, the present western terminus of the
Wensleydale Railway. Walk
5 LEYBURN SHAWL TO BOLTON CASTLE
This walk begins with a
gentle climb along Leyburn Shawl, one of the most impressive viewpoints in
Wensleydale, through attractive woodland and across riverside pastures, to the
village of Redmire, and onto the dramatic medieval castle and village of Castle
Bolton. You can travel by Dales
& District bus 159 direct from Richmond to Leyburn, with good connections
back to Leyburn either by bus 157, or by train from Redmire Station (1.2km or ¾
mile by field path from Castle Bolton – allow half an hour to walk).
Distance:
7 miles - 11 kilometres
Time:
Allow a minimum of 3½ hours for
the walk, plus an hour to see the Castle.
Maps:
OS Explorer Map OL30 or Harvey Dales North.
Refreshments:
Choice of cafes, pubs, shops in Leyburn; pub, shop in Redmire, café in
Castle Bolton (visitors to Castle only)
Toilets:
Leyburn, Castle Bolton
Getting
there
Take the 159 Dales & District Ripon bus from Richmond Market Place to Leyburn, daily (Sundays excepted). The journey takes 26 minutes. Recommended connections to give you plenty of time to complete this walk leave Richmond at 0850 or 1005. A return ticket to Leyburn costs around £4.00, but if you are coming back from Castle Bolton by bus, the best buy is a Dales & District Freedom ticket costing £7.00 (children £4.00)
Coming
back from Castle Bolton to Leyburn and Richmond
Dales & District Bus
157 leaves from the village centre for Leyburn, Mondays
to Saturdays at 1302 taking 15 minutes to Leyburn; 159 leaves from
the same bus stop in Leyburn for Richmond at 1435,
1535
and 1635.
There are also a later bus
from Castle Bolton to Leyburn at 1832, but there is no
connection off this service to Richmond.
On some days you can also take the Wensleydale Railway train from Redmire back to Leyburn. See www.wensleydalerailway.com for times and dates of operation.
Emergency
taxi back-up: Phone 01748 825
112 or 822 269
Drivers:
Park in Leyburn and return to Leyburn at the end of the walk from Castle
Bolton or Redmire by bus or train.
Directions:
From Leyburn Market Place
follow the sign for Leyburn Shawl that leads from the north western corner of
the square, through Commercial Square
and along the cul-de-sac road leading to a pedestrian gate. This is popular walk
from Leyburn to the Shawl, soon ascending a long, narrow ridge, above Shawls
Wood, through gates and stiles, with, as you climb, ever grander views across
and along the whole length of mid Wensleydale, Pen Hill majestic in the
foreground, Addleborough just visible beyond.
Keep ahead along the
summit of the ridge, maintaining the same direction past Warren Wood to locate a
path, near the end of the wood, through stiles on the left, which swings down
towards Gillfield Wood ahead. Follow the waymarks as the path twists thorough the wood,
over a footbridge, eventually emerging in the lane some 200 metres east of
Preston under Scar.
Just beyond the cross
roads in the village, look for the path, left, between houses, which soon curves
to the left before descending to cross the Wensleydale Railway and the Redmire
road at Stoneham Cottage. The route
now follows the public right of way almost opposite, along the farm access road
down to where it meets the track past Bolton Hall Farm, then turning right along
the long track that climbs through West Wood.
This becomes a field path marked by gates and stiles along pastures above
the river, eventually joining Well Lane, a narrow tarmac track that leads into
Redmire. Turn right into the
village, but left at the first fork by the village green, heading towards Castle
Bolton. This leads up to Redmire Station, the present western terminus of the
Wensleydale Railway.
Unless you are returning
to Leyburn by train, follow the footpath alongside the railway line which
crosses two becks before heading off, after around 300 metres, diagonally uphill
to the right, directly towards Castle Bolton. At a gate turn sharp right along a
track which directly leads into the village street, with its village green and
attractive mid 14th century church.
This magnificent late 14th
century Castle, built by Richard Scope Lord Chancellor of England, which once
held Mary Queen of Scots as a prisoner, has fascinating exhibitions with
recreations of its long and colourful history. It makes a perfect focal point of
the walk – refreshments available at the Castle.
© Colin Speakman, May 2005