One of several fine routes in beautiful mid Wensleydale between Aysgarth and the market town of Leyburn. Bus services along the A684 allow for variations on this route with shorter alternatives to West Witton or Wensley.
Map:
Distances: Aysgarth to West Witton approx 5.5 miles; to Wensley 7.5 miles; to Leyburn 9 miles.
Getting there: Daily bus service 156 from Northallerton and Leyburn to Hawes runs to Aysgarth, as does Dalesbus service 807 from Ribblehead and Leyburn on Sundays, with connections from Ilkley on service 874.
Leyburn is served by several bus routes, including daily buses on routes 156/157 to Bedale and Northallerton and service 159 to Richmond and Ripon. On Summer Sundays routes 802 and 803 run to Leyburn from West Yorkshire and Ripon, whilst the Wensleydale Vintage Tour Bus also provides connections from Ripon.
The Route: The walk begins at the Palmer Flatts Hotel which is on the corner by the turning for Aysgarth Falls, half a mile east of Aysgarth village. From the junction by the hotel and youth hostel walk eastwards along the main road for approximately 200yds to where a footpath (signed) enters a field on the righthandside.
Note:
this walk does not visit the famous falls at Aysgarth, which can be reached
easily by a short diversion down the road at the side of the hotel.
This brings you to the Upper Falls & mill, with a convenient return to the
main route by cutting back through the churchyard and lane to emerge opposite
the path by the A684. For the middle and lower falls you will need to add
another 45 minutes or so to your timing.
The route to West Burton begins with a steep drop into the little valley of Thieves Gill – an old glacial overflow channel. There is a short climb out of the gill, then an easy field path down to Eshington Bridge.
Cross the bridge and take the next field path on the right to a stile next to a big ash tree, cross another pasture to a bend in the beck, then half left across 2 more fields and past a stone barn to meet the B6160 road. Go over the road, up steps opposite, then along a path into the attractive village of West Burton where stone built cottages cluster round a spacious green with it’s spire-like village cross and stocks.
At the NE corner of the green a lane leads down past the old mill building to a shaded glade where the very fine Cauldron Force waterfall plunges over a limestone lip into a dark pool. Cross the stone footbridge, then up into fields on the left, following a path up to a stile into a corner of Barrack Wood. Turn left along the lower edge of the wood and continue to Morpeth Gate Lane, a well graded, stony track which angles up the hillside to reach more level ground by an old limestone quarry. Morpeth gate and it’s eastward extension, High Lane are possibly a medieval route leading westwards from Middleham Castle towards the old hunting forests of Wensleydale and Bishopdale. This is a good point at which to stop for a breather and to admire the very fine views over both Bishopdale and Wensleydale with the tower of Aysgarth church in the middle distance.
Walk east along the lower flanks of brooding, grit capped Penhill by the excellent High Lane for an easy mile to the junction with Green Gate, another green lane which turns off to the left at a right angle. Follow Green Gate past old limestone quarries at Nossill to descend into the village of West Witton (bus service, shop & 2 pubs).
Follow the main road through the village to the east end, then drop down a lane on the l.h.s. before turning immediately right to follow Back Lane, which can become a little overgrown with vegetation in summer down towards the river. The path emerges into fields and joins the riverside path before reaching a private drive leading down to the ornate Lords Bridge which crosses the Ure and gives access to Bolton Hall (seen ahead) and park, which has several rights of way leading through it.
Follow a curving track towards the impressive hall, then turn right on to another track that passes in front of Bolton Hall and leads on to the pretty village of Wensley, which not only gives it’s name to the grandest of the Yorkshire Dales, but which was also the original market town for the dale with a charter dating back to 1202.
You may opt to end your walk here, but it is easy enough to continue for another mile or so into Leyburn. It is worth looking at the fine old medieval church with it’s Saxon stone, medieval brass and 14th century wall paintings before continuing. Leave the churchyard by the east gate, cross a bridge over the beck, then go left up a lane. Go through a gate on the right at a bend in the lane to follow field paths to Leyburn, initially across meadows rich in wild flowers and managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, then by a series of squeeze stiles, passing a group of ash trees and a barn to reach Low Wood Lane which is followed uphill to meet the road just before it turns the final corner into Leyburn Market Place.
This webpage is provided by the Yorkshire Dales Public Transport Users Group, you are advised to confirm details of bus services with operators before travelling. Please check bus and train times carefully, particularly that of the last return journey.