Yorkshire Walks

Leaving the lay-by to to walk into West Witton

We parked in a large gravel lay-by on the Eastern edge of the village at map ref. SE067884. From the lay-by we walked about 300m up the road into the village and turned right off the main road on to the access road to Wanlass Farm.

We had a few things to do this morning so it was 12 o'clock by the time my wife and I arrived in Leyburn in Wensleydale. We stopped in the market square for some lunch before driving a few kilometers further up Wensleydale to West Witton.

Start of the access road to Wanlass Farm

Route of the old by-way across the field

Looking downstream where we met the River Ure

As soon as we were through the second field gate at map ref. SE056895, we turned right to follow a public right of way to the River Ure.

We walked along the farm access road for about 1.2km to map ref. SE059895. Here we turned left to follow an old by-way across the fields.

Wooded bank of the River Ure

Looking down the steep bank of the River Ure

River Ure from the path above the river

After about 150m we came to a bend in the river where there were some rapids and a very pleasant view of the river.

At the river bank we turned left walking along the path at quite a height above the river.

Our path following the river upstream

Cattle grazing in the riverside pasture

Entering the woods above Redmire Force

River Ure below Redmire Force

Along the way the river was not always visible but there were some lovely views of it. Part way along the path goes through an area of large grassy mounds which I believe are morrains left by the retreating glaciers at the end of the last ice age.

We continued along the path following the river for almost 3km to map ref. SE031895, where there are some stepping stones over the river (only passable when the river is low).

The woods above Redmire Force

Redmire Force on the River Ure

Glacial morrains by the River Ure

River Ure just below the stepping stones that lead across to Redmire

Woodland path leading down to the stepping stones

Track up to the main road

We turned left to walk along the road for about 500m to Temple Farm.

At the stepping stones we turned away from the river to follow a track out to the road (A684) at map ref. SE028889.

Stepping stones to Redmire across the R. Ure

The temple at Temple Farm seen from the track

Walking along the A684

Young swallows gathering for the migration

We followed a path in a Southerly direction across a field to the edge of a wood at map ref. SE033887. Through the gate into the wood there was a stony track climbing up through the wood to a field at the top of the wood.

It is a busy main road and we had to keep well into the wet long grass on the narrow verge to be clear of the fast moving traffic. At Temple Farm, map ref. SE032889, we turned right off the main road.

Leaving the main road at Temple Farm

Path to the Templars' Chapel

Woodland path to the Templars' Chapel

Sign posts at the templars' Chapel

Here, through a stile, we came to the ruins of the Templars' Chapel. There is not much of the place left, but I wondered why there were enough Knights Templar in this remote place to warrant the building of their own chapel.

Information about the Templars' Chapel

Ruins of the Templars' Chapel

View across Wensleydale from our path

Redmire village across the valley

After about 1.5km we met the main road again at map ref. SE048888.

From the chapel we continued along the path around the top edge of the woods.

Our path along the top edge of the woods

Stone barn in the field by our path

Stile into the small wood

Racehorse training gallops by our path

There we found a stile and the path resumed to cross two more fields bringing us to the road on the Western end of West Witton village.

Fortunately we did not have to join the road again. The path continued in the fields and climbed up away from the road. The path disappeared for a couple of fields and we simply kept to the route shown on the map until we came to the corner of a small wood at map ref. SE052886.

Overgrown path along the wood edge

Joining the main road at the edge of West Witton

Walking back through West Witton

The weather had been as forecast, lots of light squally showers and bright sunny intervals with a strong breeze. Overall a very pleasant walk.

From there we walked along the road through the village for just over 1km back to our parking spot. The whole route had been about 10km and it had taken us three and a half hours to walk.

Walking back through West Witton