Ancient drystone walls and field barns are defining features of the Dales landscape – shaped over thousands of years by people and nature. The iconic pattern of barns and walls in Upper Swaledale is recognised as being one of the most distinctive agricultural landscapes in Western Europe.

Drystone walls are among the oldest and most enduring examples of how people in the Dales live in connection with nature. Built from local stone and shaped by traditional skill, they support wildlife, define the landscape, and tell the story of communities working with the land for generations

Join our Yorkshire Dales National Park volunteers as they showcase the traditional craft of drystone walling. They will explain the construction of this iconic feature of the National Park landscape.

This event is part of the 2026 European Day of Parks – ‘Connected by Nature’. This demonstration showcases this living expression of how people, place, heritage, and the natural environment have always been intertwined in the Dales:

1️⃣ A Craft Literally Built From Nature
2️⃣ A Landscape-Wide Web of Ecological Connections
3️⃣ A Human–Nature Partnership That Spans Thousands of Years
4️⃣ Community Connections and Shared Skills
5️⃣ A Slow, Sustainable, Earth-Friendly Practice

You can book your tickets online (the event is free, you only pay for museum admission). Alternatively you can purchase museum tickets on arrival at the reception desk during normal opening hours.

Adults £5
Concessions (60s and over): £4.50
Under 16s: FREE
Carers: FREE
Tickets are valid for 7 days
Annual pass: £10

< Back to EDoP events map