Day out: Burnsall, Linton and Thorpe, Yorkshire
Way through Wharfedale
Join Chris Gee as he hops from one village to the next though a peaceful valley in the Yorkshire Dales
Wharfedale offers some of the best autumn colours in the Yorkshire Dales and this is especially true of the delightful riverside walk that links Burnsall with Linton.
Burnsall sits below brooding Burnsall Fell, all gritstone and heather and a marked contrast to the surrounding lush green limestone reef knolls of Kail Hill, Elbolton and Stebden Hill.
It’s worth seeking out the old school in Burnsall, founded in 1602 by William Craven, for its mullioned windows and porch typical of the age. Make your way to the graceful arched bridge over the River Wharfe. Look for the stone that records this ancient bridge was repaired at the charge of the West Riding in 1674.
Dale trail
A sylvan section of the Dales Way then runs west past limestone Loup Scar, where the Wharfe is squeezed through a gap only to become calm again as you make your way below colourful wooded slopes. You’re now presented with the exciting choice of gingerly crossing the Wharfe on stepping stones or bouncing across on the lively suspension bridge. At this point, there’s also the option of a brief detour into the old lead-mining village of Hebden for refreshments at the Old School Tea Room.
Otherwise, stay with the Dales Way all the way to Linton Falls, keeping company with the Wharfe throughout. The mood of the river changes dramatically at Linton Falls as it tumbles over limestone rocks, presenting a challenge to the leaping salmon that can be seen here. The falls are on the edge of Grassington, which recently doubled as ‘Darrowby’ in the Channel 5 version of All Creatures Great and Small. It’s worth the 10-minute stroll into Wharfedale’s main village, a great place to potter and visit the charming little folk museum.
Table at the inn
Returning to Linton Falls, re-cross the Wharfe on the wooden footbridge and follow the lane up to picture-postcard Linton, with cottages, pub and almshouse set around a spacious green with multiple bridges over tiny Linton Beck. The Fountaine Inn, with its roaring fire, offers a cosy retreat for a local Wharfedale pint. From Linton, field paths climb to Thorpe Lane, which runs quietly on by those reef knolls to Thorpe in the Hollow.
Delightful old tracks and field paths then lead the way back to Burnsall, skirting Skulbert’s Hill and crossing Badger Lane for the final approach over multiple stone step stiles. The Red Lion in Burnsall offers a comfortable option for a hearty meal.
Chris Gee is the author of Walking the Yorkshire Coast: A Companion Guide