Aysgarth Falls and Castle Bolton

 

Our Hip2trek adventure at the weekend was to Aysgarth falls and Castle Bolton in Wenslydale in the Yorkshire Dales. The falls are a beauty spot made famous by the film starring Kevin Costner in ‘Robin Hood – Prince of Thieves.
An hour and half journey away from where we live I negotiated the winding and sometimes hair raising roads thorough spectacular countryside to our destination at the Aysgarth Visitor centre where our walk started.
We wandered through pretty woodland down to a viewing platform to the Middle Falls and then followed the sign post to the Lower falls. Sadly, no sign of Kevin and his friends but the River Ure did look pretty cascading down the limestone and we all took turns for a look.
You can stop your little walk here and return to the visitor centre where there’s a fab looking tea room (the cake looked awesome!) and a shop but we wanted a longer walk to Castle Bolton.
Making our way following the footpath signs and referring to a book we had brought with us we wandered through fields, meadowland and woodland with a view in the distance of Castle Bolton. This was our planned picnic stop and the kids couldn’t wait to get there! You can view the route we took here on the viewranger map we plotted as we went.
Some of the directions were a little open to interpretation and we did go wrong somewhere, so we had to do a bit of walking on the road which was a little scary. However, we soon made our way up a steep hill and there was the Castle, at last!
Look out for the Dragon on the right hand side of the road, a poor Knight seems to have been eaten with only his leg sticking out of its mouth!
We sat outside the castle for our picnic, enjoying the views and even the odd raindrop now and again didn’t spoil it for us! After quite hot sticky days the cooler air was a relief although at times it had felt quite humid. On and off and on again the rain coats went and we joked with the kids that I looked like a post box with my red coat and trousers! Must better plan my walking wardrobe!
We didn’t visit inside the castle walls this time but continued on our walk across more moorland and meadows. The rain got a little heavier but we soon reached the village of Carperby and managed to resist the temptation of the pub we passed.
Through the very dark Freeholders wood we came out on to the road and under the railway bridge that led us back to the visitor’s centre. A respectable 9 Km and my little people’s legs had done really well. After a visit to the shop it was time to negotiate those roads again, I was very surprised that at one point we met a bus coming the other way eek!
We parked at the Aysgarth Falls Yorkshire Dales National Park visitor centre – £4.50 for over 2 hours. All views are my own and I have received no payment for this.
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Monkey and Mouse
6 comments Add yours
  1. I remember those falls from Robin Hood and thought they were pretty cool back then! A great little adventure for you all and an impressive 9km for the littler ones. The road would make me nervous too! I’m also hating the constant on and off of jackets as well, the weather and temperature can’t seem to make up its mind! Thanks for sharing on #Whatevertheweather x

    1. I know I wish the weather would make its mind up! Daren’t not take the coats though because I can guarantee that would mean a soaking!

  2. What a great walk. 9km is a great distance. Always great if there is a tea room during the walk. Cant beat tea and cakes! 🙂 #whatevertheweather

  3. Oh what a gorgeous day out! I visited those falls before I got pregnanthe the last time we were in the Dales I think. Hope to get back there soon now mine are getting bigger 🙂 #whatevertheweatherkids

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