Ten of the best Wensleydale walks

You’re never far from a scenic walk in the Yorkshire Dales and the undulating geography of Wensleydale lends itself perfectly to exploration on foot. You’ll find breathtaking waterfalls, challenging hills and gentle rivers around every corner of Wensleydale, making walks in this part of Yorkshire so much more gratifying.

Towns and villages like Hawes and Middleham make ideal starting points for Wensleydale walks, where you can stock up on essential mid-walk rations and get a glimpse of life led at a gentler pace. 

So whether you’re a compass-carrying hiker or a Sunday rambler, we have compiled some of the best walking routes and you’ll also find plenty of Yorkshire Dales holiday cottages for cosy nights in after days spent exploring the North Yorkshire countryside.

Skip to:

• Hardraw Force
• Leyburn Shawl
• Leyburn and Harmby Circular
• Middleham Castle
• Aysgarth Falls
• Askrigg waterfall walk
• Hawes to Aysgill Force
• Penhill Beacon
• Cotter Force
• Semerwater Circular

Hardraw Force

This walk offers you an opportunity to see England’s highest waterfall. The circular walk from Hawes takes in charming villages as well as spectacular scenery. Before you leave the market town of Hawes you could ‘carb-load’ at the local chippie where you can also enjoy deep-fried Wensleydale Cheese.  As you cross over the meandering River Ure you’ll see it tumbling over rocks creating a myriad of tiny falls before it splits to form Hardraw Beck. When you arrive in Hardraw, take a moment to enjoy this adorable hamlet before heading to the mighty Hardraw Force. There’s a charge to visit the waterfall (£4 for adults, £2 for children) but the path is well-maintained at this point, making it accessible for wheelchairs. 

After marvelling at the gushing falls, you have two choices – you can opt for a stroll across the fields, or you can choose to take the quiet Sedbusk Lane to avoid the multiple stiles you’d encounter in the fields. From Sedbusk it’s homeward bound, where back in Hawes there’s a National Park Centre and WCs. 

Leyburn Shawl

Although the weather can be unpredictable around these parts, it’s not obligatory to wrap up in a shawl for this Leyburn walk. Instead, it refers to the panicked exit of Mary Queen of Scots from Bolton Castle where she was being held captive. She supposedly dropped her shawl here while fleeing, and the nearby rock ledge has taken this name.  

When you head out of the lively town of Leyburn you’ll pass by the driveway towards Bolton Castle and the nearby Mount, a curious ruin constructed from the local limestone. The footpath takes you through the village of Wensley with its 13th-century church and across the idyllic meadows and woodlands of the Old Glebe Nature Reserve before the steepish climb up will deliver you at the Shawl, rewarding you with incredible views across Wensleydale. You’ll loop back tired but happy to return to the marketplace in Leyburn.  

Leyburn and Harmby Circular

A lovely way to punctuate a walk in Wensleydale is with a waterfall, and this one takes in Harmby Falls. It’s less thundering than Hardraw Force but still well worth the trip due to its exquisite woodland setting. Setting off from Leyburn and heading southeast across the fields will take you past a disused quarry that has now become a haven for wildlife. You’ll also walk parallel with the super-cute Wensleydale Railway line. Pass (or duck in to if you’re thirsty) The Pheasant Pub in Harmby then head into the woods. 

 A dappled glade and the sound of tumbling water will lead you to Harmby Falls, the perfect stopping-off point for a picnic. The journey home takes you by Mickley House then across the fields until you spot the spire of Leyburn Parish Church where your walk began.

Middleham Castle

One of the best Middleham walks includes the impressive ruins of Middleham Castle and a glorious stretch of countryside known as The Gallops. Just a short stretch from Middleham will bring you to the castle, once childhood home to Richard III. He may have promised his ‘kingdom for a horse’, yet nearby is the famous Middleham racing stables. 

This section of the walk includes where the beautiful thoroughbreds are exercised – The Gallops, part of Middleham Low Moor. You may be lucky enough to glimpse one of the magnificent beasts thundering past as you make your way to Tupgill Park, which has now become the quirky adventure park The Forbidden Corner. Continuing eastwards past Coverham Abbey with its intricate knot garden, follow the River Cover back to Middleham.

