Frequently Asked Questions…
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ATTENDING THE FESTIVAL - THE BASICS
Medieval Music in the Dales usually takes place over the Friday Saturday and Sunday of the second weekend in September. It’s possible to attend for one, two or three days - and you might like to combine the Festival with the Study Day, which takes place on the Thursday, making it a four day stay.
You need a Festival Pass to attend the Festival. However, you can buy tickets to evening concerts or to the Study Day independently of the Festival Pass, and this may be a way to get a taster of what it’s all about.
The full programme for each year’s festival usually goes online in January, so you can see exactly what’s happening that year. The Box Office usually opens to Friends of MMitD for early bird booking in March, and to everyone else in April.
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE FESTIVAL PASS?
The only way to attend Medieval Music in the Dales is with a Festival Pass, which is available for 1,2 or 3 days. (The only exception is if you are a Participant and opt for a Participant Pass - more information below.)
The Festival Pass entitles you to admission to Bolton Castle on whatever days you have booked for, as well as access to the daytime concerts in St Oswald's Church and Queen Mary's Chamber, and all the workshops and talks on the relevant days. Finally, a Festival Pass also gives you access the Tavern scene in the evening throughout the Festival - in the Marquee and in the Castle Hearth - and it also allows you to book a camping pass to camp on site throughout the festival.
So, the Festival Pass covers almost everything but there are some things that you still need to book separately:
the evening concerts
one-to-one individual tuition sessions
camping
study day
Everything else is included in the Festival Pass.
The easiest thing to get wrong is the evening concerts - these ARE NOT included in the Festival Pass - you MUST buy a separate ticket for these.
You can book for everything you want online when the Box Office opens, and will be able to download a ticket and confirmation of each element. You should bring this ticket and confirmation with you to the festival.
WHAT IS A PARTICIPANT PASS?
Participant Passes are provided to performers on the Castle Stages, instrument makers and crafts people who are trading at the festival. They are an option to attend the Festival for free but they offer no access to the concerts or workshops. Anyone with a Participant Pass who wants to upgrade to a Festival Pass and therefore get full access can get a Festival Pass at a 50% discount. Full information on this is given when you register to attend as a Castle Stage Performer, Luthier or Craftsperson.
More information on being a Participant performer, instrument maker or trader here.
TELL ME ABOUT THE DIFFERENT FESTIVAL VENUES?
The principal venue is Bolton Castle itself. Here you will find
the Castle Stages,
the Instrument Makers
the Marquee containing the Festival Desk, Tavern, Festival Reception and Caterers
Queen Mary's Chamber for workshops and the Chamber Concerts
the Tea Room.
The other venues are
St Oswald's Church - adjacent to the Castle - for workshops and concerts
Castle Bolton Meeting Room (at the far end of the village) for one-to-ones
WHERE CAN I GET CASH OR SUPPLIES?
Please note there are no cash points at Bolton Castle. The nearest money machines are at Leyburn (six miles away). So, it's a good idea to bring plenty of cash, but we will have card machines available in the Tavern and at the Festival Desk.
Likewise you'll need to go to Leyburn for supermarkets, chemists etc.
WHERE CAN I GET HELP AT THE EVENT?
The main point for all information and help is the Festival Desk in the Marquee.
You can also look out for any of the Festival Stewards, who will be wearing clearly marked lanyards or tabards. Any Steward should be able to point you in the right direction, even if that is only to the Festival Desk.
TELL ME ABOUT FOOD & DRINK AT THE FESTIVAL…
You can choose from:
The Bolton Castle Tea Room, open 10am-5pm each day
Our festival Breakfast Bar, open around 8am-10am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Granny's Kitchen in the Marquee with pies, pasties and all their other delights, from around 12 noon to 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Sun of Seitan in the Marquee, with delicious vegan wraps, from around 12 noon to 8pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday
Proper Pizzas will be on hand with their delicious fresh-cooked fare from around 6pm - 8pm on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Vegan options available
The Tavern in the Marquee is open from 12 noon each day selling a good range of ales, wines and soft drinks; there is also a small bar at the Hearth Stage during the day.
If you came in 2023, please note that there are more evening catering options this year on Friday, Saturday and Sunday - we are not going to run out again!
