The Visitor Centre today is ... Black Sheep Brewery

JULIE WHITE
Jul 3
15 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Back from the brink and still breaking the rules - Yorkshire's Black Sheep Brewery lives on with bold tours, brews, and bites.

Stone building labeled "The Black Sheep Brewery," with grassy yard, picnic tables, and sunny blue sky. This is the site for the black sheep brewery visitor experience and tour

I visited the Black Sheep Brewery totally unaware of the struggles that the brand were facing. The packed out visitor centre did not give any indication that this was a brand on the brink of administration. I kept my fingers crossed for the brewery and the super friendly staff we had met, and breathed a sigh of relief when an investor was secured and we heard in the trade papers that many of the jobs had been saved.

Brick brewery with "The Black Sheep Brewery" sign, silos, and stone buildings. Blue sky and trees frame the scene, creating a calm mood. — Black Sheep Brewery - Image The Drinks Business

It’s been a rough few years for beer, especially for small, independent breweries like Black Sheep. First came the pandemic, then rising costs across the board. The war in Ukraine, one of the world’s top barley producers, hit grain supplies hard. Add in sanctions on Russian aluminium and gas, extreme weather from climate change, and soaring prices for fuel, energy, glass, and even paper, and the brewing industry has taken blow after blow. At the same time, we’re all feeling the squeeze. With the cost of living climbing, many of us are cutting back, choosing essentials over extras, and sadly, that often means fewer pints at the pub.

According to SIBA (which CAMRA aligns with), the UK lost 100 independent breweries during 2024, dropping from 1,815 at the start of the year to 1,715 by January 2025.

Seven Black Sheep beer bottles on a wooden table, showcasing various labels. Barrels on shelves in the background set a rustic mood. — Black Sheep Brewery core range - Image Food Manufacture

So now’s the time to show up, pint in hand, and support the breweries that keep the craft alive. Take Black Sheep, for example, they’re doubling down on what makes them special: proud Yorkshire heritage, crystal-clear Dales water, and a rebellious spirit that’s never been afraid to brew against the grain.

These are the champions of real beer. Let’s not just remember them, let’s visit them, raise a glass, and keep them going.

Visiting the Black Sheep Brewery: What to Expect

The brand history

Black Sheep Brewery was, until 2023, a family-owned brewery business, located in the delightful small town of Masham, North Yorkshire, England. They operate not just a brewery and tour experience, but four dedicated pubs in Yorkshire. The area has been home to breweries for centuries, since the days when monks inhabited the abbeys dotted around the Dales, making beer from the waters of Wensleydale using barley from fields in the Vale of York.

Black Sheep was founded in 1992 by Paul Theakston, a fifth-generation brewer, who had previously worked for his family's brewing business, T&R Theakston Ltd, based half a mile away in the same town. The Theakston Brewery has a long and storied history that dates back to 1827, but like many family businesses, its history is filled with ups and downs. It's a story of divided loyalties, family power struggles, success and failures and eventually, in the late 1980s,

Man kneels on grass, looking thoughtful. Behind him is a stone building with "NORTH OF ENGLAND MALT ROASTING CO LTD" text. Cloudy sky. — Paul Theakston - Image Black Sheep

Theakston's was taken over by the brewery giant Scottish and Newcastle (now owned by a consortium of Heineken and Carlsberg) against the will of Paul, who had been running the brewery since the 1960s. The bitter family dispute even took the family to the High Court. Paul walked away from the business, but he was far from done with brewing.

Tall stone chimney overgrown with ivy under a clear blue sky at the Black Sheep Brewery in Yorkshire. Green utility box with warning signs in the foreground. Grass lawn to front. Peaceful scene.

After a year off, the prospect of establishing a pioneering new brewery in his hometown, built on traditional values and rescued equipment, excited him. He first had to find suitable premises. A short stroll across Masham from his previous family firm, and a contender emerged, in the shape of the former Lightfoot maltings, owned by a local milling company I’Ansons. The maltings were for sale, but there was a catch. Access to the buildings was through land owned by the White Bear pub, owned by rivals Scottish & Newcastle. Paul eventually secured adjacent land, which enabled him to build a new entrance, and in 1991 he started to ponder what he could produce.

