AN AWARD-winning cheese shop based near Settle has moved four miles down the road as part of a 10-year plan to "really put the area on the map" for farmhouse and artisan cheese.

The Courtyard Dairy has moved to the site of the former Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre at Crow Nest Barn, Austwick.

And owners Andy and and Kathy Swinscoe, who started the business four years ago, have spent the last six months renovating the new premises.

They say their aim has been to create a unique visitor centre and cheese-based café to complement the cheese shop.

The new premises feature a shop and cheese maturing room alongside a small visitor centre telling the story of farmhouse cheese and cheese-making, a brand-new cheese-themed café under Kathy’s direct management, and a specialist room in which Andy will run courses on cheese-making.

Andy said: “The fantastic support we’ve enjoyed since opening the shop just over four years ago has meant we now have to make the leap to a bigger property.

"This is due in no small part to the people of Craven who have by their patronage helped us to champion what I call ‘proper’ cheese - made by hand on individual family farms. Cheese still made like this is hard to find, so it’s wonderful that our customers are enjoying it so much.”

Before starting the business Andy studied the art of cheese-maturing in France and the Courtyard Dairy has been named 'Cheesemonger of the Year' twice, featured on top BBC television programmes and was named one of the ‘Top 10 Cheese Shops in the World’ by a national newspaper.

The move has given the business room to grow, the couple maintain, and they believe there is ample scope to further increase online sales.

Kathy said: "With all the spare sheds and land, we’d love to go even further, so the ten-year plan is to create a destination that really puts Settle on the map for farmhouse and artisan cheese.”