About the town » Burnsall, North Yorkshire, England, Great Britain

Burnsall is a village and civil parish in the Craven district of North Yorkshire, England. It is situated on the River Wharfe in Wharfedale, with a five-arched bridge over which the Dalesway passes, and is in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. It is 2 miles southeast of Hebden, along a river path dated to Viking times. Although the 2001 census gave it a population of only 112, the village has a parish church, a chapel, a primary school (housed in the original grammar school building of 1602, which is a grade II listed building), two hotels with restaurants, and a pub. Because of its charm and location, Burnsall, with a large, grassy parking area, is a favoured site for walkers, trout fishers, picnics, weddings and other ceremonies. The school building, like the much-photographed bridge (also grade II listed), is an early 17th century legacy of William Craven of nearby Appletreewick. St Wilfrid's Church (a grade I listed building) is almost entirely Perpendicular. Amongst its well-known internal features are an 11th century font carved with bird and beasts, twelve Anglo-Saxon sculpture fragments and a 14th century alabaster panel depicting the Adoration of the Magi. The church-yard, which has a number of interesting grave-stones, is entered from the main road by a large and well-kept Lychgate. Diversions available include fishing for trout, and the annual feast day games in August which include amateur competitions, tug of war and fell races. The green, closely mown, cricket pitch could be considered as one of the most scenic in England, with Burnsall Fell in the background and the river encircling half its boundary.