Wall of silver beer kegs with text "Black Sheep Brewery," above a wooden table and chairs, creating a cozy pub atmosphere.

He knew that his beer had to have a distinctive Yorkshire flavour, and a crisp finish, that could only come from using the labour intensive Yorkshire square system. These are two storey traditional fermentation vessels, iconic to the region's brewing heritage. Fermenting beer rises from the bottom chamber to the top, where some of the yeast is retained. It creates distinctive, full-flavoured ales which had great clarity and character. Paul wanted traditional squares made of slate, not steel ones that were making the slate versions redundant, and rescued some from Hardy & Hanson’s brewery in Nottingham, which had been bought by Greene King and set to close. Another rescue was a cast-iron mash-tun and copper kettle from Hartley's of Cumbria, which was also closing down. Add in some government funding for a few years, and all Paul needed now was a name for his brewery.

Hand holding a pint of amber ale labeled "Black Sheep" and a coaster with a ram design reading "Inspirer Pale Ale 4.3%." Dark blurred background. — Image Hull Daily Mail

His wife, Sue, hit upon the name, a tongue-in-cheek remark made over breakfast that stuck. She told him that when he produced his beers he would become the 'black sheep of the family.' But, it also references Masham’s history in the wool trade and the surrounding hills filled with black-faced sheep. Growth was rapid, with supermarkets, local on-trade, wholesale and sales to pub chains keeping the accountants happy.

But in recent years there were changing fortunes, in the face of the microbrewery trend and changing consumer habits. It took Paul’s sons, Rob and Jo, to stabilise the brewery and return it to profit.

Red shirt with text: "BLACK SHEEP, /blæk/ʃi:p/, noun. An outcast. A person who behaves differently and is not afraid to stand out."

The stresses of the challenging beer market continued after the pandemic and the brewery was facing possible closure. In May 2023 the brewery, shop and the brand's four public houses were bought out for £5m by the London-based private equity firm Breal Group (now known as Keystone Brewing Group), and become Black Sheep Brewing Company Limited, trading as Black Sheep Brewery. It saved 150 jobs at the site.

The new owners have plans to invest £1m on a new brewhouse and in 2024 rebranded their products.

Stone building with "Black Sheep Brewery" painted on the front in black and white lettering. Partially visible, picnic tables on grassy area, countryside view with trees and blue sky in the background.

The brewery is best known for its flagship beer, Black Sheep Ale, a traditional English bitter made with a blend of pale and crystal malts and English hops, known for its distinctive taste, which balances the sweetness of the malts with the bitterness of the hops. In addition to Black Sheep Ale, the brewery produces a large range of other beers, plus a variety of seasonal and limited edition beers, and supplies beer to grocery giants such as Aldi. The brand has picked up international recognition over the years, collecting four golds, including the coveted “World’s Best” Milk Stout at the World Beer Awards 2024.

The Visitor Centre design

The brewery offers tours and tastings for visitors, where they can learn about the brewing process and sample some of the brewery's beers. The onsite Black Sheep Brewery Tap & Kitchen serves a variety of food and drink, including Black Sheep Ale and other locally-sourced products.

The Black Sheep Brewery was built inside the old maltings and the visitor centre blends the traditional architecture of the brewery's historic buildings with contemporary elements, creating a simple and inviting space for visitors to learn about the brewery's history, brewing process and products. The centre features a tour, tasting areas, a gift shop, a games room, a beer hall and restaurant.

Loft with a pool table, wooden floor, leather sofa, shelves with decor, and a dining table in the games room of the Black Sheep Brewery. Soft lighting creates a cozy atmosphere.

