Aysgarth to Kettlewell (Mark Reid's The Inn Way Route)

*** To help you follow the route with confidence we have provided a general overview below of the Aysgarth to Kettlewell via Mark Reid's Inn Way route to keep you on track. The Ales and Dales Trail largely follows England's national walking trail networks and is navigationally straightforward, however, please ensure that you follow the GPS tracks in the Macs Adventure smartphone app to ensure you have a safe, enjoyable and problem-free day.  The daily maps can also be printed from the web version of the app should you wish to take paper copies with you. ***

NOTE:  if you overnighted in a nearby village with return taxi transfers, instead of staying in Aysgarth itself (likely due to availability issues) then your return taxi transfer will drop you off at West Burton Village Green instead - you can skip Stage 1 below and move straight onto Stage 2, 

 Stage 1 (Aysgarth Falls Hotel to West Burton Village Shop) - 0.0 to 2.1km: Leaving the Aysgarth Falls Hotel (with your back to it), turn left and walk down the pavement that skirts the main A684, After around 150 metres you'll see a driveway to a house on the right, just beyond it, turn right over the wall stile signposted for "Eshington Bridge". Follow the faded green track through the lush open fields all the way down to the bridge itself (you can't go wrong here as it's well signposted the entire way (if in any doubt just check the red line on the Macs App). At the bridge, cross over and around 50 metres on your right, turn right through the hole in the drywall and follow the track signed for "West Burton". Again. follow the obvious but faded path through the open field with Bishopdale Beck on your right. The path eventually swings left and heads past some farm buildings and out onto a paved B road. Cross the road and follow the path on the opposite side into the village of West Burton.

Stage 2 (West Burton Village Shop to Fleensop Moor path turn off) - 2.1 to 5.2km: From West Burton's Village Shop, stay on the road known as "Back Nook" that skirts the village green with a memorial in the middle of it. Pass the island of houses and take the road that swings left out the village (signed for "Walden Only"). The road (known as "Dame Lane") begins to head uphill, follow it until you reach a path that you take on your left - signed for Cote Bridge. Head right, over the field and down towards the bridge over Walden Beck. After crossing the bridge follow the path signed for Cote Bridge, staying close to the river on your right, and head towards Cote Bridge itself (It's not visible straight away due to trees covering it). Pass through the gates, and turn left onto the paved road (known as Whiterow road). Follow Whiterow road south as it gradually climbs around 2 kilometres, going left of the entrance to Whiterow farm until you reach a cattle grid. The turn-off to Fleensop moor is just ahead of you on the left.

Stage 3 (Fleensop Moor path turn off to Thwaite Arms in Horse House) - 5.2 to 10.3km: Follow this obvious stony path as it climbs steeply uphill - ignoring the paths on your right. The gradient levels off considerably around at the (6-kilometre) mark, where not soon after you will pass through a gate. Continue to follow the path as it bends right (around the 7-kilometre mark) ignoring various noticeable paths on your left. Eventually, you drop down to a stream crossing (Fleemis Gill) and then start heading back uphill again to where the path intersects with the wall on your left. 

Pass through the gate on your left and follow the path across the moorland until it intersects will the stone wall (you should see a wooden gate) running to your right (8.7-kilometre mark). Go through the wooden gate in the wall and cross the field diagonally to reach another gate at the opposite bottom hand corner of the field from where your standing, The path across the field is not very distinct, so use the Macs App red line to keep yourself on track if you are in any doubt. After reaching the gate, it's around a kilometre to the Hamlet of Horse House - you will pick up a more noticeable track that's between two wall lines, head down veering left then right through a wooded section that brings you out into a paved country road. Turn right at the junction and the Thwaite Arms in Horse House is just on your left.

Hopefully, you called in advance and got confirmation they are open on the day you are walking - it can be a bit of a hit or a miss if you are just passing by (even outside the uncertainty that Covid19 has created).

Stage 4 (Thwaite Arms in Horse House to the Starbotton Road turn off) - 10.3 to 18.6km:  With your back to the Thwaite arms, turn left and follow the road out Horse Shoe. after around a kilometre you'll approach a fork in the road - bear left onto a lesser defined country road signed for Arkleside only (you'll notice from here onward there are no visible dotted track lines on the map for some sections - they are right of way paths (sometimes tractor tracks) and easy to follow - keep an eye on the Macs App red line if you lose your way.

Cross the bridge just after the Arkleside Only sign and follow the paved road till you reach another bridge, taking the footpath on your right signed for Woodale. Follow this path across the field as it veers left, leading you to a wall gate onto a farm road. Turn right after the wall gate, and follow the farm road to the end of the track (passing the farm itself on your right). Here walk along the field and aim for the top left-hand corner, where a bit of hopscotching is required, first pass through a wall stile then cross a small stream up through the gate in the wall to the right. Next, cross the River Coverack at the bridge and turn left. From here it's a matter of following the obvious track skirting the riverside into Woodale via Middle Farm and back on onto the road again (known as Cam Gill Road).

At the road, turn left and follow it for a long 5 kilometres that gradually wades uphill, until you reach the Starbotton Road turn off. The turn-off is an obvious green lane that bears right off the paved road. There is also a signpost with an information board next to it. keep a close eye on the Macs App so you don't overshoot it.

Stage 5 (Startbotton Road turn off to Kettlewell) - 18.6 to 24km: Again in this final section, the dotted trail lines are not visible on the map for sections but the path exists (known as Starbotton Road), it's well signposted and is easy enough to follow. (keep a close eye on the Macs App red trail line if you have any problems).

Follow the Green lane (Known as Starbotton Road) as it heads towards the skyline in front of you all the way until you reach a gate. Pass through the gate and continue onto another obvious stony path that goes up and around the top of the valley, ensuring you are always following the signposts to Kettlewell. When you reach the junction at around the 21.1-kilometre mark come off the Starbotton Road (that carries onto Starbotton) and bear left, switching onto the Green Lane heading downward in the direction of Kettlewell. This lane eventually turns into a walled stony path known as"Top Mere Road". Follow it all the way down till you reach the paved road at Kettlewell. Turn right at the junction and make your way to one of the many pubs for a well-earned celebratory drink after completing the full Ales and Dales Trail!

Cheers!

Post Ales and Dales Trail Drinks recommendation in Kettlewell:  Both The Blue Bell Inn and Racehorses Hotel are worth a visit.

*** This is the end of our Aysgarth to Kettlewell (Inn Way) route and the end of the Ales Dales trail - an included taxi transfer should take you, to your overnight accommodation in Grassington***