TELL ME ABOUT CAMPING AT MMITD…
Camping on site is the best way to enjoy MMitD as you are right there throughout. Camping is ONLY available to Festival Pass holders and if you want to camp, you MUST book in advance - you should buy your camping pass(es) when you book.
There is hardstanding available for motorhomes, campers and caravans and grass for tents. New this year we also have our Glamping option - more info coming here soon.
In terms of facilities, please bear in mind this is not a fully-equipped campsite. We have showers and an extra campers toilet block, as well as the usual water and toilets close at hand. We have no chemical waste disposal - motorhomes and campers come prepared!
Camping passes cost £25 per person (half price for under 18s, under 12s go free with accompanying adults) and allow you to camp on site from 5pm on the Wednesday before the festival through to 11am on the Monday after the festival.
WHAT ABOUT OTHER ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS?
Wensleydale is a busy tourist destination and there are many options for accommodation in the area. However, it can book up early so get it organised as soon as you can. Here are our up-to-date listings of b&bs, guest houses and hotels, but there are also lots of self-catering options
To be honest, it may be best starting with the large online services like booking.com - but it is always worthwhile contacting the provider direct for the best prices.
AND TRAVELLING TO & FROM THE FESTIVAL?
The fact is, sadly, Wensleydale does not have the best transport links and the easiest option by far is to drive. However, that’s not possible for everyone so here is some information on public transport.
The nearest town with regular bus links is Leyburn, six miles away and it is possible to get to Bolton Castle from Leyburn on the 'Little White Bus' on Mondays-Saturdays. There isn't a service from Leyburn to the village on Sundays, though there is a service from Hawes (in the other direction!). The nearest mainline train stations are at Darlington and Northallerton, which both have excellent connections to London and Scotland on the East Coast mainline, and across the Pennines to Manchester. These details are to the best of my knowledge correct as of September 2023 but will be updated in the spring of 2024 when timetables are updated.
Here are the most useful timetables for public transport:
Coming from Darlington:
Arriva X26/X27 Bus to Richmond. From Richmond you can connect to the Dales & District 159 Bus to Ripon, which stops in Leyburn. From Leyburn you can connect to the invaluable community-run Little White Bus Wensleydale Voyager (LWB) 156 Bus, which stops in Redmire and in Castle Bolton right by the castle if you ask the driver. This last is not that frequent and does not run on Sundays. Alternatively, if you can manage to come at the right time of day, stay on the X25/X27 to the large Tesco Extra in Catterick Garrison. You can then pick up the LWB 156 from there, leaving at 1410.
Coming from Northallerton:
Dales & District 73 Bus from County Hall in Northallerton (just over the road from the train station) to Bedale. From Bedale you can connect to the Little White Bus 155 Bus to Leyburn, where you can again connect to the 156 to Redmire and Castle Bolton: ask the driver to be set down in Castle Bolton village.
Coming from Hawes
There are buses daily to and from Hawes: Monday to Saturday it's the LWB 156, and on Sundays you can get the Wensleydale Explorer Bus 855 which goes to/from Castle Bolton and Garsdale Station - which also connects with mainline services.
Leaving the Castle
So long as you book in advance (bookings@udcp.co.uk) you can pick up the LWB 156 in Castle Bolton Village at around 9am, 11.15am, 1.40pm and 4.20pm. This will get you to Leyburn, where you can connect with the 159 to Richmond (and from there to Darlington). On Sundays only, you can take the 856 Wensleydale Flyer to travel direct between Leyburn and Northallerton, or the Wensleydale Explorer 855 towards Garsdale Station.
Taxis: Here's a link for taxis and private hire in and around Leyburn.
WHERE CAN I PARK AT THE FESTIVAL?
Parking at Bolton Castle is handy, but it isn't limitless and it takes some organising to fit everyone in efficiently. So when you book you will be asked for full details of your vehicle(s), and be allocated an area in which to park. When you arrive, the Stewards will show you to the appropriate area - please help them out by sticking to these instructions!
CAN I VOLUNTEER AT MMITD?
Most definitely! MMitD could not happen without the team of Stewards and Helpers. Duties are many and varied, including:
managing parking and the camping areas
admissions to the festival and the evening concerts
giving information
setting up and taking down
tea and coffee runs!
etc!
You can choose to be a Helper, offering 3-6 hours over the course of the weekend, or a Steward, offering 20-25 hours. Loads more information here.