Askrigg has a street of grey stone buildings, many of them 3-storeyed, indicating that the market once created considerable prosperity. One such tall 18th century house, overlooking the old market place and bull ring, is Cringley House, known to followers of the James Herriot stories as Skelgate House, the home of the Darrowby vets. As Hawes grew in size at the head of Wensleydale in the 19th century, so Askrigg lost its importance as a commercial centre, and no market is held here now. However, the cobbled square at the centre of town, with its cross, stone pump and metal bull ring still attached to a stone flag, retains the busy atmosphere of a market-place. Askrigg’s popularity as a tourist centre was well established by the time of Herriot and ‘All Creatures Great and Small’. The Wensleydale railway came here in 1877, bringing day-trippers and holidaymakers in large numbers. The surrounding hillsides, along with the River Ure and its dale, bring peace and tranquillity of the highest quality. If you are tempted to take an evening stroll beyond the reach of the town itself, you might like to seek out one of the waterfalls, Mill Gill or Whitfield - they won’t let you down.