3rd November 2024 - Cauldron Falls and Aysgarth Falls
Walk Details
Distance walked: 10.9 miles
Total ascent: 1536 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: West Burton-Cauldron Falls-Morpeth Scar-Morpeth Gate-High Lane-Grassgill Lane-West Witton-Flats Lane-High Wanlass-Wanlass Park-Redmire Force-Hestholme Bridge-St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth-Aysgarth Falls-St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth-A684-Eshington Lane-B6160-West Burton
Waterfalls feature in my walk this weekend. I've made my way to the eastern part of the Dales to visit three waterfalls; Cauldron Falls, Redmire Force, and Aysgarth Falls, that are in Wensleydale and within walking distance of each other. The route that I'm following is more or less the same one that I used when I did this walk nearly two years ago, the only difference being how I got down to the River Ure from West Witton. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good as it was then. A resolutely dull and overcast autumn day meant that there wasn't even a glimpse of the sun, but at least the wind was light and it stayed dry. Good conditions for taking long exposure photos.
From where I parked in West Burton I walked down through the village and onto the footpath to Cauldron Falls. After spending some time there taking photos, I resumed the walk by crossing the bridge over Walden Beck, then by taking a footpath up through fields and a wood to reach the open moor on Knarlton Knott. I then made my way north along a footpath and then track to Morpeth Scar, where I joined the track of High Lane, which I followed east towards Witton Steeps. When I reached the last footpath on the left before Witton Steeps (on the edge of a wood), I took this and followed it down through fields and a patch of woodland to Grassgill Lane in West Witton. After a break for lunch in West Witton I resumed my walk by heading down Flats Lane to its end at High Wanless. From here I took a footpath southwest across fields to briefly be by the south bank of the River Ure, then west to join the river again at Redmire Force. I then continued to follow the footpath west through fields above the River Ure, passing the stepping stones at Slapestone Wath, to eventually arrive at Hestholme Bridge on the A684. I crossed this to take a footpath from the entrance to Hestholme Farm through fields and woodland by the River Ure to St. Andrew's Church in Aysgarth. A footpath from the churchyard then took me down to Yore Mill and Yore Bridge over the River Ure, which I crossed to take the trails to visit Middle Force and Lower Force of Aysgarth Falls. After visiting the falls I retraced my steps to St. Andrew's Church, took the footpath south to the A684, which I crossed and then took the footpath opposite down through fields to Eshington Lane. I briefly walked south along Eshington Lane to a footpath on the right, which I took and followed through fields to the B6160, and after crossing this road the footpath opposite took me back to West Burton.
Total ascent: 1536 ft
OS map used: OL30 - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central areas
Time taken: 6 hrs
Route description: West Burton-Cauldron Falls-Morpeth Scar-Morpeth Gate-High Lane-Grassgill Lane-West Witton-Flats Lane-High Wanlass-Wanlass Park-Redmire Force-Hestholme Bridge-St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth-Aysgarth Falls-St. Andrew's Church, Aysgarth-A684-Eshington Lane-B6160-West Burton
Waterfalls feature in my walk this weekend. I've made my way to the eastern part of the Dales to visit three waterfalls; Cauldron Falls, Redmire Force, and Aysgarth Falls, that are in Wensleydale and within walking distance of each other. The route that I'm following is more or less the same one that I used when I did this walk nearly two years ago, the only difference being how I got down to the River Ure from West Witton. Unfortunately the weather wasn't as good as it was then. A resolutely dull and overcast autumn day meant that there wasn't even a glimpse of the sun, but at least the wind was light and it stayed dry. Good conditions for taking long exposure photos.
From where I parked in West Burton I walked down through the village and onto the footpath to Cauldron Falls. After spending some time there taking photos, I resumed the walk by crossing the bridge over Walden Beck, then by taking a footpath up through fields and a wood to reach the open moor on Knarlton Knott. I then made my way north along a footpath and then track to Morpeth Scar, where I joined the track of High Lane, which I followed east towards Witton Steeps. When I reached the last footpath on the left before Witton Steeps (on the edge of a wood), I took this and followed it down through fields and a patch of woodland to Grassgill Lane in West Witton. After a break for lunch in West Witton I resumed my walk by heading down Flats Lane to its end at High Wanless. From here I took a footpath southwest across fields to briefly be by the south bank of the River Ure, then west to join the river again at Redmire Force. I then continued to follow the footpath west through fields above the River Ure, passing the stepping stones at Slapestone Wath, to eventually arrive at Hestholme Bridge on the A684. I crossed this to take a footpath from the entrance to Hestholme Farm through fields and woodland by the River Ure to St. Andrew's Church in Aysgarth. A footpath from the churchyard then took me down to Yore Mill and Yore Bridge over the River Ure, which I crossed to take the trails to visit Middle Force and Lower Force of Aysgarth Falls. After visiting the falls I retraced my steps to St. Andrew's Church, took the footpath south to the A684, which I crossed and then took the footpath opposite down through fields to Eshington Lane. I briefly walked south along Eshington Lane to a footpath on the right, which I took and followed through fields to the B6160, and after crossing this road the footpath opposite took me back to West Burton.
Route map
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It's just a short walk from West Burton to Cauldron Falls, which are on Walden Beck. Several photos of Cauldron Falls with long exposures times, and my camera on a tripod.....
Looking across the rooftops of West Burton as I head up to the path to Morpeth Scar
and across the foot of Bishopdale to the moors on the other side of Wensleydale
Higher up and there's a good view of West Burton below
Dove Scar on the side of Height of Hazely above
Heading north along the path to Morpeth Scar..
On Morpeth Scar and enjoying the great view of West Burton and Bishopdale..
..and across the foot of Bishopdale to Aysgarth Moor and Aysgarth
From Morpeth Scar I head down to join the track of Morpeth Gate, and follow it east..
..and onto the track of High Lane..
Looking across Wensleydale from High Lane above West Witton
I leave High Lane for a footpath down through fields and woodland to West Witton...
After a break for lunch I leave West Witton by walking down Flats Lane towards High Wanlass..
Looking back to Penhill above on the southern side of Wensleydale
Walking down Flats Lane to its end at High Wanlass..
From High Wanlass I take a footpath across fields towards the south bank of the River Ure
I have a good view of the river for the brief time that I'm by it..
The footpath takes me west by woodland above the River Ure
At Redmire Force
Views across the River Ure as I follow the footpath west towards Slapestone Wath..
The footpath takes me across fields and down through woodland to the banks of the River Ure..
At the stepping stones across the River Ure at Slapestone Wath. I had hoped to use them, but it soon became obvious as I tried to cross that it was just too risky.
A view of the river from as far as I got
From Slapestone Wath I follow a footpath west to Hestholme Bridge on the A684..
After crossing Hestholme Bridge I take a footpath west towards the river
I soon reach a waterfall on the River Ure. This is downstream from Aysgarth Falls.
The footpath continues west through woodland by the river, and then up to St. Andrew's Church in Aysgarth
I've made my way across Yore Bridge and down to Aysgarth Falls. Taking in Lower Force from the viewing platform.
There's access to the river at Lower Force, so I set up my tripod and take a couple of pictures..
Middle Force from the viewing platform. There's no access to the river here.
Back at St. Andrew's Church
From St. Andrew's Church I cross the A684 and take a footpath down to Eshington Lane..
After crossing Eshington Lane I follow footpaths across fields back to West Burton