Aysgarth Falls Walk: A Family-Friendly Circular Walk in Yorkshire

Enjoy Stunning Waterfalls on the Aysgarth Falls Walk in the Yorkshire Dales Countryside

Your Aysgarth Falls walk begins at the car park on Church Bank, a road that branches off the A684 next to the Aysgarth Falls Hotel. Before setting off, take a moment to enjoy the view from the car park wall, which offers a lovely glimpse of St Andrew’s Church. When you’re ready, turn right as you leave the car park and begin your walk down the hill. As you approach the bottom, the Upper Falls of Aysgarth Falls will come into view on your left, and you’ll pass Yore Mill on your right before reaching Yore Bridge.

After crossing Yore Bridge, you’ll notice a footpath signposted to the Upper Falls and Askrigg on your left. On your right, another sign directs you to the Middle Falls, Lower Falls, and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre. If you’d like a closer look at the Upper Falls, take the left path for a brief detour. After enjoying the view, return to the main path and continue your Aysgarth Falls walk by heading uphill towards the visitor centre.

Once you arrive at the visitor centre, walk through the car park and exit at the far end. After crossing the road, you’ll find a clearly marked footpath leading to the Middle Falls and Lower Falls. Within a few minutes, you’ll encounter steps on your right that lead down to a viewing platform with a wonderful view of the Middle Falls. Once you’ve taken in the sight, return to the main path and continue your hike through Freeholders’ Wood.

The trail through Freeholders’ Wood is well-maintained and easy to follow. Eventually, you’ll reach another set of steps that lead down to the Lower Falls. Take a moment to admire the falls before heading back up the steps. Once back on the path, briefly retrace your steps until you are able to turn sharply right, effectively making a U-turn to follow the public footpath through St Joseph’s Wood.

This section of the walk takes you through woodland, across an open field, and up to Hollins House. As you pass by the farm buildings at Hollins House, bear left onto the stone track for a short distance. Then, turn right to follow a footpath along the right side of a large grassy field. When you reach a dry stone wall with a gate and signpost, resist the temptation to go through the gate unless you want to explore the longer Aysgarth Falls ‘black route’. Instead, turn sharply left and cross the field, following the signpost towards Freeholders’ Wood.

Continuing along the path, you’ll soon reach a stone track with another public footpath sign. This path leads through a small wooded area, which can be slightly overgrown at times. However, it soon opens up into another field. Cross this field, heading towards the bottom left corner, where you’ll pass under a railway tunnel and re-enter St Joseph’s Wood.

After emerging from the tunnel, turn right to follow the path through St Joseph’s Wood and back into Freeholders’ Wood. This section of the walk also follows the Aysgarth Falls ‘red route’. Eventually, you’ll exit Freeholders’ Wood and find yourself back on the road you walked earlier. Cross the road and turn right, then turn left to return to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre.

Now that you’re back on familiar ground, continue your Aysgarth Falls walk by following the path through the visitor centre car park. Retrace your steps back to Yore Bridge, then walk up Church Bank to return to the car park where you began. This circular walk covers approximately 2¾ miles (4.4 kilometres) or slightly longer, around 3 miles (4.8 kilometres), if you include the detour to explore the Upper Falls in more detail.

This Aysgarth Falls walk is perfect for families, as the trails are easy to follow and well signposted. Although there is a short section that may be slightly overgrown, it shouldn’t present any real difficulty. At the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre, you’ll find toilets, refreshments, and plenty of information to enhance your experience. Finally, while I’ve referred to the waterfalls as Upper Falls, Middle Falls, and Lower Falls, some maps may label them as High Force, Middle Force, and Lower Force. Don’t worry—these are simply different names for the same locations.

Aysgarth Falls Walk: Distance, Duration, Statistics

Recommended Ordnance Survey Map

The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central Area, reference OS Explorer OL30, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.

