Located in the heart of the North Yorkshire Dales National Park, Aysgarth Falls is an attraction not to be missed! Offering the chance to see the setting for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, the triple set of waterfalls at Aysgarth provide the backdrop to a beautiful day out in Yorkshire.
The spectacular falls are best viewed after a period of heavy rainfall as visitors observe gallons of water cascade and crash down the limestone steps which are divided into three sections. The upper, middle and lower falls are perfectly situated on the River Ure and provide the opportunity to follow a range of trails that suit all ages and abilities. Although the falls are the main feature of this fantastic site, visitors will also be greeted by a plethora of superb snowbells in January, perfect primroses in April and beautiful bluebells in May. Wonderous wildlife is also spotted throughout the year, with deer and squirrels in the wooded valley and leaping salmon in the Falls in autumn.
The Falls
There are three tiers to the waterfall at Asygarth and two different walking routes to follow as well.
The Lower and Middle Falls trail is roughly 1 mile (1.6km) long and begins in the car park next to the Visitor Centre. The blue route crosses the road into Freeholders’ Wood and follows a flat walkway making it suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs, apart from the final loop. There are different viewing spots along this route as well as places to sit and listen to the beautiful birdsong and running water.
The Upper Falls route is approximately ½ mile (0.8km) long and begins at the bottom of the car park. Visitors follow the purple route past Yore Bridge and up to the top for spectacular views of the main waterfall. There is a nice grassy area at the top and picnic benches for visitors to bring their own lunch to enjoy with a fantastic backdrop.
The Woodland Walk follows the red route through Freeholders’ Wood and across a dismantled railway track. Freeholders’ Wood is home to a wide range of wildlife including beautiful songbirds and dormice.
The Countryside Walk is a circular walk that follows the black route on the map. The walk begins in the car park and follows the route past the Lower and Middle Falls before taking visitors through working farmland and across the dismantled railway line. This trail offers picturesque views of Bolton Castle in the distance.
Access and Amenities
Located in the North Yorkshire Dales National Park, Aysgarth Falls is just a 25 minute drive from Leyburn and 4 miles from Bolton Castle. If travelling by car, the closest postcode is for the Aysgarth Falls National Visitor Centre, DL8 3TH. There is a car park located on site with enough space for 80 cars. The car park runs on a pay and display basis with parking for 2 hours costing £3 and parking for more than 2 hours costing £5. The machine accepts coins and card payments.
The Falls are also accessible via bus with regular routes into the village of Aysgarth from Leyburn and Hawes. The village of Aysgarth is just a 10 minute walk to the Falls.
The Visitor Centre is open daily from April to October between 10am and 5pm. Between November and March, the Visitor Centre is open on weekends only from 10am to 4pm. It is closed throughout January, but opens on 22nd and 23rd December and 27th -31st December. Opening hours can be subject to change so please check before visiting the site. The centre has plenty of information about the Falls including maps, but also provides information about many other local walks too. Entry to the Falls is free.
Next to the Visitor Centre is the Coppice Café which serves a range of sandwiches, hot and cold snacks, drinks and ice creams, most of which is made from locally sourced ingredients. The café has both indoor and outdoor seating where dogs are welcome. There are public toilets, including an accessible toilet, located next to the café and Visitor Centre.
