Things to Do in Masham: A Local's Guide

Masham (pronounced "Massam," to save any confusion at the bar) is one of North Yorkshire's most charming market towns, tucked into the Ure Valley on the edge of the Dales. It's small enough to explore properly in a day, but with enough packed into it - a historic market square, two breweries, a river, and some of the best walking country in Yorkshire - with most visitors ending up wishing they'd stayed longer. Here's how we'd spend a day in Masham, starting and ending, as any good day here should, at Black Sheep Brewery.

Masham Market Square

Masham's market square is the heart of the town, and at around 5.5 acres, it's one of the largest in England. On market days - traditionally Tuesdays, with a monthly farmers' market on Saturdays - it fills with stalls selling everything from local produce to crafts, and it's a great spot for browsing even when there's no market on, brimming with independent shops, cafés and pubs. The square has hosted markets since the 12th century, when Masham was granted its market charter, and it's still very much the social centre of the town today. Look out for the obelisk and the parish church of St Mary's, which dates back over a thousand years, just off the square.

Theakston's Brewery - and its connection to Black Sheep

Just a few hundred metres from our own brewery sits Theakston's, and the story of the two is genuinely one of the more interesting in British brewing. The Theakston family has brewed in Masham since 1827, and our founder, Paul Theakston, was the family firm's managing director from the age of 23. When Theakston's was taken over by Scottish & Newcastle in the late 1980s, Paul left rather than stay on under new ownership, and in 1992 he started again from scratch just down the road - buying the old maltings that had once belonged to Masham's third brewery, Lightfoot's.

He needed a name, and his wife suggested it: having walked out on the family firm, Paul had rather become the black sheep of the family. Given Masham's long history in the wool trade, with black-faced sheep still dotted across the surrounding hills, the name fit perfectly. Today, Theakston's and Black Sheep stand as two separate, proudly independent breweries within sight of each other, both offering tours - so a Masham brewery day can easily take in both.

The River Ure

The River Ure runs along the edge of Masham, crossed by an attractive stone bridge, and it's worth adding into any visit. The riverside paths are flat, easy walking and a good way to get some air between stops in town, with views out towards the surrounding Dales countryside. The Ure is also part of the wider Ure Valley walking network, so if you fancy stretching your legs further, it connects out towards Masham's surrounding villages and on to the Nidderdale and Lower Wensleydale countryside.

Country Walks Around Masham

Masham makes an excellent base for walking, sitting as it does right on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. There are gentle riverside loops for a short leg-stretch straight from the market square, and longer routes heading out towards Ilton, Swinton Park and the wider Dales for a proper day's walk. Many local routes are designed as circular walks that bring you back into town - handy, because it means you can end up back on the square (or back at the brewery) exactly when you're ready for a rest and a pint.

Local Pubs

For a small town, Masham punches well above its weight for pubs, many of them tied to its brewing history. Around the square and the surrounding streets you'll find a handful of classic Yorkshire pubs worth ducking into, most serving a good mix of local beers alongside hearty pub food - ideal for warming up after a walk along the Ure.

Start (and Finish) at Black Sheep Brewery

However you spend the day - market square, both breweries, a riverside walk, a pub or two - Black Sheep is the natural place to bookend it. Our visitor centre is a short walk from the market square and includes a shop, our restaurant, and brewery tours that walk you through how Black Sheep beers have been made since 1992. It's a relaxed spot to start the day and have a look around before you head off to explore, or to land back at in the afternoon for a pint of Best Bitter, our Riggwelter Ale, or whatever's currently on in the VC.

Masham rewards a slow day rather than a rushed one, and there's no better way to close it out than with a beer that was brewed just a few steps from where you've spent the afternoon walking.

Planning Your Visit

Masham makes for an easy North Yorkshire day trip, roughly 40 minutes from Harrogate and around an hour from Leeds or York by car, with Ripon the nearest train station a short drive away. There's parking around the market square and near the brewery, and most of the town's attractions - both breweries, the church, the river and the square - are within a ten-minute walk of each other, so once you've parked, you can leave the car for the day.