The brand first opened its visitor centre in 1996 and since then rarely had time to shut the doors to update the space. In early 2018, Black Sheep used local tradespeople and several of the brewery’s employees, to carry out renovations that included a new kitchen, a craft keg beer wall, a revamped seating and lounge area and an expansion of the retail area, the Sheepy Shop. Two large, bottle-filled light boxes containing clear Black Sheep bottles were installed as a unique photo backdrop. The mezzanine lounge area was also created and the bistro was refurbished at the same time. The overall vibe is warm, comfortable and relaxed.

Entrance

Wooden floor and wall cladding in the Black sheep brewery shop interior, with merchandise, counter, and chalkboard listing tour times and prices. Warm lighting and cozy atmosphere.

There is a simple reception desk in the retail space and super friendly staff manning it. The history of the brand is displayed on the wall, in a useful infographic, alongside the brewing process.

Wall info graphic display showing "The Black Sheep Brewery Family Tree" with labeled brewing steps on a wooden background, featuring historical notes.

The Tour

The tour is not complicated and lasts an hour. Peter, our guide, introduces the obligatory welcome film, which then featured Paul and Rob Theakston, really emphasising that this was a family-run business. The film was short and emotive. I'm not sure if this will have been changed now the brand is in new hands.

Male tour guide sitting and speaking in the black sheep brewery with beer bottles on shelves. A TV screen displays "DVD Player." Burlap sack banner says "Simpsons Malt."

Our guide rattled through the history and background of the brewery and the family disagreement in great detail. I'm not sure how many heard or understood every detail, as the space is quite large and Peter's lilting accent could have done with a microphone. It's also hard to throw facts at people without visuals and expect them to stick. It got much better when we had something to interact with and Peter then pulled out some Tupperware boxes.

Wooden chairs face a screen in a rustic brewery setting with wood floors and metal shelves holding bottles. Sign reads "Tour Route." Through a glass partition is the steel brewery machinery of the Black Sheep Brewery.

Peter explained the brewing process and passed around the different toasted malts they use so we could taste and smell them.

We also got to touch and smell the hops, which they import from around the world.

A participant on the tour at black sheep brewery holds in their hands a wicker basket filled with dried hops. Wooden floor and metal kegs in the background, creating a rustic setting.

Peter then went on to give everyone a breakdown of the products they sell. There is a lot of them, so it took a little while and I was itching to get to see some actual production.

Some of their beers are used on Jet2 airlines, some are brewed in ex-rum casks and there are even beers based on legendary comedy series Monty Python sketches and films. We are told that the milk stout was the second highest selling bottled beer they make and how many beers they sell into supermarkets such as Sainsbury's, Morrison and Aldi. This first part took half an hour, which was a little too long in my opinion and could have done with less about every variety they make and more on the family story, which is definitely more engaging. However there were some beer nerds on our tour that appreciated all the detail.

We head off into the production areas, up plenty of stairs. They were brewing five days a week, except for bank holidays such as Good Friday, which is when we visited, so the brewery was not in production mode. They normally start the first brew at 7 am and then another at lunchtime.

We arrive in the old malting house, which is quite an unusual shape, steeply vaulted and charmingly historic. We can see the old gravity-fed equipment which is over 100 years old, but still works perfectly. Check out that copper. Someone has been busy polishing.

Vaulted black sheep brewery production area interior with shiny copper brewing vat, exposed beams, brick walls, and green painted metal machinery. Warm, industrial atmosphere.

Peter explains about the brewing process, but as we have the equipment in front of us, his words have more impact. However, it would have been better if he had referred to the graphic on the wall or made use of a laser pointer to identify the pieces of equipment he was talking about. A simple fix. On production days I hope they use a microphone here as it was noisy.

Poster on a brick wall shows "The Black Sheep Brewing Process." Diagram details beer-making stages. Text: "Stage 1 of 3." Rustic setting.

Off we go through narrow passageways, past hissing pipes and gurgling tanks.

