When we create the programme for the year we try to include routes which are new and routes we have not visited for some time. Reeth to Aysgarth is one of those routes we included on the programme this year for the 7th June. We walked the routes from Reeth to Aysgarth back in May 2019, however, looking at the routes again after all this time, they were difficult routes that climbed from Swaledale into Wensleydale over some dull and boring moorland. So there is a change to the programme and we are going to stay in and around Wensleydale and finish at Bainbridge which is where we last finished back in June 2016.

There are three routes to choose from and they all start along the A684 road after Leyburn as the road runs along the valley beside the River Ure. The first to start is the 9.5 mile route which is going to start by walking through the remains of the Knights Templar Preceptory. The route then continues to West Burton, crosses the valley of Bishopdale and passes through Thoralby. From Thoralby a footpath goes uphill for a short distance and heads north-west to Thorton Rust. A short stretch of minor road and another footpath takes the route just south of Bainbridge and then its downhill to the finish.

The 10.5 mile route starts near Aysgarth and heads north over Yore Bridge towards Carperby. It then climbs to the high ground and heads roughly north-west looking down into Wesleydale. The route then drops down just north of Askrigg and visits Whitfield Gill Force before turning back towards Askrigg and heading down to the River Ure. The route then crosses another Yore Bridge and comes into Bainbridge from the north. 

The final route is 11.5 miles and starts in the village of Aysgarth. This route follows several old drove routes roughly westwards towards the small village of Stalling Busk in Raydale. A footpath goes north-east past Semer Water to Semer Water Bridge and then follows the River Bain. the shortest river in England into Bainbridge

 If you follow the routes on a map you will see that they all head in completely different directions but you can only choose one of them, which one will it be? You can get in touch with us from our Contact Page, you can also download the walk descriptions here and the GPS routes here.

The last time we visited Bainbridge was in June 2016 when the image for this post was taken. It shows one of the groups walking on the high ground above Wesleydale.