Our latest dip into What's On Richmond pulled out a bumper-sized treat: Mayfest! Mayfest is Richmond's annual blast of music, dance and song at venues all round the town.

Buskers in the Market Place? Story-telling in the Castle? Folk sessions in the pubs? A musical walk to Easby Abbey? Morris Men - everywhere! Jousting? Maypoles? A scratch Messiah? Face-painting? A ceilidh? A parade? Traditional fairground rides..? Take your pick. Over three days we've got dozens of activities for all ages. Many of the events are free, and some are free or discounted for residents of the DL9-11 postcodes.

Find all the details and buy tickets at richmondmayfest.org. You can also pick up tickets at the Info Centre pod in Richmond's Market Hall.

Mayfest - it's where Spring really kicks off!

The Coast to Coast Walk now has its own Passport, endorsed by the Wainwright Society, no less!

This easily carried booklet for you intrepid Coast to Coast walkers offers useful info on stops along the way, plus dozens of valuable discounts on food, drink, walking boots, books - massages even... And when you make it to Robin Hood's Bay, having collected Passport stamps from our agents en route, you'll get a smart Completion Certificate by which to remember your adventure.

The Passport is mainly sold in outlets at the start of the walk, but we also sell it here in Richmond Information Centre. What's more, if you buy a copy in our shop and have already walked half-way to Robin Hood's Bay, we'll even give you stamps for the places you've passed through.

Learn more about the Passport at c2cpassport.com or order a copy from our online shop. (Sorry, we can't provide stamps with online sales). The cover price is £15, but as you're buying it from us, it'll be just £12 - and with the discounts you'll earn, you should have no problem getting your money back!

Two popular Summer Sunday DalesBus services to the Yorkshire Dales have now returned.

Northern DalesBus 831 runs from Richmond at 10:40, travelling up Swaledale by way of Grinton, Reeth, Gunnerside and Muker, and crossing Buttertubs Pass to Hawes. After a short break you can optionally catch the 832, which goes on to Ribblehead, Settle, Clapham and Ingleton. 

The return 832 bus leaves Ingleton at 3pm and Settle at 3.30pm, returning to  Hawes at 4.20pm. At 4.35 the return 831 for sets off back to Richmond, arriving around 5.59pm. These two routes run every Sunday (and Bank Holiday Mondays!) until 19 October.

Did you ever see BBC4's All Aboard! The Country Bus? This is it (Click here to view a clip).

Another tempting Sunday outing is the DalesBus 858, to Wensleydale and the Three Peaks area. Leaving Richmond at 9.10am, it visits Redmire, Carperby, Askrigg, Bainbridge, Hawes and Ribblehead Station. There is plenty of time for a full day’s walking and refreshment afterwards, with the return bus leaving Ribblehead at 6.55pm and Hawes at 7.17pm.

A DalesBus spokesperson said: "This is probably one of the most scenic bus rides in England with unspoilt wilderness, wildflower meadows, heather moorland, caves and waterfalls, limestone scenery, long distance footpaths, classic views of the Three Peaks and Ribblehead Viaduct, with shops, cafes and pubs dotted along the route."  

The national fare cap on bus fares applies to all DalesBus services, so each single journey costs no more than £3 (£1 for under 19s).

You can see the full timetables here.

It feels like ages since the Artisan Market came to Richmond. But hurrah! It's back in town this Sunday, 13 April***. You'll find food, drink, crafts and gifts of all kinds among the dozens of colourful stalls. No mass-produced goods whatsoever; everything is small-scale and locally crafted.

Once you've spend a happy hour browsing and tasting your way round the market, come and visit Richmond Information Centre in the Victorian Market Hall to explore our wide range of maps and guidebooks, or just to get advice on the rest of the town's attractions: castle, waterfall, walks,  ancient alleyways and more...

If find a parking space in the Market Place itself, you won't need a Parking Disc - parking is free and unlimited. Otherwise, we suggest Nun's Close Pay and Display Car Park, which is a pleasant five-minute walk away. (A flat walk, which is a bit of a rarity in Richmond!)

***Great news! The Artisan Market will reappear on the second Sunday of each month, from now until September.