Bolton Castle is a regular Wensleydale parking spot for the family with a public toilet and what used to be free parking, now pay and display.
So a handy starting point for a walk around the area, especially when Aysgarth Falls are just 3 miles away. The route is a simple anticlockwise loop starting and ending at Castle Bolton. Mainly through grassy fields, with some woodland just after Aysgarth falls and a tiny bit of following a road on the way back to Castle Bolton.
Firstly, here are a couple of pics of Bolton Castle – where we parked.
Leaving Tiggy in the car park.
From the car park, head away from the castle southwest following a footpath across numerous fields until you get to a road by Carperby at East End Farm.
Turn right, following the main road of Carperby for a hundred metres or so then cross the road at the Wheatsheaf Pub where you will see a footpath sign heading south to Aysgarth falls.
Follow the footpath South across more fields down to Freeholders Wood by Aysgarth falls.
The path just heads into the woods for a very short distance and then you join the road down to Yore Bridge by Aysgarth Falls. A quick mooch about Aysgarth falls and over the bridge to visit the Yore MIll Craft Shop and Gallery by the bridge.
And here are the falls themselves, made famous in the film Robin Hood Prince of Thieves!
The route back is back into Freeholders Wood, but at a path closer to the river. Heading northeast back through the woods with a steady, easy uphill climb slowly away from the river through St Josephs Wood and more fields – heading straight towards the Castle on the horizon.
After passing through lots of fields and following the road for a short distance at Wheeling Bridge. Where the road turns right just after the bridge take the footpath on the left over more fields towards Castle Bolton.
The footpath then joins the road with the last couple of hundred metres being uphill following the road back to the Castle.
As you head uphill keep an eye out for Alfraeda the Dragon on the right hand side of the road!
