Circular walk into Walden from West Burton in Wensleydale

A lovely walk from the Cauldron Falls in West Burton into Walden and back down via the old/now newly planted plantation. Park your car at the waterfall area or by the village green and please wear suitable clothing and good footwear as the route takes you through pasture and moorland. Always a good idea to plan your route and take the map. The walk is about seven miles, quite easy going but some inclines. Fantastic views all the way. If you’re staying at Hill Top Cottage in Walden please pick the route up at the *.

After gazing at the Cauldron Falls and taking photos set off over the pack horse bridge, Blue Bridge, and walk up the path to the first open field, you’ll see a sign for Rookwith Bridge, follow this off to the right, over a little stream and through the stiles from here. Keep going until you come to a footbridge, do not go over the bridge but keep going through one more field, keeping to the beck side, then onto a track coming out onto the road by Cote Bridge. Turn right, start to go up hill and on the left you’ll find a finger post. Through the stile and many more, keep going, the route is well defined, until you eventually come to Cowstone Gill House. From here walk up the driveway/track and again coming out onto the road. Turn right. 

*Follow the road, keeping a look out for the entrance to Cross Farm and a few yards past here there is a finger post on the left, West Burton two miles. Over the stile and into the plantation, where the route forks take the right hand way, follow this to the next gate. Open pasture land here, and you want to be due North across the field. When you achieve some height you will see a stile in the middle of nowhere but it’s a good guide, then onto to the gate in front of you. Through the gate, do not go down the wall side but keep going ahead, again through the plantation. Ignore the way marker pointing to the left but keep ever onward and eventually another finger post directs you to West Burton. Again follow the signs, over Forelands driveway, into another large field. Keep to right slightly and you will see a maker post as you walk along and a little footbridge and then a stile in the wall. Through the stile and from here you need to go down hill but aim towards the fallen down barn in the bottom, you will see a gated stile just in front of the barn. From here again turn right and follow the stiles which bring you to the top of West Burton. 

Perhaps a pint or a ‘cuppa’ in the Fox and Hounds or a picnic at Cauldron Falls? If Smithy Antiques is open it’s well worth a look in, always treasures to be found, and of course The Cat Pottery is a must!

Hope you enjoy the walk, it’s a favourite of mine and just far enough! We have other properties in West Burton, Penny Farthings plus a small dog to sleep two, Ivy Cottage, overlooking the green, to sleep six, also overlooking the green, Jesmond Cottage, The Old Wheelhouse at the waterfall area to sleep four and Beck Side, to sleep two Bridge View, to sleep four at the bottom of the village.