Aysgill Force, Hawes

 Directions to Aysgill Force:

(Walk instructions should be used in conjunction with a map)

SEPTEMBER 2024 Update: Previously (April 2024), we’d advised to avoid due to muddy conditions. We have since re-walked in August 2024. There are now duckboards installed on the approach to the falls, which improves the muddy path situation. If you are in doubt, try one of our other Wensleydale routes .

1. We began this walk at the bridge in Hawes, where you can take in the view of the waterfalls of Gayle Beck. At the bridge, keeping the waterfalls on your left (as if you are walking into the market place of Hawes), walk along the cobbled main road for a very short distance, until you see the butchers on your right. Shortly after on your left, there are some steps that lead upwards to a cobbled path. It leads through some cute cottages, and then heads leftwards along another cobbled access lane, leading up towards St Margaret’s Church.

2. At the church, take the path, that heads left and around the back of the church. It will lead you to a mini path crossroads, which is signposted. You need to take the path signposted Pennine Way FP Gayle 1/4 mile. It heads diagonally leftwards, and roughly follows the line of Gayle Beck, which will be on your left. This path is paved, and well defined. There is a narrow stone ‘squeeze’ accompanied by a gateway before the path leads you alongside the Wensleydale Creamery on your right. You will then reach Gayle Lane (a road). If you have used the Gayle Lane pay and display car park, you can cut out the beginning of this walk, by simply walking up the road to this point. Although, the waterfalls in the middle of Hawes where we started are definitely worth a look, particularly after wet weather!

3. Turn left and walk along the pavement for approximately 250 yards. You will reach the bridge at Gayle, where you will see some more cateract waterfalls in the beck. The footpath leads along the near side (right hand side) of the beck heading upstream, through some more cute cottages and along a cobbled path. It then heads a little way up the residential road (these roads are access roads, and are quiet) keeping left. After 200 yards, you will see a stone stepped stile in the wall to your left, marked by a mosaic candle. There is a metal kissing gate at the top. Head through this.

4. The wide grassy path heads across the field, heading in a rough diagonal right direction until you reach another stile. This is marked by a signpost. You need to take the path signposted Aysgill Force. This is the left of the two paths leading from this point. After a short distance you will see a waymarker post, with two yellow arrows. At this point, you need to take the arrow pointing diagonally left, and head down the stepped path.

5. The path heads down to a flagged section, then gets closer to the edge of the beck. It bends round to the right and heads through a gap in the wall. After this it heads through a gate, then bends left around the end of a drystone wall. After that, it bends round to the right and to another gate in the wall. After this point, the path is flagged for a while.

6. You will be more or less following the beck, with the path rising up higher all the way to the waterfall. Whilst most of the path is either flagged, duck-boarded, or has a hardcore surface, be aware that parts of the path here can get muddy in places and around the area of the falls, there are some steep unguarded drops. There is no path that leads to the base or the waterfall, but you can get a great view from the little wooden bridge right next door! APRIL 2024 UPDATE TO INSTRUCTION 5: Whilst there is a previous warning of mud, after the unprecedented rainfall of 2023-2024 the mud next to the falls has become extremely muddy and slippery next to the unguarded drop. AUGUST 2024 UPDATE: There has now been some wooden boardwalk put in on parts of the path to the falls and the paths are no longer treacherously muddy.

7. After the bridge, head up the stepped path and keep alongside the beck. The path here is flagged and is obvious. At the first footbridge, you will see a large signpost on your right. Take the path, signposted public footpath, that heads straight on. Do not cross the beck, you need to stay on this side.

8. The footpath continues to follow the line of the beck, and takes you past a barn. At approximately 200 yards after the barn, the path begins to leaves the side of the beck and then soon after joins a wide farm track. This is your furthest point and you will make a turn to the right, that almost feels like you are doubling back on yourself! But don’t worry, you aren’t!

9. After making the sharp right onto the farm track, head slightly upwards to the gate in the wall. Head through this and turn right and continue along the wide track. It has a wall on the right, and a wire fence on the left. P.S. The views along this track back along Wensleydale are beeeeeaautiful!

10. The track heads through several gates, and passes some farm buildings. After a mile, it eventually turns into a roughly tarmacked access track (the access road to the farm). Here, after a short distance, you will see a signpost on your right pointing Pennine Way FP West End 1/4 mile. Head through the little wooden gate in the wall. Follow the path.

11. After a short distance, you will find yourself back at the large signpost you encountered at the start of the walk, this time take the path signposted Gayle, that takes you back across the field you walked on at the start, back to the candle mosaic and then you need to head back to the bridge in Gayle, and reverse the route you made at the start back into Hawes!

12. If you want to nip to the pay area in Gayle, this is on your left on the main road that heads into Hawes.

Last walked August 2024.