Wetherby can be explored through a range of very different traces: castle remains above the River Wharfe, Blue Plaques on buildings and at landmarks, and meadows along the river. There is also a seasonal music programme at the bandstand and a waymarked circular route. This lets you choose your outings according to your interests, whether in architectural history, local history or time outdoors.
Castle remains above the River Wharfe
Wetherby Castle stands on a steep riverbank above a bend in the River Wharfe. Its naturally sheltered location is part of the character of the castle site, which was inhabited from the late 11th to the early 12th century. What remains includes low-standing and underground remains of the keep, as well as associated underground remains and earthworks of the western part of the castle and its southern wall.
The keep measures 20 by 17.5 metres. Its walls are typically 4.7 metres thick and still stand about one metre high. The extensive ground plan and massive walls contrast with the wall remains, which now stand only about one metre high. Anyone interested in medieval sites will find both specific architectural measurements and insight into the castle’s position above the river here.
Local history in buildings and Blue Plaques
Wetherby Town Hall was built in 1845 in the Classical style and is now used as a meeting venue. The unusual Georgian Bath House at Wharfedale Lawn was built over 200 years ago, when cold-water baths were considered to relieve various ailments. The building contains a spring-fed plunge pool 1.5 metres deep, measuring 2.4 by 3.7 metres. The Town Hall and Bath House add other chapters of local history to the castle remains: one through its present-day use for meetings, the other through the bathing practices of the time.
There are 21 Blue Plaques on buildings and at landmarks in Wetherby; the number may change as new ones are added. The Wetherby Civic Society’s Town Trail can be followed as a guided walk and focuses on these plaques. Alongside the individual historic buildings, it offers another way to explore the town’s history. If you are particularly interested in the Blue Plaques, the trail provides a dedicated focus on them.
Meadows, a circular route and outdoor music
Wetherby Ings are meadows along the River Wharfe that are now used as parkland. There are parks and sports grounds along the northern and southern banks. The river’s presence is expressed differently here than at the castle: there, the steep bank shapes the setting; at the Ings, the focus is on the parkland and sports grounds.
The 6.5-mile Harland Way & Thorp Arch circular route starts at Riverside Car Park in Wetherby. For cyclists, the Harland Way is designated as National Cycle Route 665. Trail conditions may change, so check them before setting out. When planning, you can take into account the circular route’s length of 6.5 miles and the Harland Way’s designation as National Cycle Route 665.
In summer, free live music performances take place at the bandstand on Sunday afternoons from 2:30 to 4:30 pm. As the seasonal programme and times may change, it is advisable to check the latest schedule before your visit. This lets you plan an outing to the historic buildings or Wetherby Ings around the music programme, if there is a suitable performance.
Discover more destinations: Baildon, Lofthouse, Normanton, Harden, Farsley, Marsden, Featherstone, Sowerby Bridge.
Return to the regional travel overview: West Yorkshire.
