Picturesque town named as 'UK's prettiest winter village'

A picturesque town in Yorkshire known for its charming buildings and scenic walks has been named one of the top in the country during colder months.

Settle, in the Dales, is dubbed one of the UK's "prettiest winter villages" by Fine and Country, which called it a "perfect spot for winter walks and nature exploration".

The estate agent also pointed out its historic cottages, countryside views and cosy pubs offer up a "warm and inviting atmosphere".

A large part of Settle is designated a Conservation Area and there are plenty of 17th and 18th century buildings - as well as 76 listed buildings in the town.

One of the most well-known buildings is The Folly, which was built in 1679 and is the only Grade I listed historic house in the Yorkshire Dales regularly open to the public.

The Folly houses the Museum of North Craven life, which tells stories of the landscape and people in the area. One visitor wrote on TripAdvisor it was a "gem of a local museum", adding: "Wide range of fascinating exhibits on local history. Very strong on the Carlisle-Settle railway." Another said: "Fascinating and well-presented history and artifacts of everything one might wish to know about Settle and the entire N Craven area. Staff most welcoming and helpful."

Nearby sites and walks include the Trow Gill Gorge, described by Visit Settle as a "spectacular, wooded limestone ravine at the head of Clapdale". There is also the Castleberg Crag, a tall, limestone rock which has been "recognised as a beauty spot for centuries", and the beautiful Settle Riverside Walk which allows visitors to explore the River Ribble.

Waterfalls include Catrigg Force, Scaleber Force and Stainforth Force, and walkers can also enjoy a series of gorges, peaks, and woodland walks. For those looking to take on the Three Peaks of Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough and Whernside, they are accessible by walk from Settle.

For history lovers, there is the Settle Station Signal Box - a small museum dedicated to railway signalling. One reviewer wrote of the site: "This is a real experience. It brings to life the important part that the signal man played in the operation of the railways and demonstrates how this very complex system worked. Very worthy of a visit."

The Settle Station Water Tower is also a fascinating slice of history, and is the "only survivor" of eight watering places steam locomotives on the Settle-Carlisle railway. It featured in Channel 4's Restoration Man due to the 2011 restoration of the site and adaptation into a private house.

Settle also plays host to a number of experiences, with visitors able to learn how to fly birds of prey or make cheese. If you head to Settle, you can hop on a graveyard tour, join a guided walk of the Settle-Carlisle line, or go on a guided exploration of the Ingleborough Show Cave.