SETTLE has been named as one of the best countryside locations to live in the United Kingdom.

The Sunday Times has picked out Settle in its top ten.

Last year, Craven was named as the happiest place to live in the UK, while Skipton is regularly selected in the top ten towns to live.

Councillor Richard Foster, Leader of Craven District Council, said: “As the Sunday Times points out, Settle is a beautiful town with stunning countryside and a thriving community. With the Dales, the Lakes and the Forest of Bowland nearby, it’s a fantastic town from which to explore further afield, and the local residents and businesses make it a friendly and welcoming destination.”

The Sunday Times has this to say about Settle: “If summer for you is all about yomps on sun-drenched fells, this pretty little market town couldn’t be better placed. It’s in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, a 40-minute drive from the Lake District and a few miles from the wild and wonderful Forest of Bowland. Settle is the ideal base camp to enjoy all this outdoor bounty.

“Its handsome stone town centre is home to a butcher, a bakery and a Booths supermarket, as well as a craft shop, a cheese shop and a cafe. There’s also a lively Tuesday market and a choice of pubs, including the dog-friendly, walker-friendly Talbot Arms. It’s no surprise, then, that it’s increasingly popular with both second-homers and London downsizers looking to make the most of the magnificent scenery.

“Settle has one other ace up its sleeve: the station. It’s nice to be able to get to Leeds in an hour, but the real privilege is the journey the other way, towards Carlisle on England’s most dramatic railway line, over the dramatic Ribblehead Viaduct. Can’t find a home in town? Consider hearty villages such as Giggleswick, Austwick and Stainforth."