Lovely walk from Redmire to Carperby and Castle Bolton in glorious Wensledale

If you’re a regular walker in the Yorkshire Dales, in Wensleydale in particular, you’ve probably walked parts of this route, but I hope I’ve found some new footpaths, new to me anyway, that perhaps have been less trodden or the way is different to previously walked, I hope so. Park, or catch the Little White Bus, in Redmire and we do a circular route of five plus miles. When walking on this side of the dale the views are always breath taking, Penhill always majestic and a view into Walden which you don’t find anywhere else. As always please plan your route beforehand on the map, wear appropriate footwear and clothing and don’t forget the all important drink and snacks. We are going via Bolton Castle where you might like to pause for something in the café there but even so it’s always best to have something with you.

Walk past the Bolton Arms on Hargill Lane, keep going up the hill to the railway bridge and just after the bridge take the footpath to the left, heading west. Walk along here, over a large footbridge, eventually another lesser bridge and walk up the hill in the direction of Bolton Castle, north west. After a couple of fields there is a four way footpath sign, go left, south. Follow a well marked footpath down to the road. Once on the road turn right, it can be a little busy so be careful. Once at the junction to Castle Bolton you will see a footpath at the other side of the road, again going south, take this one which eventually brings you out onto Thoresby Lane. Turn right and follow the path, can be quite narrow and sometimes a little muddy but always quite passable. Keep going until you come out into open pasture. Keeping the wall on your right walk to the next stile. Over the stile and walk diagonally north east to High Thoresby farm. Follow the track, past the farm buildings, down the hill and where the way turns sharp right turn left here along an over grown track by Kendell Beck. Straight ahead, through the old metal gate on the little rise and walk through the field that has young trees planted. Keep going until you come to the bridge and walk under the disused railway. Through here, over rough pasture to a gated stile leading to a large field with the odd tree on the rise. Sort of head for the tree but keep it on your left going to the wall and track, north west. Depending on where you end up you need to go through a stile in the wall which is at the junction of two walls which you can see when you get over it.  The stile is quite hard to spot but it is there. (Sorry all sounds a bit confusing but just keep going) Once over this stile, keeping the wall on your right, follow to the next gated stile and head north west to come out onto the road between Carperby and Redmire. Walk along the road in the direction of Carperby past the thirty mile an hour signs to the next gated stile. Pause here a moment to look at the map. You have two choices now, you can either go through here and take a more leisurely way to Bolton Castle, well walked and signposted or go to the next junction in the village on the right and go up over the moor to Bolton Castle, which is a little longer of course but you end up in the same place. Both routes well walked and your destination quite visible.

Once to Castle Bolton walk through the village in an easterly direction to where a track leaves the road to the right, past the little hall with a plaque dedicated to George Jackson to pick up a footpath sign to Redmire going south. Follow down the fields, after a while you’ll recognise this now but instead of turning left along the side of the disused railway line, continue down the hill and back to Redmire coming out onto Hargill Lane again in Redmire.

Call at the Bolton Arms here, always a warm welcome, buy some eggs on your way past if there are any left. You’ll see what I mean.

Want to stay nearby, we have lovely cottages in Wensleydale for you to stay in. Have a look at availability or give me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne a call on 01969 663559 for friendly help and advice. See you soon!