A ROYAL visitor has toured Wensleydale to view local businesses and historical sites within the Yorkshire Dale.

The Duke of Gloucester was in North Yorkshire on April 24 as he toured the area around the market town of Hawes.

His visit took in a trip to Gayle Mill, which has featured on BBC TV’s Restoration show, plus the Wensleydale Creamery and Outhwaite Ropemakers.

His visit to the Wensleydale Creamery saw the Duke experience first hand how the company crafts the cheese to a time-honoured recipe.

David Hartley, managing director of the Wensleydale Creamery, said: "This was our first royal tour and he was excellent to show round and he had some interesting questions.

"He was a pleasure to show round and he was interested in the agricultural side and the cheese making process.

"He met some of our staff who have been here for a good few years and it all went well."

Gayle Mill was restored over a four year period by the North of England Civic Trust with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and English Heritage.

The mill has Victorian hydropower systems and it can be toured by the public and the Duke was told about the rescue scheme.

He was accompanied by Tony Routh, the last apprentice at the mill in the 1960s, and now a director of the Gayle Mill Trust.

The Duke unveiled a plaque marking the completion of the restoration work.

Paul Bisson, mill manager, said: "The Duke was delightful and he was very interested in everything that we showed him.

"He met members of the North of England Civic Trust and the Gayle Mill Trust and it was a good visit."

Peter and Ruth Annison took over Outhwaite Ropemakers in 1975 and still use traditional methods of ropemaking for items like bag handles and magicians’ rope.

The visit also headed to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority’s Dales Countryside Museum.