Wensleydale in the Yorksire Dales National Park offers some wonderful walking. This route takes in a stretch of the River Ure, passes historic Nappa Hall before traversing the slopes below Ellerkin Scar. The walk then visits Whitfield Gill Force before returning to Askrigg.
Calculated time: 3h30[?] 
Distance : 6.16mi
Vertical gain : 722ft
Vertical drop : 722ft
Highest point : 1168ft
Lowest point : 646ft 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Yorkshire Dales 
Location : Askrigg
Starting point : N 54.316069° / W 2.077663° (D/A)This walk starts in the village of Askrigg where a small car park is located at grid ref. SD950911. After parking, exit the car park and turn right into the centre of the village bearing left along the road to Bainbridge and Hawes. Continue past St. Oswald's church on your right and just after the road bends to the right, take the public footpath on your left.
(1) The path from the road to the river after you have passed the church is a little tricky to find. The footpath sign is on a wall which is behind you coming from the village and it looks like the entrance to an industrial unit. The path is to the left of the entrance to the unit.
Initially a track the path crosses the old railway and continues across the flood plain to the River Ure. Do not cross the river, instead bear left and follow the River Ure to Worton Bridge where you join a lane. Do not cross the river but continue ahead to leave the lane using a footpath on your right. This continues to follow the river to Nappa Mill where you turn left away from the river to re-cross the old railway.
(2)Here bear half left across two fields towards Nappa Hall. Bear left along a track and continue through the hall to reach a lane (grid ref. SD965908). Go left here and then take the first lane on your right. The lane - Harr Gill - climbs steadily offering some fine views ahead to Ellerkin Scar to reach Heugh. Bearing left join the track that heads straight across the lower slopes of Newbiggin Pasture to reach a lane (grid ref. SD953921).
(3)Turn left downhill. At the first junction keep straight ahead. Ignore a track on your right and continue down the lane to another junction (grid ref. SD949917). Turn left and almost immediately right onto a walled track (Low Straights Lane). Follow this track for a mile to reach a gate that is the end of the walled lane.
(4)Turn left onto the signed footpath which leads above Whitfield Gill which is down on your left. Continue by following the path across the gill. Turn left downstream shadowing the gill. Ignore paths to your left and right and stay with the stream down to a pretty waterfall (grid ref. SD938914). Continue downstream to a footbridge on your left. Cross this and turn right. This path leads onto a lane (grid ref. SD944911). Bear left along this lane which leads into Askrigg. Reaching the main street through the village, turn left to return to the start.(D/A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 748ft - Start: Askrigg village
1 : mi 0.27 - alt. 699ft - Take footpath on left
2 : mi 1.47 - alt. 653ft - Turn left at Nappa Mill
3 : mi 3.21 - alt. 1168ft - Turn left down lane
4 : mi 4.64 - alt. 1132ft - Turn left onto footpath
D/A : mi 6.16 - alt. 745ft - Finish: Askrigg village
Wensleydale offers some wonderful walking with the River Ure never too far away. The scenery is the valley is green and verdant with stone walls criss-crossing the landscape. On either side of the valley the land rises with some outcrops of limestone adding interest to the scenery.
Car Park: Village of Askrigg where a small car park is located at grid ref. SD950911
Alternative start : Worton Bridge (SD956903) - parking by the bridge for about 3 cars good alternative if Askrigg car park full.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.83/5
Number of opinions : 2
Description quality : 5/5
Routemap quality : 4.5/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Hi Walking bass,
Thank you for this great feedback! I have just altered the description following your instructions. Thank you for your time.
Enjoy your walks.
Delphine - Community Developer
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 29/05/22
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Lovely varied walk showing off typical Dales scenery. Generally well signed. We started at Worton Bridge (SD956903) - parking by the bridge for about 3 cars good alternative if Askrigg car park full. Couple of errors in the walk description. Section D - if you are walking down the road towards Hawes & Bainbridge, the church is on your right, not your left. Section 4 - following the path above Whitfield Gill, the gill is on your right, not your left. Section 1 - the path from the road to the river after you have passed the church is a little tricky to find. The footpath sign is on a wall which is behind you coming from the village and it looks like the entrance to an industrial unit. The path is to the left of the entrance to the unit.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 10/05/19
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Very good
Very good walk, easy to follow instructions from car park. Some stepping stones under water as river was fast and high.
6.13mi
+751ft
-751ft
3h30
Moderate
Starting point in Aysgarth - North Yorkshire This Yorkshire Dales walk explores the pleasant countryside and moorland of Wensleydale. It starts from Aysgarth village and uses moorland paths and tracks for much of its route.
13.4mi
+1870ft
-1883ft
7h50
Moderate
Starting point in Melbecks - North Yorkshire A walk of two distinct halves.
The first part of the walk ascends gently along the side of Gunnerside Gill, to take in the remains of the abandoned lead mines. It crosses the moor to Swinner Gill mine where a short detour takes in a waterfall and cave. The walk then curves around towards the village of Keld.
The second part of the walk descends to the waterfalls and then through the gentle valley curving around into Swaledale where it passes through typical Yorkshire Dales farmland.
1.03mi
+75ft
-75ft
0h30
Easy
Starting point in Hawes - North Yorkshire Pleasant walk from Hawes to Gayle bridge and back.
5.15mi
+673ft
-692ft
2h55
Moderate
Starting point in Burton-cum-Walden - North Yorkshire This is a circular walk from the lovely village of West Burton. The start has all the uphill and can be steep but the steep part is short lived. The views are great and there is some interest on the way around with the old lime kiln and the ruins of the Knights Templar chapel.
8.3mi
+1066ft
-1050ft
4h45
Moderate
Starting point in Melbecks - North Yorkshire A walk of two halves. The first part ascends gently on good tracks, passing the remains of the Old Gang Smelting Mill, before crossing the stream and crossing Melbecks Moor and passing the spoil heaps from the long ceased lead mining industry. The path descends via one of the 'hushes' to the Bunton Level above Gunnerside Gill. The return leg is on grassy paths which contour Brownsey Moor and pass through farmland, often following dry stone walls and passing working farms and traditional barns.
11.15mi
+1450ft
-1450ft
6h25
Very difficult
Starting point in Muker - North Yorkshire This is a circular route starting at Keld and takes in the stunning Kidston Falls and the Upper Swaledale valley before you climb the Gunnerside Gill to times past and the lead minning settlements. Climbing up out of the gill and on to the moors and superb views of the dales landscape and then dropping down the gully to Crackpot Hall and back to Keld.
6.52mi
+449ft
-453ft
3h25
Moderate
Starting point in West Witton - North Yorkshire This a pleasant walk in Wensleydale that allows you to enjoy this beautiful part of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The highlights of the walk include the River Ure, Redmire Force and the Chapel of the Kinights Templar.
5.71mi
+741ft
-741ft
3h15
Moderate
Starting point in Muker - North Yorkshire An easy walk in scenic Swaledale, with an adventurous option to witness the austere beauty of Swinner Gill.
For more walks, use our search engine.
The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
