21/05/2026
One of the reasons I love my work at Beamsley — set in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, just a short distance from where I live near Skipton — is that every day reminds me what really matters.
I grew up in Skipton, surrounded by the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales, and like many people who grow up somewhere special, I think I probably took parts of it for granted. The hidden corners, the changing seasons, the quiet moments that people travel miles to experience. Now, I see them differently.
There’s something about this place that makes you slow down and notice more.
The sound of curlews calling across the fields. Red kites soaring effortlessly overhead on the thermals. The thousands of shades of green that appear after a Yorkshire shower. The sudden flurry of activity when a dry spell arrives and farmers move quickly to cut the grass, shifting sheep from field to field while life quietly carries on around them.
I love those moments when traffic stops for sheep on the road and nobody seems in a rush — as if the landscape gently reminds us all to pause.
From my office on the Bolton Abbey , I watch wildlife completely unaware of me as they go about their day, while our visitors head off to make memories — a trip on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, an ice cream at Billy Bob’s Ice Cream Parlour, a visit to Hesketh Farm Park, a wander around Skipton, Ilkley, Harrogate or Otley, a coffee at Horticap or simply time spent together in the fresh air.
What inspires me most, every single day, are our visitors.
Their determination, resilience and willingness to embrace new experiences is something I will never stop admiring. Many arrive at Beamsley unsure of what to expect — sometimes apprehensive about a new environment, new people, or new experiences — but they leave with a renewed sense of confidence, achievement and possibility.
Time and again, we see people discovering that expectations placed upon them by others do not define what they can achieve.
The smiles we see here are never just smiles of happiness. They are smiles of achievement, independence, confidence, friendship and countless firsts.
I think about the many groups who stay with us, including those working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards, building life skills, independence and confidence through their time here. Seeing them create memories together inspires me every day and reminds me exactly why places like Beamsley matter so much.
We often talk about our beautiful building, and we are incredibly lucky to be custodians of it, but for me Beamsley has always been about far more than the building itself.
It’s about welcoming families into our holiday cottage because their child visited with school and wanted to come back.
It’s about hearing from carers and family members carrying enormous responsibilities, and knowing that in some small way we can help make time together a little easier, a little less stressful, and a little more joyful.
It’s about accessibility too — seeing more opportunities being created across the Yorkshire Dales through the work of passionate people and organisations, and then doing our part by creating space for confidence, independence and belonging.
People often describe places as hidden gems, but I genuinely believe Beamsley is one of the Yorkshire Dales’ hidden gems.
Not because of the views — although they are spectacular in every season — but because of the people, the memories made here, and the feeling that everyone should have the chance to experience the beauty of this incredible place.
Yorkshire Treasures Bolton Abbey Billy-Bob's Parlour Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway Hesketh Farm Park
