Aysgarth falls – medium walk

Aysgarth Falls –

Medium Walk

This walks starts and ends at the village of West Burton and mid way through reaches the beautiful Aysgarth Falls. Perfect for a picnic at the falls, this walk will take around 2 and a half hours if you spend time at the falls for a mid-walk pitstop.

Getting There  From Middlesbrough, take the A19 south to the Northallerton turn off. Follow the A684 to the Yorkshire Dales and through the town of Leyburn. Shortly after Leyburn look for a left turn off to West Burton which is where the walk begins. Parking can be found on the side of the Green in the village.

 Aysgarth Falls Walk Route

Start the walk by leaving the village of West Burton by the village shop on the road to the right of it.

Look for a building called "Meadowcroft" and opposite this will be a signpost to the left signed "Eshington Bridge". Cross the road turn right and then left through a gate and down steps.

Go through a gate beside a barn, and continue to a stile at the bottom right of the field. Cross two stiles then bear right to a wall. Follow this and continue to a road.

Turn left and cross the bridge, and go up a lane until you reach a bend in the lane.

Go through the stile on the lane signed "Aysgarth". Climb past a stile and to the left of a barn. This is the steepest part of the walk and can be an effort to make it to the top. Continue to the left of the field bearing left to a gate near the corner, then continue diagonally across the next field.

Keep left of a wall gap to a stile by another gap. Descend to reach a stile and a footpath sign. If you get confused with your bearings, remember the path will be well worn so is easy to follow if you stick to the well worn track.

 Take the Aysgarth direction which is the path ahead. Cross the field half left to a stile on to a lane. Turn left and then immediately on your right will be another stile signed "Aysgarth". Cross three stiles to a road.

 Turn right and follow the road into Aysgarth village. Go past the George and Dragon then straight ahead to the Methodist Church.

Bear right along the lane. Cross a stile by Field House. Follow the wall and continue along a short track. Follow the path you are on through eight stiles until you reach the churchyard.

Enter the churchyard and pass to the right of the church and leave by a stile. Cross a field and go through a wood. 

Follow the path downhill descending steps to the river bank. Aysgarth Falls are comprised of the middle falls and the lower falls. The falls are a perfect spot for a pitstop and a picnic. Once you decide to leave the falls follow the riverside path to a stile.

Follow the riverside path to a signpost in a field. Bend to the right of the field until you reach the main road.

Turn left and cross the bridge, then turn right into woodland signed "Edgley", soon bearing left uphill to a stile.

 Go over the stile and walk over the meadow bearing right to a gate in the far corner to join a road. Turn right and look for a stile to the left about 150 yards along which is signed "Flanders Hall".

Walk towards the two follies above keeping to the ridge below. A folly refers to an ornamental building with no practical use.

Walk under the follies passing Sorrelsykes Park to your right. Cross a track and bear left past a waymark to a signpost.

Follow the direction of the footpath sign uphill and then turn right and head for the bottom edge of the field to cross a stile with stepped stones up to it. Follow the path ahead until you are opposite the barn at a gate.

 Descend through the gate and then two more gates. Bear left along the field on a well worn track to a stile. Continue onto a lane, turn right, cross a bridge and join the village road. Turn left heading back to the Green.