The fells and valleys of Upper Wharfedale are overflowing with delights from which, once under their spell, very few can escape.
Upper Wharfedale Field Society works to increase the enjoyment derived from the area by deepening and widening understanding of its many and various elements.
Open any of the pages of this site and see what we do.
Meet us and experience it for yourself. You are very welcome to our talks or to join us.
Latest News & Articles
Local History Group Visit to Farfield and High Mill, Addingham. 28th August 2025
Farfield and High Mill, Addingham. 28th August 2025
Ornithology Group Visit to Hest Bank & Warton Sands. 21st August 2025
Ornithology Group Visit to Hest Bank. 21st August 2025
UWFS Botany trip to Swinsty Reservoir, 5th August 2025
UWFS Botany trip to Swinsty Reservoir
Latest News & Articles
The Upper Wharfedale Field Society is constantly working hard behind the scenes. See what is happening here.
Ornithology Group Visit to North Cave Wetlands. 16 October 2025
Ornithology Group Visit to North Cave Wetlands.
Ornithology Group Visit to Staveley. 18th September 2025
Ornithology Group Visit to Staveley. 18th September 2025
Special Interest Groups
The Upper Wharfedale Field Society covers a wide range of special interest groups.
LOCAL HISTORY & VERNACULAR BUILDINGS
In the Yorkshire Dales, local history and its vernacular buildings are inextricably linked. We have especial interest in all local history, through all aspects of industry including farming, social history from peasant to aristocrat, early trading, tracks and coach routes.
GEOLOGY
The earth formations and movements of the past have created an area of outstanding natural beauty. The most recent apparent dominant force is glaciation which has created the landscape which we see today, in particular the Upper Wharfedale Valley, but there is much more to the valleys, hills and rocks of the Yorkshire Dales.
BOTANY
The Botany Group holds its meetings every other Tuesday from end of April to mid August usually for the whole day. The meetings vary from those sites very close to Grassington eg Kilnsey park, the banks of the Wharfe, to further afield e.g. the west coast for dune systems, reserves in Cumbria and our National Natures Reserves as around Ingleborough. In this way we can become familiar with plants that are not on our doorstep and sites away from limestone grassland.
ARCHAEOLOGY
There are a considerable number of archaeological sites in Upper Wharfedale and Archaeology is regularly represented the Society’s talks programme . In recent years we have had guest speakers from Bradford University and York Archaeological Trust as well as presentations on field work being carried out locally in Wharfedale, Nidderdale and Ingleborough.
“The fells and valleys of Upper Wharfedale are overflowing with delights from which, once under their spell, very few can escape.”
Upper Wharfedale Field Society
Events & Talks
Here’s what is coming up soon.
The talk will cover the history of The Folly, Settle’s only Grade I listed building, and its owners from the late 17th century to the present, explaining its many uses from farm house to fish and chip shop. Now the flagship building of the North Craven Building Preservation Trust and home to the Museum of North Craven Life, a major programme of restoration will begin in 2026, enabling the Trust to unravel some of the mysteries of its construction.
In this talk, Flo Blackbourn will talk about Curlews in the UK, the issues they face, and what can be done to help them. Specifically, she will discuss the work of charity Curlew Action, which raises awareness of the issues and brings together stakeholders from all different backgrounds with a part to play in Curlew recovery. Curlews are a much-loved species, but with a surprisingly high number of people in the UK not knowing what a Curlew is, Curlew Action focuses not just on the bird itself, but on other waders, the importance of healthy habitats, and the wider need for improved nature education in our society.
Villages can become lost, abandoned or destroyed over the ages for many reasons. This talk will bring to life two villages - Lodge in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire and El Acebuchal in Frigiliana, Spain. By looking at the lives of the villagers in each location we can see the trauma that they went through during their removal from their homes and livelihoods.
Contact Us
If you have any questions for the Upper Wharfedale Field Society, or you just want to get on touch, please contact us below.