Large metal brewery tanks, mash tuns, with wooden cladding to the outside sit inside an industrial setting in the production area of the Black Sheep Brewery. Pipes and platforms in a dimly lit space with red brick walls.

We pass the stainless steel mash tuns and arrive at the fermentation vessels and thankfully Peter is now wired up to a microphone. It's still a tad quiet for my liking and I am sure those with hearing difficulties would appreciate a louder volume, due to the ambient noise. We are guided through two rooms full of the delicious aroma of beer making.

Large metal vats in a bright industrial room with a walkway and railings above. A person is seen in the distance next to an exit sign. The tanks are filled with foaming fermenting wort in a creamy beige colour. This is part of the production area tour of the Black Sheep Brewery.

Infographic in black and white of the Yorkshire Square Fermenters process, showing a diagram with text explaining stages of brewing at the Black Sheep Brewery.

There are some handy graphics along the way, though we don't have too long to interact with them. Maybe a handout would have been useful. You could have taken that home too.

Two large metal vats in the black sheep brewery, one filled with bubbling yeast mixture. Industrial setting with steel beams and grated floors.

Industrial production area in the Black Sheep Brewery with stainless steel tanks, metal walkways above and black metal railing. A male tour guide stands on a black-railed walkway, under fluorescent lights. Bright and orderly setting.

We see the cask filling area. Bottling is done off-site locally. As they are based in the countryside, the brand care about sustainability and we hear how, in April 2022, the brand launched its first carbon-neutral cask beer called Respire. All of their organic brewing waste, as well as the Visitor Centre waste, goes off for anaerobic digestion, to produce bio-gas and renewable fuel, with nothing going to landfill. All of their malt is sourced in the UK, and they take out plastic wherever possible.

Sign showing "Journey of a Cask" process on a black board with white text and diagrams, located in industrial setting in the black sheep brewery. Cask labels on left.

Industrial interior with machinery, pipes, and conveyors in the packaging line area in black sheep brewery. Metal and gray colors dominate. "No Entry" sign visible on wall.

We end our tour being shown casks and some historic artefacts. They use stainless steel casks, not wood, and we get to see different sizes of historic barrels and butts. We even get to look at Isinglass, a gelatine-like substance made from the swim bladders of the sturgeon, that is used to clarify the beer. I've never seen that on a tour before. Every day is a school day.

Black Sheep Brewery visitor center with barrels, machinery, and a welcome mat reading "Black Sheep Brewery." Rustic wood floors and industrial decor.

Glass jar on a map beside beer taps labeled "Black Sheep Brewery." Next to the jar is a section of dried sturgeon in an aged beige colour. Rustic bar setting with wood textures. Card with heart shapes visible.

I do like the door handles made from old cask staves.

Wooden door with a large, curved handle made from wooden stave from a barrel and a wire-mesh window shows indoor setting at Black Sheep Brewery. Visible text reads "Tours Only, No Entry."

As all tours should, you end up at the bar, where you can sample a range of their beers. There's plenty on offer, so don't worry. There's no and low options too.

Three glasses of beer on a wooden table with a Black Sheep Brewery coaster. Warm lighting creates a cozy pub atmosphere.

Using tokens from our tour, we chose a flight and started with a Respire, originally launched on Earth Day 2022 and available online. It is hopped with Citra and Chinook hops, and is a refreshing session IPA at 4% abv. Then we plumped for their core range Golden Sheep Ale, first brewed over 20 years ago, at 4.5%, also available online.

Person holding a "Black Sheep Brewery Riggwelter" beer label. Wooden floor and bags in the background. Casual setting with a relaxed mood.

Our final choice was the Riggwelter, named after a Yorkshire Dales farming term which has Norse roots, from “rygg” meaning “back” and “velte” meaning “overturn”. Sheep are ‘riggwelted’ when they have rolled onto their backs and can’t get up. It is a powerful, dark and full flavoured ale and 5.7% abv. You can buy it online too.

