As promised the route for our Wensleydale Wander, an annual event with around five hundred runners and walkers, setting off from Grove Square in Leyburn. But you don’t need to be part of the Wensleydale Wander to enjoy the route which is twelve miles in total walking through the glorious countryside of Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales. All easy going with sensational views up dale, down dale and across dale!
Please do plan your route beforehand, wear appropriate clothing and footwear, take plenty to drink and lots of snacks if not a packed lunch. Pack map, GPS and compass, I always have plasters at the ready and spare socks just in case, you never can be too careful!
Park where you can in Leyburn and find Commercial Square to the west of the market place. To the right of the Bolton Arms, proceed up Shawl Terrace which is a little road off Commercial Square. Walk right to the top, turning left, through the hand gate, turn right and proceed onwards. Soon the glorious vista of Wensleydale with stately Penhill comes into view, quite, quite breathtaking. Continue on the well walked path, through the wood, past Lady Algitha’s Cave as marked on the map (although I’ve never found it, not that I’ve looked I suppose!).
Come out of the wood and sweep down the long field to where the path forks on the map at OS Grid Ref: SE 08270 91267. Take the path going west, not south west, to come out to a track with a wood in front of you. Cross over the track, into the wood, following the foot path sign and follow the path out of the wood and across a couple of fields to come out onto the road, turn left and walk into the village of Preston under Scar. Continue through the village, past the telephone box, always going west. When the last houses on your right have been passed, go down hill for a few yards and take the footpath on your left. Walk diagonally cross the fields to the road, careful on here as there is no verge. Walk to the next footpath on your left at OS Grid Ref: SE 06082 91292. Follow the footpath, over the railway line, through another field or two, coming onto a gravelled path and Elm House, keep going coming out on the road. Turn left. At the next stile on your left, take this and walk down the fields, following your map to come out in Redmire.
Pause here a while if you need to, pop to the Redmire Village Pub for refreshments if you like but when ready continue down the road in the direction of Aysgarth, south. Where the road turns sharply to the right take the narrow road in front of you following the footpath signs and direction to the church. Now we’re going east. Soon you leave the road to the church to walk along a track, over the stream and into open fields again. Continue on through the fields until you reach West Wood at a metal hand gate. Through the wood following the track until eventually you will come out at the cross tracks by the side of Bolton Hall. Here turn right, south, and head for Lord’s Bridge. Over the bridge then through the next stile on the left. Again a well walked path, down into the wood, walking by the side of the River Ure until you come out at Wensley Bridge.
Carefully cross the road to take the footpath opposite and continue along here, passing The Wisings and Gel Pool, coming out on the south side of Middleham Bridge. Turn left, go over the bridge, continue to the next junction on your left, do not turn off the A6108 but cross here if you have walked in the right hand side of the road and walk the few yards to the next stile on the ‘wrong’ side of the road. Over the stile and follow the path up hill to the church and into Leyburn and to find your vehicle.
All our beautiful Country Hideaways cottages are well within travelling distance of Leyburn and this walk will take you a full day to enjoy to the full with lots of stops to enjoy the views and soak up the atmosphere. Call me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne, on 01969 663559 to book over the telephone and for friendly help and advice or of course do book online if you prefer.
Looking forward to hearing from you very soon!
Written By Nadine Bell