North Yorkshire market town easily ignored - but it's actually full of hidden gems

Bedale, a town you've likely only heard of if you've passed through it or reside there, is situated just a few miles from the A1(M). While this ancient market town may not be as picturesque as its neighbours, it holds its own charm.

If you were to place North End/Market Place – Bedale's main thoroughfare – in the heart of post-industrial South Yorkshire or West Yorkshire, it would easily be the most attractive high street for miles. But in the endlessly scenic North Yorkshire, it's about average.

Unlike Masham (pronounced 'mass-um') and Leyburn, whose town centres pre-date tourism yet are now very much visitor-oriented, Bedale remains more of a 'working town'. It boasts tearooms, restaurants, and gift shops, but these don't overshadow North End/Market Place.

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You'll find a Nisa, a Costa, and a subtly integrated Morrisons among rows of independent shops and pubs. While holiday accommodation and second homes are not scarce in Bedale, they haven't yet priced out the locals, reports Yorkshire Live.

A three-bedroom semi-detached house with front and back gardens costs around £250,000, while a four-bedroom detached house with a double garage is priced around £400,000. By North Yorkshire standards, that's affordable.

Emma Shevel, who co-runs the Silverdale jewellery shop on North End with her sister Helen, has a positive view of the local area. "The value of the second homes hasn't destroyed the local community," Emma, a Bedale resident, insists.

Helen recalls the community's resilience during the Covid pandemic, noting: "People genuinely cared about how we were getting on. It wasn't just a mundane 'how are you doing? '".

Bedale, while being a close-knit community for locals, also opens its arms to the influx of tourists each summer. The town is known for its warmth and friendliness, as property valuer Alison Kent from George F White estate agents confirms: "Everyone says Bedale has a very friendly community and it's where people walk up and down the street and say hello to each other."

Alison adds, "Everyone I've dealt with has been friendly and appreciative about what we do." For those not residing in Bedale but interested in experiencing its charm, there's much to attract visitors. .

The Bedale Museum, housed within the Grade I-listed Bedale Hall, showcases the town's history, dating back to when Henry III granted a market charter in 1251. However, a note of disappointment was struck as the museum was closed during our visit.

Opposite the hall stands St Gregory's Church, another Grade I-listed building with a tower from the same era. This impressive church boasts an array of stained glass windows and an unusual feature – teddy bears seated on its pews.

The more juvenile among you might find amusement in a memorial that mentions an 'Admiral Sir John Poo Beresford'. Initially, I thought it had been vandalised, but no, that was indeed his name. I can only hope his passing was marked with a 21-flush salute. The most curious sight is the Leech House on the east bank of Bedale Beck.

What appears to be an outhouse was actually where 'medicinal' leeches were stored in containers fed by the beck. These leeches were sold to pharmacists who, at the time, mistakenly believed that leeches could cure all sorts of ailments by sucking away 'bad blood'.

Today, the UK's only surviving leech house is thankfully devoid of leeches. However, it is quite a sight with its crenelated walls, pointed door and windows, and its precarious position next to the beck.

Whoever built it must have had a sense of humour, perhaps subtly mocking his gullible clientele. A couple of miles south of Bedale is the Thorp Perrow estate, boasting 100 acres of landscaped gardens and a bird of prey and exotic mammals centre.

So, Bedale is a working town – and we appreciate 'authenticity' – with enough to satisfy curiosity-hungry visitors. In August 2016, North Yorkshire County Council opened a £35m road bypassing Bedale and neighbouring Aiskew and Leeming Bar.

So remember when you're travelling, don't bypass Bedale.