Muker in Swaledale: Britain's favourite view?

A GROUP of small businesses in Muker, North Yorkshire are urging TV viewers to vote for the superb views on offer right here on our doorstep in a programme currently showing on ITV.

Introduced by Sir Trevor McDonald, 'Britain's Favourite View' celebrates the diversity and splendour of our most stunning land and cityscapes. There will be sixteen views in total, split across five shows.

Swaledale, in the Yorkshire Dales, has been chosen by classical singer Lesley Garrett as her favourite view in Britain. Lesley will be extolling the virtues of the area on the programme, which goes out at 8pm on Sunday September 2nd. She will also be singing with the Muker Silver Band.

Each programme features four well-known personalities highlighting a part of the British Isles with a particular place in their hearts. At the end of each show, viewers will get the opportunity to vote for their favourite view.

The four businesses in Muker involved in the campaign to encourage viewers to vote for Swaledale are: Swaledale Woollens, Muker Village Stores and Teashop, The Farmers Arms and The Old School Craft Shop and Gallery.

The businesses have teamed up to produce posters, which they are distributing around the area.

This is a landscape with a story to tell. It's a story of a relationship between man and nature over thousands of
years

Lesley Garrett

"We are very proud that Lesley Garrett has picked Swaledale as her favourite view, and we would love to our region to be the overall winner," says Kathleen Hird, who runs Swaledale Woollens in Muker.

"As most local business are relatively small in size, we thought it would be better to team up in our efforts to highlight the programme. We have been out spreading the word, to encourage people to vote for Swaledale. Winning the competition would really put this area on the map."

Commenting on the reasons why she chose Swaledale, Lesley Garrett said: "I have loved the Yorkshire Dales all my life (and) have spent many happy hours exploring its timeless beauty. This is a landscape with a story to tell. It's a story of a relationship between man and nature over thousands of years."