10.1 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map No 30, - Yorkshire Dales, Northern &
Central Areas
This walk is well-proven and well-used. It is described
in several walking guide books, and remains as popular as ever. The
walk takes in mostly farm land, but there are some farm tracks as
well. In wet weather, the route is liable to be quite muddy.
The walk is very well marked with finger posts and way marks.
The route described below extends the well-described Bolton Castle
to Aysgarth route by a short extension round Aysgarth village.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 5
of Memory Map)
The walk starts from the car park opposite Bolton Castle
in the village of Bolton Castle. ((SE03297 91832)
Take the farm track, after passing through a gate, that heads almost
due West from this car park. A finger post directs the walker to Askrigg.
Continue along this track, which after about 1 1/2 miles heads South
across rough pasture land.
Soon after the track descends steeply at Low Gate, it continues in a
Southerly direction to the village of Carperby. At Low Gate there is
a finger post that directs you along a South Westerly track to Askrigg,
but there is no corresponding finger post for Carperby / Askrigg.
Head Westwards through Carperby, to take the footpath Southwards through
West Grove Farm.
Continue along finger posted footpaths to reach the Visitor Centre car
park for Aysgarth Falls.
Cross the road bridge over the River Ure, and ascend the hill on the
South side of the river.
Almost opposite the entrance to the Church there is a signposted footpath
that heads Westwards over pasture land to the village of Aysgarth.
Head West through Aysgarth, and follow the road towards Hawes where
there is a sharp bend (CARE : traffic).
Just past this bend there is a track that leads to Aysgarth Mill. At
Aysgarth Mill, a finger posted footpath returns you to Aysgarth village
where you then retrace your steps to the Visitor Centre car park.
Follow signs to the Middle and Lower Falls.
From the Lower Falls, there is a signposted footpath that takes you
past Hollins House Farm towards High Thoresby Farm.
Just before this latter farm, the finger posts direct you to the footpath
along Thoresby Lane and back to Castle Bolton.
It is possible to shorten the journey slightly by taking a footpath
through High Thoresby Farm itself before continuing along footpaths
in a North Easterly direction to Castle Bolton.