A TRANQUIL corner of Wensleydale has been restored and attracts walkers keen to visit church ruins and old gravestones.

Stalling Busk nestles on the slopes near the shoreline of Semerwater in Raydale. Its chapel of ease originates from 1722, but incorporates stone from an earlier church from 1602.

The building was still in use at the beginning of the twentieth century; it was replaced higher up the slope by St Matthew's Church in Stalling Busk in 1908. The chapel soon lost its roof and was stripped of furnishings.

In 2000, restoration was carried out by the Yorkshire Dales Millennium with funding from the Lottery and European Social Fund. A plaque was designed by Stalling Busk artist, Lesley Coates Jones, commemorating the work, but all public rights of way were out of bounds for most of 2001 owing to foot-and-mouth.

A four-mile circular walk to the ruins - right - and around the lake incorporates a Yorkshire Naturalist nature reserve on the shores. Visitors can drive to Stalling Busk and walk the -mile down to the ruins.

This area is home to Raydale Preserves, a farm diversification by Derek and Lesley Kettlewell producing more than 50,000 jars of preserves and pickles a year - Picture: KE