Bainbridge, Wensleydale - 10 miles

NOTE: THIS WALK WILL SET OFF PROMPTLY DUE TO THE LIMITED TIME AVAILABLE BEFORE OUR AFTER-WALK REFRESHMENT VENUE CLOSES FOR THE DAY!!

Second run-out for this walk previously led in 2024. A scenic, rewarding & exhilarating walk, well worth the long drive up into Wensleydale! The village of Bainbridge is located on the A684 between Leyburn and Hawes, five miles beyond Aysgarth.
Stunning vista’s, several river crossings, cascades and a delightful view of Semer Water, winding woodland trails, attractive villages and the barren beauty of moorland landscape features extensively on this walk. A good work-out this one!

Terrain: from Bainbridge, we ascend a couple of fields to the top of Brough Scar and onto the hamlet of Cubeck. A stony track then climbs up quite steeply across the western flanks of Addleborough to join a country lane that leads down to Carpley Green. A grassy path (potential to be soft underfoot) skirts around the eastern slopes of Addleborough then drops down along a track into Thornton Rust. There are a few narrow streams to negotiate on what is a long stretch of moorland walking. After about a mile of road walking, a short, steep woodland path leads down to a succession of fields into Worton from where we walk across further fields on a flagged stone path up to the old railway line into Askrigg. From here, field paths take us back to Bainbridge alongside the old railway embankment.

Ascents: Worton Pasture is 370m above sea level and Thornton Rust Moor is 410 metres above sea level.

The walk will be led at a steady pace: not too fast, not too slow. Please be ready to start walking at the advertised time. No mobile reception.

Walk fee: £3. No dogs please. Bring packed lunch/drink/snacks with you. No morning break on this walk as our lunch spot will be reached by midday. However, we will be having a second, shorter break in the afternoon.

Start point: Bainbridge village green – at the end of the green nearest to the tearoom – opposite end to the pub. Roadside parking around the large village green and other ‘pockets’ around the village. Car sharing is highly recommended for this one. A toilet block is located at the pub end of the village green over to the right-hand side near the swings – 20p required. Postcode of the tearoom is DL8 3EH.

After-walk refreshment: The pub c.1445 is, alas, currently closed but the tearoom has extended its hours so we will be back just in time to benefit. We are scheduled to be back 30mins before it closes and the proprietor said it would be fine for us to call in ‘so long as we don’t want anything that will take time to prepare'.

I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.
field crossing to pick up the main road