Aysgarth Falls

There are three waterfalls to explore during a scenic stroll around Aysgarth Falls, one of Yorkshire’s most beautiful natural attractions. The walk first offers up a magnificent view of Wensleydale before plunging into the well-maintained Freeholders Wood to arrive at the Lower Falls and Middle Falls that are created by the River Ure’s path down the hillside. 

For those that are able, you can also include a look at the Upper Falls, which is accessed via another, more uneven path from the Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre. Each of the walks is clearly signposted to indicate which is wheelchair-friendly and they also have a ‘rambler’ off-road mobility scooter to borrow for free.

Askrigg waterfall walk

This walk begins in the quaint village of Askrigg, made famous as the location of ‘Darrowby’ for the All Creatures Great and Small TV series. It’s well worth a wander around its cobbled streets before you set off. To the west of the village a lush green path through woodlands will take you to Mill Gill waterfall, which falls 70ft over a series of ledges. A mile further uphill brings you to Whitfield Gill waterfall that has an uninterrupted cascade of 50ft. Gill is an old Norse word meaning a narrow mountain torrent, which aptly describes both water features.

Once at the top of the hill, you’ll pop out of the trees for a gorgeous view of the rolling dales. All that is left is an easy amble down through the meadows back towards the village, where the teashops beckon.

Hawes to Aysgill Force

Swing by the Dales Countryside Museum in Hawes for a fascinating glimpse of the area’s history before discovering it first hand on this walk to Aysgill Force. The flagstone path by the side of the Wensleydale Creamery (with a quick pitstop to stock up on the local cheese) will lead you to a narrow, wooded gorge with the Asygill Force waterfall at its heart. 

There’s a stone bench to sit and survey the spectacle of this cascade before you continue on by the side of the beck and through stunning meadows back to Hawes. If you’re partial to wild swimming, it’s not advisable to attempt it at Asygill Force due to the steep sides but the nearby Gayle Beck has a natural plunge pool to cool down in.

Penhill Beacon

West Witton is home to The Burning of Old Bartle, an ancient tradition which sees a Guy Fawkes-style effigy burnt each August. The village is also the starting point of a lovely walk to Penhill Beacon, which was once used to signal danger to surrounding areas. It’s now a peaceful lookout spot providing views of a distant Bolton Castle across the valley. Heading west out of the village, the ridge of Penhill will be visible above you. Following the path to the end of the ridge will bring you to a cairn, where you can stop for a breather while picking out your route home across the fields to West Witton.

Cotter Force

If you’re in the mood for a gentle amble but can’t manage anything as demanding as a stile, try the stroll to Cotter Force, which is a simple there-and-back jaunt with the reward of a waterfall. There’s free roadside parking at the starting point of Holme Head Bridge and then evenly spaced benches providing excellent rest stops to enjoy the view. 

The waterfall itself brings to mind a weir, with a wide stepped platform from which water gently glides over. The pool is golden-hued thanks to the rich peat content in the surrounding landscape, and perfect for a doggy-paddle if you’ve brought the pooch along.

Semerwater Circular

Shake things up in your exploration of the glorious Wensleydale waterfalls and woods with a trip to Semerwater, a beautiful nature reserve near Bainbridge. Lakes are an unusual geographical feature in Yorkshire, and this large expanse of water provides the perfect habitat for wading birds. Search the skies and you may chance upon an osprey as breeding pairs have recently made this spot their home for the first time in centuries. 

Families with younger children will probably prefer the low-level route by the side of the reserve or if you’re up for a yomp, head up the ridge to add on another mile but along with its stunning views of beautiful Raydale.

Map of Wensleydale walks

Find the loveliest Wensleydale walks with this handy map of the region:

Plan your Yorkshire getaway

Now you’ve decided to check out Wensleydale, have a peep at some of the Yorkshire Dales holiday homes available in the area. Kick off your boots and relax in a hilltop hideaway or nestle down in front of the fire in a cosy cottage in the woods.

Once you’ve caught the rambling bug, why not venture further afield in this glorious county to discover what the rest of Yorkshire has to offer? Take a look at some of the best walks to try in Yorkshire and browse our full range of holiday cottages.