Kettlewell is without doubt one of the most attractive villages in the Yorkshire Dales. Nestling at the foot of Great Whernside, close-knit clusters of pretty limestone cottages gather around the local beck which feeds into the River Wharfe. A closer look around all the back streets, nooks and crannies will reveal date stones originating from as early as the 16th Century.

Kettlewell is known to have been a staging post for the Romans on the Ilkley to Bainbridge road. After the Romans, the Angles established farms, leaving their mark with their strip-lynchet ploughing, examples of which can still be seen directly above the village on the track to Hag Dike.

The village was granted a market charter in 1320 and became the thriving capital of the upper dale, attracting traders from far and wide. At one time it had five inns, a beerhouse, a cotton mill, three schools, three blacksmiths and a surgeon.

The manor of Kettlewell was once owned by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, known as 'the Kingmaker.' After his death at the Battle of Barnet in 1471, his estates were confiscated by the Crown for supporting the enemies of Edward IV. In 1656, the manor was bought by eight trustees for the freeholders of Kettlewell who came to be known as the 'Trust Lords.'

With the advent of lead mining in the dales, Kettlewell housed more than 600 souls in this idyllic corner of Wharfedale.

The ancient pack horse route along Top Mere Road offers striking views of Wharfedale, including the looming overhang of Kilnsey Crag. The track also passes the site of the chimney and flue which once served the Kettlewell Smelt Mill. The mill was operating from the late 17th century until 1887 when it was shut down. It was still in good condition until 1942, when it was demolished by the army while testing a new type of explosive.

Park Rash, the steep hill leading from Kettlewell to Coverdale presents a daunting climb in the modern car, and it can only be wondered at when you consider it was, for a time, the route of the London to Richmond coach. No wonder a thriving trade in refreshments developed at the foot of the hill for both passengers and horses!