Walls Conservation Area, making it the largest conservation area in the United Kingdom. Swaledale is home to many small but beautiful waterfalls, such as Richmond Falls, Kisdon Force and Catrake Force. Agriculture and industry Sheep-farming has always been central to economic life in Swaledale, which has lent its name to a breed of round-horned sheep. Traditional Swaledale products are woollens and Swaledale cheese, which was formerly made from ewe’s milk. These days it is made from cow’s milk. During the 19th century, a major industry in the area was lead mining carried out in Arkengarthdale and at Grinton Moor. Current human activities Today, tourism has become important, and Swaledale attracts thousands of visitors a year. It is very popular with walkers, particularly because the Coast to Coast Walk passes along it. Unlike Wensleydale it has no large settlements on the scale of Hawes or Leyburn, nor an obvious tourist hook such as the former's connection with James Herriot, and so, like Coverdale, it enjoys a quieter tone, especially as it is more remote compared to, say, Wharfedale, which is much further south and easily accessible from the West Yorkshire metropolis. In May and June every year, Swaledale hosts the two-week-long Swaledale Festival, which combines a celebration of small-scale music and a programme of guided walks. The first weekend in August sees the area host the 'Ard Rock mountain bike festival, which is based in Reeth but uses bridleways and private land in both Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Since 1950, Swaledale has been the host of the Scott Trial, a British motorcycle trials competition run over an off road course of approximately , raising money for the "Scott charities", a range of local non-profit making organisations. Ravenseat, the farm of Amanda Owen ("The Yorkshire Shepherdess"), is in Swaledale. Swaledale in literature In a letter to Geoffrey Grigson of 17 January 1950, the poet W. H. Auden wrote, "My great good place is the part of the Pennines bounded on the S by Swaledale, on the N by the Roman wall and on the W by the Eden Valley". See also Swaledale Festival Swaledale Museum References External links Swaledale and Arkengarthdale Archaeology Group Cumberland and Westmorland Herald Valleys of North Yorkshire