Aysgarth Falls are a very well known set of waterfalls on the River Ure in Wensleydale, located at the village of Aysgarth towards the eastern end of the dale.  There are three sets of falls over a stretch of river of just under 1 mile where the river falls over a series of limestone steps.  Whilst none of the falls are a great height, the volume of water flowing over the falls makes for an impressive sight, especially when the river is in spate.

The falls were used in the film Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves where Robin fights against Little John.  At the time of filming, the water level must have been very low, as normally the falls would be too dangerous to attempt try to cross.

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Location and Parking

Post Code: DL8 3TH

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The main road through Wensleydale is the A684.  Half a mile east of the village of Aysgarth, at the Aysgarth Falls Hotel, turn North onto a minor road called Church Bank.  There are two car parks for the falls, one is immediately after this turning at the Falls Coffee House, however this car park involves a bit of re-ascent from the falls. The other car park is at the Visitor Centre, which is reached by descending to the river, crossing the bridge and continuing a few yards on the opposite bank.  Both car parks are Pay and Display. From the Visitor Centre car park, paths set off upstream to the Upper Falls and downstream to the Middle and Lower Falls.

Upper Aysgarth Falls

The ground around the Upper Falls is quite open, allowing plenty of variation in composing shots. The river here is fairly wide and the falls form a slight horseshoe shape across the river. This stretch of river is particularly attractive in Autumn as the opposite bank is covered with trees.

Middle Aysgarth Falls

To reach the Middle Falls, return to the car park, cross the road and continue on the path through the woodland parallel to the river.  In contrast to the Upper Falls, the Middle Falls can only be viewed from the viewing platform which severely restricts the composition. Some variation can be introduced by shooting from higher up the path and framing the falls with the trees. The river here is narrower, and the drop slightly higher, so these falls appear more powerful than the upper falls.

 

Lower Aysgarth Falls

Lower Aysgarth Falls are reached after an attractive walk along the riverside. At the Lower Falls, the path forms a loop which leads to the top of the Falls, however by continuing downstream on a minor path, it is possible to climb down onto the limestone pavements for views of the Falls from below. The Lower Falls are the most impressive of the three as the river drops in a series of steps.

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