Yorkshire, Yorkshire, Lovely Yorkshire

Today is one of the most special, the most wonderful days of the year. Whether it’s sunny, cloudy, snowy even (!) – you won’t find a better day! Today we celebrate God’s Own County – Yorkshire.

Legendary for its stunning landscape, including coast and countryside, sporting heroes, flat caps, and amazing food, including of course Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese, we explore ways in which The Wensleydale Creamery and Visitor Centre is connected to this incredible county.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park is the home of The Wensleydale Creamery. Set in the beautiful, bustling Wensleydale market town of Hawes; a place inhabited by generations of families, many of whom have been employed by the creamery as cheese-makers, as well as farmers, and also independent businesses and tradesmen, the National Park is a protected area that is rich with wildlife, scenery and plenty to explore!

The Wensleydale Creamery Visitor Centre offers a true taste of Yorkshire to all those who visit. If you ask for a slice of fruit cake, or apple pie, you’ll be offered a slice of Yorkshire Wensleydale to accompany it – it’s known as The Yorkshire Way, and a tasty one at that! From the local milk served in the Coffee Shop and used for cheese-making, to the homemade dishes inspired by the use of our cheese that can be enjoyed in the Restaurant; the local artisan produce available in our Gift Shop, and of course the handcrafted cheeses in our Cheese Shop – from start to finish we offer an authentic experience to inspire and excite the taste buds.

If you order tea in our Visitor Centre, we’ll serve you the proper way – a good old fashioned pot of Yorkshire Tea. It’s the best there is!

With the help of our customers, we’ve been busy raising money for charity.  In October 2015 we introduced a 5p carrier bag charge, to raise funds in support of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. This charity offers a lifeline to people in our rural area when they need it most, and in the last few months alone we have raised almost £900.

Congratulations to the Yorkshire Post photographer Gary Longbottom, who recently won an award with a wonderful photo that he took of HRH The Prince of Wales during a visit to The Wensleydale Creamery last September.   The photo captures HRH The Prince of Wales, wearing a Wensleydale Creamery white dairy coat as he inspects the famous Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese behind the scenes in the Creamery’s cheese maturing rooms won “Best Regional/Local Rota Photograph” in the News Media Association’s first Royal Rota Photography competition.

The Wensleydale Creamery is a proud member of and works closely with Welcome to Yorkshire; an organisation that inspires visitors from all over the world to visit our incredible county. You’ll find us at a number of their key events, such as performing live cheese-making demos on their stand at the Great Yorkshire Show.  We are very excited that our Visitor Centre has been shortlisted for the White Rose Awards this year.

The Great Yorkshire Show takes place in Harrogate annually, attracting crowds of around 135,000 over three days.  It’s a fantastic event celebrating farming, food & all things countryside.  In addition to having a stand at the show, where we sample and sell our range of handcrafted cheeses, butter and Yorkshire Yogurt, we are also proud sponsors of the Cheese & Dairy Show. It’s a showcase of nearly 800 entries including, cheese, milk, yogurt, butter and ice cream, which are judged by cheese & dairy industry experts at the show – it’s not just an event but also an experience.

We are proud partners of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, and you’ll find our logo on the players’ shirts in all forms of cricket. This relationship of two iconic Yorkshire brands with significant Yorkshire heritage & quality values, works really well, and is one we enjoy wholeheartedly! Look out for us at key Yorkshire matches, as well as international matches at Headingley.  Our handcrafted cheeses are a feature on the menu for hospitality guests to matches including the T20 fixtures too!

Last year, we made an exciting step into the yogurt aisle, with the launch of our award-winning Yorkshire Yogurt. Naturally thick and creamy, made with Yorkshire milk and nothing else added except for an indulgent fruity layer.  Our range of four flavours are soon to be joined by a large plain pot variant.

And finally – the big one. Yorkshire Wensleydale. Handcrafted at the Wensleydale Creamery at Hawes, in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales by our team of master cheese-makers, using milk from over 40 local farms, and our own unique starter culture; Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese is creamy, crumbly and full of flavour.

Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese is protected with European Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).  Other cheesemakers can and still do today, make Wensleydale cheese, but only Yorkshire Wensleydale is made here in Wensleydale! Look out for the PGI symbol when you’re buying your cheese, to be sure you’re buying an authentic product.