The Bar & Kitchen

The bar was too full of guests for many decent photographs, and that proves how popular it was. Every table was full and there was standing room only at the bar.

Cozy black sheep brewery bar with wooden decor, high tables, and metal chairs. Shelves stocked with wine, barrels on the wall. Warm, inviting atmosphere.

The space is full of warm wood tones and copper. Here are two glass bottle wall art pieces that were popular with visitors, who used them as backdrops for their obligatory selfies.

Rows of clear glass bottles led on their side, forming a symmetrical pattern art installation at the Black Sheep Brewery. Subtle reflections create a calm, orderly atmosphere.

The wall is adorned with a poem from award-winning rapper/comedian Jester Jacobs, which highlights the challenges that face the cask beer category. Definitely topical under the circumstances.

Text on a blackboard with white handwriting about cask beer, energy crisis, and pubs. Mentions "Talkin' Truths" by Jester Jacobs. This art installation hangs in the bar at the black sheep brewery.

The restaurant area was quieter than the bar, but we were too late for lunch and too early for dinner, so it was to be expected.

Cozy black sheep brewery interior with wooden floors, people seated at restaurant tables, beer casks on the wall, and warm lighting. Posters and menus visible.

Wooden dining area within the black sheep brewery with empty tables and chairs. Barrel decor on wall, warm lighting, windows with curtains. Cozy, rustic ambiance.

The Retail Space

The Sheepy Shop is a simple affair, but charming. There is plenty of upcycled furniture on show and comfortable chairs. We found everything to be of great quality and well-priced. You have to wait here for the tours to start, and it is here where the tour ends, so it gives the brand a captive market. It worked for us, as we bought a few items on the way out.

Cozy shop interior inside the black sheep brewery with wooden floors, shelves filled with gifts and souvenirs, a Union Jack pillow on a leather chair, and a colorful RESPIRE sign.

Black Sheep Brewery sign and shelf with plush sheep toys. Chalkboard lists shop offers. Brightly lit industrial setting with exposed beams.

They have a bottle shop area made simply from scaffolding boards and pipes. The Flock Box mixed case was very popular when we visited. We brought a few home with us.

Wooden shelves filled with various beer bottles, boxes, and jars in the cozy store ion black sheep brewery. A small chalkboard reads "The Flock, £15.00".

Black sheep brewery beer box display on a wooden shelf with a chalkboard sign reading "The Flock Box £15.00". Bottles feature black and gold labels.

Brewed for the brand's 25th birthday, the limited edition 8.5% abv Legacy 25 was the only beer Black Sheep sold in 75cl sharing bottles and we took one of them home with us.

Limited edition Black Sheep brewery beer bottles with intricate black and white labels, wooden shelf background, featuring "LEGACY 25" text.

The bottled black IPA, Cry Wolf, was a 5% ABV brew that was also sold in Tesco supermarkets. Brewed with black malt, chocolate malt and flaked oats, it is made with North American hops Cascade, Columbus, Citra, and Chinook. One of them went home with us too.

Black Sheep Brewery beer bottle labeled "Cry Wolf" on a wooden shelf. Price tag reads: "Bottle £2.60, Pack 8 £20." Background shows more bottles.

We also scored some of the now sold out premium, small-batch craft lager, 54 Degrees North, a 4.5% ABV premium Helles-style lager named after the line of latitude that passes through Yorkshire and the town of Masham.

Red 54 Real Yorkshire Lager Black Sheep Brewery cans on a store shelf. Price sign reads: "54 lager, 4 pack £8.20, 24 pack £45.20". Bright, inviting display.

For all those Lord of the Rings nerds, Shapeless Malice was a full-bodied and complex stout coming in at a whopping 7.2% and part of the 5 Barrel Project, Black Sheep’s craft brewing arm. The beers are brewed on a 5-barrel pilot kit in limited editions and are now sold out. If you want a good range of their current beers delivered to you, then why not check out their beer packs.