About Aysgarth Falls: A Natural Marvel in the Yorkshire Dales

Aysgarth Falls is a stunning series of three waterfalls carved by the River Ure over a nearly one-mile (two-kilometre) stretch as it descends into mid-Wensleydale, located in the Yorkshire Dales near the village of Aysgarth. These falls are especially spectacular after heavy rainfall when thousands of gallons of water cascade over the broad limestone steps. The waterfalls are divided into three distinct stages: Upper Falls (High Force), Middle Falls (Middle Force), and Lower Falls (Lower Force), all of which can be seen on my Aysgarth Falls walk.

Geological Significance and Historical Visitors

The falls are designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which highlights their ecological and geological importance. Over the past 200 years, Aysgarth Falls has attracted many famous visitors, including John Ruskin, J. M. W. Turner, and William Wordsworth, who all admired the area’s outstanding beauty. The falls were formed when meltwater from the Ice Age, held back by a terminal moraine, eventually spilled over the area. This powerful flow eroded the boulder clay and limestone bedrock beneath, creating the dramatic drops. Today, the falls drop approximately 200 feet (61 metres) over a half-mile section of the river, and they can be seen on my Aysgarth Falls walk.

Visiting Aysgarth Falls: What to Expect

Located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Aysgarth Falls is easily accessible to visitors. The Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre, which you pass on my Aysgarth Falls walk, offers an exhibition, information, a café, and facilities, including toilets and a pay-and-display car park.

Exploring the Surroundings

Public footpaths winding through the wooded valley are included in my Aysgarth Falls walk, offering breathtaking views of the river and falls. In spring and summer, wildflowers such as snowdrops (January-February), primroses (April), and bluebells (May) blanket the area. The woodland is also home to various wildlife, including birds, squirrels, and deer. In autumn, you may even spot salmon leaping up the falls. Nearby, St Andrew’s Church, which Turner painted and which can be seen from the starting point of my Aysgarth Falls walk, boasts the largest churchyard in England and features a medieval painted wooden screen rescued from Jervaulx Abbey.

The Name and Its Origins

The name ‘Aysgarth’ originates from Old Norse, meaning ‘the open space in the oak trees’, a fitting description for the area’s natural beauty, which is on full display during my Aysgarth Falls walk.

Aysgarth Falls in Popular Culture

Aysgarth Falls has also made its mark in popular culture. All three falls were featured in the films Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Additionally, the falls were highlighted in the television programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the North.

Turner’s Impressions of Aysgarth Falls

J.M.W. Turner, the renowned artist, visited Aysgarth Falls during the wet summer of 1816 to sketch and paint the waterfalls. The heavy rainfall at the time meant that the River Ure was high, providing Turner with dramatic scenes to capture in his artwork. He focused on the Lower Falls, the tallest of the three, sketching the limestone steps shaped by the swirling waters. Turner’s finished watercolour of the area, known then as Aysgarth Force, reveals a landscape with fewer trees than today and depicts fishermen by the river’s edge.

A Destination for Artists and Poets

Turner also ventured to the Middle Falls, where he sketched Aysgarth Church, the mill, and the bridge from a rocky outcrop. In Turner’s time, as in ours, Aysgarth Falls was a popular destination for tourists, including his contemporary, the poet William Wordsworth. Visitors in the early 19th century would have marveled at these spectacular waterfalls, much as you can today on my Aysgarth Falls walk, alongside the area’s vibrant wildlife.

Aysgarth Falls Walk: My Photos

The Falls is a charming coffee house and gift shop situated on Church Bank, the road that descends from the A684 main road to Aysgarth Falls. This delightful coffee house also marks the location of the car park, which is the starting point for our Aysgarth Falls walk.

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As our Aysgarth Falls walk begins from the car park, we are immediately treated to a splendid view of St Andrew’s Church, a Grade II listed building. The church underwent significant reconstruction in 1536 and later in 1866. One of its standout features is the medieval rood screen, originally from Jervaulx Abbey. This intricately carved partition separates the nave from the chancel, defining the sacred space of the altar. Additionally, the church boasts a Victorian east window and a beautifully carved reredos depicting The Last Supper. The churchyard, which contains over a thousand gravestones, is one of the largest in England.

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As we descend Church Bank and approach the bridge over the River Ure, we catch our first glimpse of the Upper Falls of Aysgarth Falls on our left. The sight is truly spectacular and worth pausing to admire.

