West Burton, Aysgarth and Thoralby

West Burton stands at the confluence of Bishopdale and the Walden valley and is one of the prettiest villages in the Dales.

It is a place of peace and tranquillity since the main dale road by-passes the village, with old houses and farms facing each other across the village green, complete with stocks and stone stepped obelisk that dates from 1820.

From the bottom corner of the green, a path leads down to West Burton Falls, which has a wonderful setting with the waters of Walden Beck tumbling over rock ledges into a tree-shaded pool.

Walden, a rarity as it does not have the suffix 'dale', is a remote and hidden valley, the last retreat of the Celtic tribes fleeing from the invading Norse and Anglo-Saxons.

Field-paths lead across Bishopdale to the village of Aysgarth, an attractive village that boasts a restored Edwardian rock garden.

From Aysgarth, an old track leads up across the lower slopes of Aysgarth Moor, with fine views all around across the wide valley of Wensleydale, before heading along Folly Lane and over a ford across Haw Beck, a quiet spot that is perfect for a picnic.

Thoralby was first settled by Viking invaders over 1,000 years ago, as this was where 'Thorold' had his farm. When the Thoralby lead mines were open during the 19th century, there were three inns to choose from; only the George Inn remains.

An interesting feature of the village is the 15th century Pinfold which dates from the time when most of the land in the dale was common and so stray animals were penned up and released only after paying a fine to the lord of the manor.

From Thoralby, quiet lanes lead to the village of Newbiggin from where a path heads across the shoulder of land known as Forelands Rigg, offering fine views across Bishopdale.

Mark Reid is the author of The Inn Way series of guidebooks.

www.innway.co.uk

Fact file:

Distance:5 miles

Time: Allow 2 hours

Start: Fox & Hounds, West Burton

Map: OS Explorer Map OL30 'Yorkshire Dales Northern & Central'

Parking: On-street parking throughout the village

Refreshments: Pubs and shops at West Burton, Aysgarth and Thoralby.

Terrain: Clear field paths to Aysgarth, with many squeeze-stiles to negotiate. From Aysgarth, a quiet lane then a stony track heads across the lower slopes of Aysgarth Moor over to Thoralby in Bishopdale. From Thoralby, quiet lanes lead to Newbiggin, from where field paths head across a ridge of land with fine views of Bishopdale to reach West Burton.

Getting there: Follow the A684 up through Wensleydale then turn off near Aysgarth Falls along the B6160 up through Bishopdale to reach West Burton.

Directions:

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. From the Fox & Hounds at West Burton, head along the lane passing the post office and follow this road out of the corner of the village green. Continue down along the road as it winds down through the village then take the path to the left through a gate in between Lenny Garth Barn and the Reading Room. Follow this path down to reach the main road. Cross the road (take care) and take the footpath opposite ('Eshington Bridge') that leads across a field passing to the left of a barn then through two squeeze-stiles in the far right-hand corner of the field (beside Bishopdale Beck). After these stiles, follow the clear path to the right across two fields to reach a road beside Eshington Bridge.

2. Turn left over the bridge just after which take the turning to the left (as the road bends right) and follow this lane up then, where this lane turns sharp left after a short distance, head straight on through a squeeze-stile ('Aysgarth Crossing'). Head straight on with the wall on your left through another squeeze-stile, after which head steeply up the grassy bank passing through the gate to the left of a barn then climb up (with the wall on your left) to reach a gate in this wall in the top left corner of the field. Then head diagonally to the right across the field (ignore the large gap in the wall at the top of the field) to reach a small squeeze-stile in the far corner of the field by the top of the belt of trees. After this squeeze-stile, head on to reach a small wall-gate to your left, after which turn right down to reach a crossroads of paths in the corner of the wall at the bottom of the 'hollow'. Heads straight on through the wall-gate in the corner of the wall ('Aysgarth') and head straight up the grassy hillside ahead then, just after an old wall across your path (as you approach the barn ahead), head right through a wall-gap. After this wall-gap, head across the field bearing slightly to the left through a wall-gate in the centre of the wall across your path that leads onto a lane.

3. Turn left along the lane then almost immediately right through a squeeze-stile ('Aysgarth') and head straight on across the field through a squeeze-stile. Follow the path bearing to the left across the next field through another squeeze-stile to your left after which head straight on to a wall-gate in the bottom corner of the field that leads on to a lane on the outskirts of Aysgarth. Turn right along the lane then take the lane to the left just before the road junction and garage on your left (passing between a workshop and the garage) and follow the stony lane up (soon becomes a grassy enclosed path just after the house on your right). Follow this clear path straight on through a series of squeeze-stiles to reach a rutted farm track across your path. Turn right along this track then, where it bends to the left after a short distance, head to the right down alongside the wall to reach a wall-gate in the bottom corner that leads down to reach the road on the outskirts of Aysgarth (at the other end of the village).

4. Turn left along the road and follow this out of Aysgarth then, after about half a mile, take the walled stony track to the left just before a stone barn on the corner ('Thoralby, Gayle Ing'). Follow this track rising up then levelling out and bending sharp right then, where the track forks, follow the left-hand walled track (Folly Lane) on to reach a gate at the end of the walled track just beyond a ford/footbridge. After this gate, head to the left up the field, keeping close to the wall on your left, through a small gate, after which head diagonally to the right across the field to reach a gate in a wall at the top of a track. Head through the gate and follow the track dropping steeply down, through another gate after which head straight on winding steeply down along a stony track to reach the road at Thoralby beside Town Head Farm. Turn left along the road to reach the George Inn.

5. Just after the pub, take the turning to the right, passing the old Methodist Chapel on the corner, and follow this road out of the village to reach the Old Corn Mill and a road-bridge across Bishopdale Beck. After the bridge, follow the road to the right ('Kettlewell') up to the crossroads with the main road. Head straight over along the lane opposite up into Newbiggin then, where you reach a T-junction in the village, turn left along the lane ('West Burton, Walden') which quickly becomes a rough track.

6. Follow this track out, passing East Farm, after which continue up along the walled rough track climbing up then, where the track divides, follow the clearer track that bends round to the left. Follow this walled track then, where it bends to the left, head through the red metal gate to the right. Walk straight on rising slightly up across the hillside through a squeeze-stile, after which head on through another squeeze-stile in the right-hand corner of the field then follow the path across several fields and through a succession of squeeze-stiles gradually bearing slightly to the right up across the hillside at first and then straight on across the wide ridge of land until you reach a junction of paths (signpost) to the right of a barn. Follow the footpath straight on alongside Little Beck on your right through a number of wall-gates to reach a gate and small footbridge that leads through the farmyard of Town Head Farm back into West Burton.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:30 Saturday, October 09, 2004