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.
Calculated time: 3h25[?] 
Distance : 6.52mi
Vertical gain : 449ft
Vertical drop : 453ft
Highest point : 866ft
Lowest point : 377ft 
Difficulty : Moderate
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : Yorkshire Dales 
Location : West Witton
Starting point : N 54.291419° / W 1.904223° Start : 54.291611, - 1.904137 in West Witton
(D/A) To get to the start, walk along A684 to West Witton. Look for a bus stop on the right, and turn downhill on the right on Flats Lane just after the bus stop and before the wall. Then, find a path on your right between to walls and walkway to the River Ure is just behind it North-West along Back Lane.
(1) Once at the River Ure follow the walkway to the West upstream, you will see Redmire Force and move on from there West until you see the stepping stones in the river.
The onward path leaves the river and with a wall on your right cross a stile and walk to the corner of the next field where another stile will be found. Cross this stile and following a clear path through trees you soon reach Redmire Force.
(2) After Redmire Force the path climbs away from the river and leaves the woodland. Continuing to follow the path across a number of fields you reach Stony Scoop Lane (grid ref. SE031895).
(3) The start of Stony Scoop Lane isn't obvious, go through the gate and walk up the field keeping the wall on your left and it becomes clearer. This partially enclosed track and follow it to reach the A684.
(4) With care turn left (East) along the main road. Just before Temple Farm take the stile on the right (South-East) and join the farm track that leads South across a field to reach a wood. The track then climbs through trees with a stile on the left allowing access to the remains of the Chapel of the Knights Templar. You may be impressed or not but the remains which include some graves date from the early thirteenth century.
(5) To continue, walk to the top of the field following an indistinct track. Continuing into the next field you reach a concrete track. Continue uphill on along this track until it bends right.
(6) When you leave the concrete track you are faced by two gates in the wall! Take the left hand one. Don't be tempted by the stiles further up the slope. Walk uphill to a gate in a wall. Turning East, cross the next field to a further gate and another field. Keep the wall on your immediate right and you will soon locate a stile. This provides access to the walled Langthwaite Lane.
(7) Walk East along this lane with Nossill Scars and the flanks of Penhill above to your right. After three quarters of a mile the walled lane exits onto a tarmac lane (grid ref. SE053882).
(8) Walk straight ahead and continue to the A684. Turn right along the main road and walk through the village back to the start in West Witton (D/A).
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 584ft - West Witton bus stop
1 : mi 0.76 - alt. 404ft - Follow the River Ure upstream
2 : mi 2.73 - alt. 472ft - Redmire Force
3 : mi 3.59 - alt. 456ft - Stony Scoop Lane
4 : mi 4.06 - alt. 515ft - A684, turn left
5 : mi 4.63 - alt. 741ft - Chapel of the Knights Templar
6 : mi 4.89 - alt. 853ft - Concrete track
7 : mi 5.1 - alt. 866ft - Walk east
8 : mi 5.85 - alt. 751ft - Tarmac lane
D/A : mi 6.52 - alt. 581ft - West Witton bus stop
This walk includes one of the longest sections of footpath beside the River Ure in Wensleydale with a visit to Redmire Force an added bonus. Route finding is generally easy although some care is needed with navigation. The latter half of the walk includes the opportunity to see the Chapel of the Knights Templar which, for some, is somewhat disappointing.
Car park : A new large layby has been built at the Eastern end of West Witton or a quarter of a mile before entering West Witton from the Leyburn side.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.44/5
Number of opinions : 9
Description quality : 4.22/5
Routemap quality : 4.44/5
Walk interest : 4.67/5
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 20/06/22
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
A fantastic walk
Thank you Walking Bass and Dave Beef for those detailed feedbacks. I just altered the descriptions and information and hope it will be clearer for the next walkers.
Enjoy your walks
Delphine - Community Developer
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 09/06/22
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Average
Walk interest
: Very good
Parking -- there is a newly established lay-bye about a quarter of a mile before entering West Witton from the Leyburn side. From there walk to West Wiitton. Look for a bus stop on the RHS and the walled walkway to the River Ure is just behind it.
Once at the River follow the walkway to the West -- you will see Redmire Force and move on from there west until you see the stepping stones in the river. From here you have about half a mile to go until you head for the main road.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 06/06/22
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Relatively straightforward mainly valley walk which is wonderful. Be aware there may be bulls in some of the fields!! Since the description was written a new large layby has been built at the eastern end of West Witton so parking is easy. Walk back from the layby towards West Witton for about 300 m and the walled lane drops down on your right just at a bus stop. Section 1 - the start of Stony Scoop Lane isn't obvious, go through the gate and walk up the field keeping the wall on your left and it becomes clearer. Section 2 - there is just enough verge to walk off the carriageway of the A684 facing the traffic, but not pleasant! Section 3 - from the Chapel ruins, when you leave the concrete track you are faced by two gates in the wall! Take the left hand one. Don't be tempted by the stiles further up the slope.
Global average : 5 / 5
Date of walk
: 15/04/21
Description quality
: Very good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Stunning scenery! The beginning of the walk was a little confusing as it stated that the path was adjacent to the parking area. This is not the case, you have to walk approximately 50 meters down the road before you reach the path on the opposite side of the road. Some of the paths across the fields are also a little indistinguishable. Apart from the minor issues, this is a fantastic walk.
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 31/03/21
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
The "Bull in Field" sign is still there but no sign of the bull. We were turned back at Stony Scoop Lane by one of the occupants of the nearby houses and directed across the field to the main road. This added quite a bit to the walk and was pretty irritating as there is a clear public footpath sign at the top of the lane.
The route to the temple past the farm is currently sloppy ankle deep mud for about 15 metres then uphill through a stream. The views from the top were worth it, though!
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 10/11/20
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Beautiful autumn walk. Took longer than suggested because I had to stop and take photos - a very picturesque river and waterfall. As previously mentioned there were two 'bull in field' notices which we ignored. Both fields contained sheep, thankfully.
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 07/11/20
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
Great walk
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 08/09/20
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
Became slightly confused on the first section at end of lane down to river, farmer had put a bull in field sign and not sure if we should go into the field.
The river was in full flow and great to watch all other directions OK
Global average : 4 / 5
Date of walk
: 14/08/20
Description quality
: Good
Easiness to follow the route
: Good
Walk interest
: Good
Instructions generally good, although we went on the wrong track from Redmire Force to the main road.
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+1870ft
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+246ft
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Easy
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+1831ft
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Moderate
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
