Tucked away in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, a family-run farm has quietly become one of the region’s most recognisable landmarks, not because of its tourist facilities or signposted trails, but because it has been the setting for two of Britain’s most-loved rural TV series.
From Channel 5’s Our Yorkshire Farm to More4’s Our Farm Next Door, Amanda Owen, the Yorkshire Shepherdess, and her family have opened their gates to millions of viewers, inviting them to witness life in one of England’s most remote landscapes.
Perched high in Swaledale at the top of Whitsun Dale, Ravenseat Farm spans some 2,000 acres of rugged, sweeping countryside.
It’s a place where the weather can change in an instant, where sheep outnumber people, and where the nearest village, Keld, is a four-mile walk across rough terrain.
Keld itself is tiny, home to fewer than 100 residents, and boasts just a B&B and hotel, but no shop.
Instead, its charm lies in its history, with the ruins of Crackpot Hall and its position on one of Britain’s most challenging hiking routes: the 267-mile Pennine Way.
Just 10 miles south of Ravenseat lies Muker, the parish that encompasses Keld.
Here, visitors can explore winding lanes, flower-filled meadows, and traditional stone barns, scenes that have remained unchanged for centuries.
The village is also famously close to the Tan Hill Inn, Britain’s highest pub, which hit headlines when guests were snowed in for days during a blizzard.
What makes this corner of Yorkshire so captivating is the way it combines rugged isolation with a sense of timelessness.
On screen, the Owens’ daily struggles and triumphs play out against a backdrop of rolling moorland and ancient stone walls.
Off-screen, walkers and visitors can trace many of the same paths, from the waterfalls around Keld to the panoramic trails leading across the Dales.
For years, Ravenseat even welcomed visitors for cream teas and overnight stays, though the farm has been closed to the public since 2022.
Read more:
At the heart of both series is the Owen family itself, Amanda, Clive, and their nine children, whose lives are intertwined with the land.
Our Yorkshire Farm showcased their seasonal rhythms of lambing, haymaking, and braving the elements, while Our Farm Next Door follows their new chapter: the ambitious renovation of a derelict farmhouse nearby.
For travellers, it’s an irresistible combination: a glimpse into authentic rural life, and the chance to explore one of Britain’s last great wildernesses.
Share