This walk takes in a Dales beauty spot, but take care as it can be muddy and slippy underfoot and there are number of narrow gates and steps to negotiate.

WATER is an important feature of the landscape in Wensleydale - and this week's walk takes in the magnificent Aysgarth Falls.

The River Ure tumbles over great limestone steps in three glistening white water surges, stretching for almost a mile.

Particularly spectacular after wet weather, the falls have been attracting visitors for more than 200 years.

Ruskin, Turner and Wordsworth have all enthused about the falls’ outstanding beauty and the upper and middle falls featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, starring Kevin Costner.

However, take care around the fall viewpoints as the limestone can be slippy.

Close by to the Falls is Freeholders’ Woods, an ancient coppiced woodland, which is now a nature reserve, and the Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre, which has a café famous for its home-made cakes.

Nearby is St Andrew's church, which has a large churchyard, reputed to be the largest in England. The church has a medieval painted wooden screen rescued from the destroyed Jervaulx Abbey.

The town is also home to Aysgarth Edwardian Rock Garden, commissioned by local landowner Frank Sayer-Graham (1859-1946). It has such a fascinating story that it has now grade two listed.

The route also provides views of Bolton Castle, famous for the imprisonment of Mary Queen of Scots, after her defeat at battle and abdication from Scotland.

Now one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles, it was originally built, by Sir Richard Le Scrope, to rival the finest and most luxurious homes in the land. Completed in 1399, its scars bear testament to over 600 years of fascinating histor.

Equally worth a visit is the village itself, named Castle Bolton, with its attractive village green and the surrounding houses unusually all built facing the view across the valley rather than the green. The 13th century village church of St Oswald also offers interest.

The walk has been provided by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and, for more routes, visit yorkshiredales.org.uk

Step by step

1. Leave the car park in the direction of the Lower and Middle Falls. Cross the road with care, and take the obvious well made path. After a short distance, steps lead down to the Middle Falls viewing point. Continuing on along the path, pass through a gate and then on your

right you will see the return path from the Lower Falls. (You can visit this waterfall on a circular path which has many steps.)

2. Take the grassy path to the left signed Castle Bolton and follow this alongside a fence to reach a gate and sign to Redmire and Castle Bolton. Go straight ahead on a grass track aiming just to the right of some farm buildings.

3. Go through two field gates and on to the tarmac track through the farm. Go through another gate and then take the footpath on the right. Walk alongside the fence to a fingerpost and turn left signed Freeholders Wood. From here distant views of Castle Bolton can be enjoyed, built in 1399 this is one of the country’s best preserved medieval castles.

4. Over the field to a gate. Turn right on to the track, and then immediately left on a footpath signed Aysgarth. Straight across the next field to meet a track. Turn left and go under an old railway bridge.

5. Just beyond the bridge take the footpath to the right signed Aysgarth, and follow the path as it twists through the wood. Birds such as treecreepers, chiffchaffs and warblers may be spotted, along with roe deer. Dormice were successfully reintroduced into the wood in 2008. Do not disturb any wildlife by opening the nesting boxes in the wood. Go through a narrow gate and continue through woodland to come out close to the road. Cross back over the road to return to the National Park Centre and café.

Distance: 2.5km (1.5 miles)

Time: a minimum of 45 minutes

Parking: Aysgarth National Park Centre

Toilets: Aysgarth National Park Centre

Refreshments: café at start point