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Continuing along the Aysgarth Falls walk, we notice Yore Mill from Yore Bridge. Built beside the River Ure in 1784, Yore Mill was originally a cotton mill. Over time, it served various purposes, including as a corn mill, flax mill, and woollen mill. Eventually, it became a centre for stocking manufacture before being converted into the Yorkshire Carriage Museum in 1969. The mill complex includes several other historic buildings, such as cottages, a miller’s house, and a blacksmith’s forge.

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Although this is not officially part of our Aysgarth Falls walk, we decide to take a short detour after crossing the bridge. By turning left instead of right, we follow a path that leads us closer to the Upper Falls, offering a stunning view up close.

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After our visit to the Upper Falls, we return to the bridge and follow a well-signposted path alongside the road. This path guides us to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre. Here, we find a café, a shop, and toilets, as well as plenty of information about the falls and the surrounding area. Once we’ve explored the visitor centre, we exit the car park, cross the road, and follow the signs leading to our next destination: the Middle Falls of Aysgarth Falls.

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We continue along the path through Freeholders’ Wood until we spot a set of steps on our right. These steps lead down to a viewing platform, offering a breathtaking view of the Middle Falls of Aysgarth Falls.

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After admiring the Middle Falls during our Aysgarth Falls walk, we continue along the picturesque path through Freeholders’ Wood towards our next destination, the Lower Falls. Freeholders’ Wood is an ancient woodland that has served as a home to many plants and animals over the centuries. The wood is named after the Freeholders of Carperby, who still retain the right to collect fallen and cut wood, known as ‘estovers’.

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The path leading to the Middle and Lower Falls is well-maintained and easy to navigate. Given the popularity of this area, the paths are wide, firm, and suitable for wheelchairs. It’s a peaceful spot, with benches thoughtfully placed along the way for rest and relaxation.

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The Aysgarth Falls trail brings us to the highlight of our Aysgarth Falls walk: the Lower Falls. The wide, rocky ledges allow us to get close to the River Ure, where we enjoy the sight and sound of the waterfalls while taking a break for coffee and a snack. The area’s beauty creates a serene and relaxing atmosphere, making it a wonderful place to spend some time.

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After visiting the Lower Falls, our Aysgarth Falls walk continues along the public footpath, leading us eastward through St Joseph’s Wood. This easy-going grassy trail offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside.

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The public footpath then takes us in a north-easterly direction across a large field, eventually guiding us to Hollins House.

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After passing through a collection of farm buildings at Hollins House, the path continues along the edge of a large grassy field until we reach a dry stone wall in the distance.

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Upon reaching the dry stone wall, we find a gate and a signpost. Going through the gate would lead us to Castle Bolton. It would also take us along the Aysgarth Falls ‘black route’, another delightful walk. However, today we choose to turn sharply left and follow the public footpath across the field, signposted to Freeholders’ Wood.

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Continuing along the grassy footpath, we pass a tall, solitary sycamore tree before heading down to the railway tunnel in the bottom left corner of the field.

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In the bottom left corner, we walk beneath the railway tunnel and re-enter St Joseph’s Wood. Here, we take an immediate right turn to continue along the footpath through the wood.

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The path through St Joseph’s Wood, which is part of our Aysgarth Falls walk, is well-defined and easy to navigate. It’s a delightful area to walk through, with a pleasant and comfortable surface underfoot.

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St Joseph’s Wood seamlessly merges with Freeholders’ Wood. We follow the signposted public footpath, also indicated as the Aysgarth Falls ‘red route’.

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Eventually, we leave Freeholders’ Wood, cross the road, and return to the Yorkshire Dales National Park Visitor Centre, where we started earlier in the day.

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As we conclude our Aysgarth Falls walk, we retrace our steps from the visitor centre and arrive back at the Upper Falls of Aysgarth Falls. We reward ourselves with a drink and a bite to eat at Mill Race Teashop, located in Yore Mill by the bridge. Before heading back up Church Bank to the car park, we take a final look at the stunning Upper Falls, bringing our wonderful Aysgarth Falls walk to a satisfying close.

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