Cans of "5 Barrel Project" Black sheep brewery beer labeled "Shapeless Malice" on a wooden shelf, priced at £4.20. Industrial setting in the background.

There's a range of branded glassware that we found to be very well made and sturdy.

Hand holding a tall glass with "54" and map design. A shelf with glasses in the background inside the shop at the black sheep brewery. Chalkboard sign displaying beer-related text.

Four clear glasses with "Bobby Horn's Cider" and "Black Sheep Brewery" logos in green and yellow, on a wooden shelf backdrop.

It's not all beer, they also stock their Black Sheep Yorkshire Dry Gin, costing £43 and with a blend of 14 botanicals and a dash of malt barley and hops. Their small batch Black Sheep Premium Dry Vodka, at £41.50, is single shot distilled in a copper alembic still over an open flame.

Clear gin bottle labeled "Black Sheep" with an image of a rams head and text about the black sheep brewery, on a wooden bar in a cozy, lamp-lit room with a window view. Warm and inviting atmosphere.

Bottles of Black Sheep brewery vodka on a wooden counter. Chalkboard displays prices: 20cl for £15 and 70cl for £40. Rustic, warm setting.

But there's more than drink on sale here. The bright retail space has something for everyone.

Shop interior inside black sheep brewery with Easter-themed gifts on a table, wooden floor, a man behind the counter, and a white brick wall with hanging clothes.

The store sells a range of clothing, with some great cycling tops, ideal for all those two-wheeled warriors tackling the Dales. They even came with a free pair of socks. The area is known for its scenic and challenging routes, including climbs such as Buttertubs Pass and Fleet Moss, which have been featured in the Tour de France and other professional cycling events.

There is a range of quality ceramics too and this jug certainly took my eye, and the tea towel featuring the brewing process is now proudly displayed in my kitchen.

Hanging white tea towel illustrating the Black Sheep Brewery brewing Process. Black text and illustrations on wooden hanger in a store setting.

There are also books from local literary legends such as James Herriot. The TV series All Creatures Great and Small, produced by Playground, has global reach and, in the United States, where the show is broadcast on PBS, the first series averaged more than 10 million viewers over its run. I've certainly watched it in Denmark and Japan. It definitely showcases the stunning countryside and I'm a big fan.

Books on a wooden shelf, in the shop at black sheep brewery, including "All Creatures Great and Small" by James Herriot. Covers are white and blue. Cozy, library vibe.

Shop display in the black sheep brewery with mugs, blankets, and woven items on a rustic wooden table. Shelves hold more mugs and items against a wood-paneled wall. Cozy ambiance.

In conclusion

When we visited Black Sheep Brewery, it genuinely felt like a place thriving, not just surviving. The car park was full, the tour group was bustling, the shop was busy, and the bar and grill were packed with both locals and visitors. It was a real mix, walkers fresh from the Dales sharing tables with younger crowds out for good beer and a social buzz. Compared to Theakston’s just up the road, Black Sheep had a noticeably more modern feel, more like the vibrant taproom experiences we've come across in the US and further afield.

The retail space stood out too, a well-curated range of quality merch, full of personality and great design. Prices were so reasonable I couldn’t help but stock up, telling the staff member they could probably get away with charging more (his surprised face said it all). I picked up several cases of beer, a rather lovely throw that now lives on my sofa, and a branded glass that my son used to toast his birthday.

The tour itself was solid, informative and engaging. With a few tweaks, a microphone here, a shift in focus there, it could easily go from good to great. There’s so much untapped potential for expanding the offer: think deeper tastings for beer lovers, private events, weddings, even live music. The setting is great. If you look at what the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival or the Kentucky Bourbon Trail has done for local tourism, there’s no reason Yorkshire’s breweries couldn’t form their own craft beer circuit. It’s more than just beer on the line here, it’s rural jobs, livelihoods, and local heritage.

Black Sheep isn’t just a brewery, it’s a destination. Masham, tucked into the stunning Yorkshire Dales National Park, is a beer lover’s paradise.

