Map:
Distance: 5 miles
Getting There: Aysgarth village is served by bus 156/856 from Bedale (connections from Northallerton on bus 73), Leyburn and Hawes, and in the summer months by Vintage Bus 127 from Ripon, Leyburn and Hawes and DalesBus 800 from York, Leeds, Ilkley and Grassington.
Risk Assessment: An easy walk, suitable for beginners with a reasonable amount of fitness, as there are a few steep bits and plenty of stiles to negotiate!
The
Route:
1. Walk down the lane where the War Memorial is, passing the Methodist Chapel.
At the end of the lane, opposite Field House, go through a stile in the wall and
then angle right to go through another stile and onto a walled footpath. Go
forward over several meadows going through gap stiles in the walls [A]. Come out
onto a minor road, which you cross, to go into Aysgarth Church Yard [B]. With
the church on your left take the right hand footpath which comes out onto the
Leyburn Road.
2. Carefully cross the road and go through the stile in the wall opposite. Go
forward through stiles and gates in the walls, coming out at Eshington Bridge.
Cross the bridge and then take the footpath on your right, over meadows, to meet
the Bishopdale Road. Carefully cross the road and go up the steps, coming out in
West Burton Village. Turn right into the centre of the village and then left
over the green and right, by the mill, to visit West Burton Falls.
3. Cross the packhorse bridge by the falls and walk up the hill, taking the left
hand path, to come out at a metalled lane, Morpeth Gate. Turn left and follow
the lane until you see a sign on your right to Edgley, turn right here and
follow the footpath, keeping the follies high above you on your right [C]. Pass
the buildings of Sorrelsykes Park which will be on your left. Just after the
buildings look for a gap stile on the left, which brings you out onto the West
Burton road at Edgley.
4. Cross the road and take the footpath opposite going right. This brings you
out at Hestleholme Bridge which you carefully cross. Turn right straight after
the bridge, to walk on field paths back to Aysgarth churchyard passing the
Middle and Lower Falls [D]. Turn right after the church, going down the mill
steps, to see the Upper Falls.
Getting
Back: Catch the Vintage Bus from Aysgarth Old Station or bus
156/800/856 from Falls Corner (near Palmer Flatts Hotel).
Points of Interest:
Turner visited both West Burton and Aysgarth Falls on Sunday 28th July 1816.
After visiting West Burton Falls he rode over the packhorse bridge, and
eventually crossed over Hestleholme Bridge, approaching the lower and middle
falls at Aysgarth, the same way as we do on our walk.
[A] Note the way that the posts are rounded on the stiles to prevent ladies
tearing their Sunday best clothes on the way to church.
[B] The rood screen in Aysgarth Church was carried by 20 men from Jervaulx
Abbey, to prevent it from being destroyed during Henry V111’s dissolution of the
monasteries.
[C] These follies were built in the 19th century by the workers of Sorrelsykes
Park.
[D] This was the route Turner took; he is thought to have forded the river just
below the Lower Falls.
Walk details provided
by
Leyburn Walkers are Welcome - June 2010
Public transport information is available at www.dalesbus.org
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 those of the last return journey.