Circular Walk from West Witton in Beautiful Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales

On a beautiful spring morning my friend Denny and I set off to do a circular walk from West Witton in Wensleydale in the wonderful Yorkshire Dales. The best place to park is on the big lay-by east if the village on the A684, you can usually find a space especially if you arrive early as we did. Our circular walk is just over five miles with long, long views of Wensleydale. Please as always plan your route, take the map, GPS etc and wear appropriate clothing and boots. We set off in glorious early morning sunshine but as we progressed along a nasty shower surprised us so it’s out with the waterproofs so do be prepared!

Setting off from the east end of West Witton walk up the hill towards the village turn left at the first junction in the direction of Melmerby and Carlton along Grassgill Lane and continue past the cottages on the right. At the last cottage look for a stile on your right, there is a finger post here, SE 06244 88217. Walk along the footpath and out into the fields behind the houses of West Witton. We are now on the Mosaic Trail, look to your right after the first field to spot one and after the second field and through the gate there is another on your left. Turn left here and make your way more or less in a southerly direction towards the wood and a further stile. Follow the path up the hill through the wood then through into the field and keep going straight ahead to a further stile  and then, deep breath, straight up the field to the High Lane, SE 05942 87710. Time for a little breather here maybe.

Turn right once onto the track, west, and walk along to the second track off to the right through a metal field gate towards Layrus and Swinithwaite, SE 03789 88148. Continue on along and down don’t leave the track and you will eventually come to Swinithwaite. Cross the road when safe, pass the bus stop and the next lane end and turn into Fairhurst’s at Berry’s. We stopped for a welcome ‘cuppa’ which was very pleasant but you can pass on by of couse if you so wish. Through past the farm buildings and follow the concrete way to the bottom, Back Lane to New Wood, go through the gate into pasture land, SE 04856 89753.

Walk in a  south easterly direction towards West Witton, the way does lead to a walled and hedged footfath, and once through a metal gate as you are nearing the road, A684, look our for a stile on  your left, SE 05611 88766. Through here, head for the stile or the gate across the field, up the hill in the next field and then through a wooden gate leading again to a narrow pathway. Follow on here and you will come out in West Witton on the A684. Instead of walking down the road back to the car you can go behind the houses so carefully cross the road, turn left and enter the enclosed area with a little green and a pond. Walk around the green to the pond and notice a finger post just here. Walk between the cottages, quite narrow, very exciting (it doesn’t take a lot!) and again come out into a field. Follow the path into another field and head straight ahead, south east, and come to the mosaic you passed on the outward journey. Retrace your footsteps back to the car.

What a lovely walk, wonderful views, mostly easy going and a ‘cuppa’ to take us on our journey half way round.

Do come and experience this walk for yourselves. Stay in one of our cottages and enjoy this walk and many more recorded here on the blog. Give me, Nadine, a call or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 for friendly help and advice or of course book online if you wish. See you soon!