Aysgarth Falls Accessible Walk

An out-and-back accessible walk from Aysgarth Falls National Park Visitor Centre: 1.5 km each way, 3.0 km / 1.86 miles total. You follow the signed accessible corridor through Freeholders' Wood, beside the River Ure, to the marked turning point and viewing platform near the Middle Falls, then retrace the same path back to the centre. There is no loop and no shortcut return, so plan for the full there-and-back and turn around whenever you have had enough. The whole thing is low-level and gently graded.

The first 500 m does the heavy lifting for the view: a wide, well-surfaced path through coppiced woodland with the Middle Falls appearing through the trees, ending at an accessible viewing platform where the Ure spreads out over broad rock ledges. Benches are placed along the way, and gates on the route are fully accessible. Beyond the platform the mapped route continues roughly another kilometre through the wood before the turning point.

The opening 500 m is compact aggregate, at least 100 cm wide and comfortably firm. After that the character changes: about 1 km of unsurfaced grass, with woodland tree roots and stones in places. It is still easy walking, but it is not uniformly firm underfoot, so if you want the reliable surface only, treat the Middle Falls platform as your turning point and head back from there.

The site is managed as suitable for all abilities, with a firm wide path to the Middle Falls and an accessible platform. Two all-terrain wheelchairs, known as Trampers, can be hired from the visitor centre; book around 48 hours ahead, since there are only two. Note the limitation: the Lower Falls are reached by a flight of about 70 steps and are not wheelchair accessible. The Middle and Upper Falls have accessible approaches, and this particular route ends at the Middle Falls area.

Start from the visitor centre car park, which has public parking, four blue-badge bays, toilets including RADAR facilities, and a cafe. Everything is at the trailhead, which makes this an easy walk to fit around a coffee or a rest stop. If you want a shorter accessible waterfall instead, Cauldron Falls at nearby West Burton is a reasonable alternative.

Dogs are welcome on the public rights of way here. Keep them on a lead around livestock, and on a short lead from March to July to protect ground-nesting birds.