together, Masham’s sculpture trails form a themed art route through the town and surrounding landscape.
Those interested in local history can also do the Masham's Peculier History Walk independently. The guided Masham's Peculier History Tour typically lasts between one and one and a half hours. This gives you the option of choosing between a walk at your own pace and a guided tour with an approximate duration. The Swinton Estate’s walking offering also includes a six-kilometre circular route around the market town of Masham in North Yorkshire.
Wetlands and Parkland
Marfield Wetlands is on the edge of Masham. The site of a former sand and gravel quarry is now home to lakes, ponds, wet meadows, wet grassland and woodland. Walking trails and bird hides are among the facilities. Its designated importance is also relevant: Marfield Wetlands is designated a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC) and borders Marfield Fen SSSI and the River Ure corridor. The description therefore brings together former land use, present-day habitats and neighbouring protected areas without treating them as one and the same site.
The Swinton Estate focuses on parkland and gardens. The estate includes 200 acres of historic parkland, influenced by Capability Brown and laid out by the Danby family in the 1760s. A day ticket provides access to the parkland and gardens; it is available from the Estate Shop at the entrance to Swinton Country Club. If you plan to visit, you can take the day ticket into account as a practical way to gain access.
Date for the Sheep Fair
The Masham Sheep Fair takes place annually on the last weekend of September, in the Market Place and at other locations around the town.
Discover more destinations: Whorlton, Ravenscar, Threshfield, Tockwith, Austwick, Norton, Otterburn, Tadcaster.
For the broader travel overview: North Yorkshire.
