Aysgarth Falls National Park Centre

You can walk straight from the car park to the waterfalls without ever going inside, and plenty of people do. The reason to give the centre five minutes is that it turns a quick waterfall photo into a proper half day. Staff know the paths, the woods and the local routes, and they will tell you honestly which walk suits your legs, your boots and your time. There are area displays, guidebooks, leaflets and maps, plus help with booking accommodation and with planning public transport if you are not driving.

If the centre itself is shut, the car park, the waterfalls and the local walks are still there to use.

• Shop with maps, books, souvenirs and clothing
• Coppice Cafe behind the centre, a separate facility with sit-in and takeaway drinks, cakes and meals, indoor and outdoor seating, and vegetarian, vegan and coeliac options
• Toilets, including accessible toilets with grab rails
• Car park with accessible provision and an electric car charger point
• Dog friendly, cycle friendly and Dark Sky friendly

The centre sits at the top of the site, so the three stepped waterfalls on the River Ure are a short walk away, with Freeholders' Wood Local Nature Reserve alongside and several easy woodland paths through it. Longer options head out toward Carperby or the village of Aysgarth. The upper falls are the quickest to reach; the full circuit taking in middle and lower falls adds slopes, steps and uneven limestone and tree roots, and the climb back from the lower falls is the hardest part, particularly with a buggy.

The centre is a practical base, not the attraction. It is compact, and if you only want the view you will get more out of your time on the riverside paths. Parking is paid, and on a good weekend you may circle for a space or wait for one. Come for the falls and the woods; use the centre to make the visit smoother.

Yorkshire Dales National Park Car Park, Aysgarth Falls, Church Bank, Aysgarth, Leyburn, DL8 3TH. Grid reference SE 0108 8878.