As one black sheep to another, I know how hard it is to go against the grain. I hope the brewery experience at Black Sheep remains warm, proud, and unmistakably Yorkshire.

How long was the visit?

We stayed for over 2 hours. There's enough to do here after the tour, with a games room, bar and grill, so you could easily spend much longer. In fact we came back the next day for dinner.

How much are tickets?

We paid for our own tickets and this was not part of any advertising.

It is always worth checking with the brewery as prices can vary throughout the year.

Adults: £12

Seniors and students: £10

Children: £5.50

Opening times

It's always worth checking with the Black Sheep Brewery for their current opening times, as they can vary.

Tours operate Thurs to Sun from 11 am until 5 pm, at various times during the day and should be booked online if possible.

Shop is open daily 11am - 5pm.

The bar is open daily: Thurs to Sat 11am until 11pm, Sunday 11am to 6pm, Mon-Wed 11am - 5pm

Food is served Wed 12 - 2.30pm, Thurs-Sun 12 - 2.30pm and 5pm-8pm, closed on Mon and Tues.

Website: Black Sheep Brewery

Where we stayed:

We were on a 3 day Easter weekend road trip, through Yorkshire and the Dales, and stayed in Masham itself. Masham has both the Black Sheep Brewery, and the Theakston's Brewery, and visited both (a guide to Theakston's will also be on the website soon). It's great to have experiences within walking distance and both were only a five-minute walk from our hotel. We stayed in an 18th-century Georgian inn, the King’s Head Hotel, situated directly on Yorkshire’s largest market square.

Cozy room at the kings head masham with two single beds, blue accents, lit lamps, patterned wallpaper, and exposed wooden beams. Window with curtain, framed picture.

They offer 27 en-suite bedrooms and are dog friendly. Our room was situated in the rear of the hotel, in converted barn-style buildings, and was very quiet.

We had dinner and breakfast in the hotel and received a very warm Yorkshire welcome.

Narrow stone street behind the kings head masham with benches and planters, flanked by rustic buildings. Bright blue sky with clouds. Calm, quaint village atmosphere.

Getting here:

Masham is a great base, with all the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales on the doorstep, and still only a 20 minute drive from the A1. Harrogate and Darlington are 40 minutes drive away, while York, Leeds, Newcastle and Teesside are all about an hour by car.

The nearest train stations are Northallerton and Thirsk. Public bus routes stopping at Masham include the 138 from Ripon, 159 Ripon to Richmond and 144 Bedale to Masham.

What else is there to see close by:

Wensleydale Creamery in Hawes is home to Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and is a 45 minute drive from Black Sheep Brewery. It uses traditional methods to handcraft award-winning cheese, yoghurt and butter, using milk from local farms, and also has a thriving visitor centre - a guide to which we will soon publish on this site.

York is an hour by car from the brewery and is one of my favourite cities in the UK. It has numerous attractions, such as the York Race Course, a chocolate factory tour at York Chocolate Story, York Minster (one of the world’s most magnificent cathedrals) plus lots of Roman history displayed in places like the Jorvik Centre. It is well worth spending a few days in the city to soak up the history and atmosphere.

Couple walking a dog on a sunny day in front of historic ruins of Jervaulx Abbey, surrounded by lush green grass and trees. Text: Visit Harrogate.

There are two ruined Cistercian abbeys close by, Jervaulx Abbey and Fountains Abbey. The latter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and also includes a Georgian water garden with elegant ornamental lakes, canals, temples and cascades.

You could try tractor driving at Farm Adventure Yorkshire or take the kids to the small theme park Lightwater Valley.

But the best thing to do by far, is to grab your walking shoes, or your bike, and get out into the stunning Dales. You'll never be disappointed.

Disclaimer - The views and opinions expressed are solely my own. I paid for the tours in full and any comments reflect my personal experiences on that day. Please drink responsibly. Please visit and garner your own thoughts and feel free to research the brand and the visitor centre in question.