Grid Ref: – SD 91963 87910
Raydale can be found on the south side of Wensleydale and is home to the shortest river in England, the river Bain Valley, which is just 2.5 miles in length. The river may be short but it’s well stocked with brown trout with its source coming from Lake Semerwater, the second largest lake in the Yorkshire Dales and one of the very few lakes in the Yorkshire Dales. There are just three hamlets in the dale, including Countersett, Marsett and Stalling Busk, also the village of Bainbridge lies at the mouth of Raydale.
Countersett is the largest of the three hamlets and is the home of Countersett Hall which was built in 1650 for the first Quaker in Wensleydale call Richard Robinson.
Marsett lies on the south west side of Semerwater at a point where a smaller dale called Bardale meets Raydale. It consist of about 20 homes of which about 12 are lived in permanently and the rest been holiday cottages. The name first recorded in 1283 for Marsett was Mouressate and is derived from old Norse meaning the shieling (mountain hut) of a man named Maurr.
Stalling Busk lies to the immediate south of the lake and is the home to St Matthew’s church and the award winning Raydale preserves the makers of chutneys and jams.
Semerwater is a popular venue for water sports including yachting, fishing, wind-surfing and canoeing. Part of the lake is a nature reserve and home to waterfowl, geese, swans, lapwings, and waders. Mill Gill waterfall is also a popular attraction along to visit.