Yorkshire Dales, Carperby and Aysgarth

 Thursday 18th September 2025

The morning dawns bright but we know it can be as fickle as the American president (currently enjoying hospitality at Windsor) so we plan to head out promptly to make the most of the calmer weather before expected storms this afternoon.

Drove to Carperby and a varied walk crossing open dales, stone walls, sheep fields, riversides and into Aysgarth Falls Hotel for lunch. We followed part of Walking World ID:208 anti-clockwise from Carperby to Aysgarth.

As we leave we visit the local church with its excellent medieval “Jervaulx” screen and also Aysgarth Falls themselves now awash with heavy rain from the uplands.

There are many remains of the lead mining which once made this area so prosperous, but has left bare patches on the landscape where nothing will grow.

Walking World notes: "There is easy walking throughout on this varied ramble, but despite feeling remote at times the walker is never too far from civilisation. There is also the opportunity to shorten the walk if bad weather or aching legs intervene."
The rest of the walk is again by rivers and across fields of cattle or sheep with extensive views until we reach Carperby again. As we drive back to Thwaite along the narrow twisting roads the long-promised rain descends and there is mist on the hills. But now we are back at Kearton having showers and mugs of tea.

In the evening to the King’s Head Gunnerside which. Is a busy traditional local pub with good hearty meals and good
Black Sheep beer.