Wensleydale, Yorkshire

Aysgarth Falls

Aysgarth Falls are a triple flight of waterfalls, carved out by the River Ure over an almost a one-mile stretch on its descent to mid-Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales of England.

Aysgarth Falls have attracted visitors for over 200 years; Ruskin, Turner and Wordsworth visited, all enthusing about the falls’ outstanding beauty. The upper fall was featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

In addition to the falls, there are walks which wind through the wooded valley, offering views of the river and falls. Nearby is St Andrew's church, which has a very large churchyard, reputed to be the largest in England. The church has a medieval painted wooden screen rescued from the destroyed Jervaulx Abbey.

It was featured on the television programme Seven Natural Wonders as one of the wonders of the North.*

Castle Bolton

Castle Bolton is a village near Bolton Castle in Wensleydale North Yorkshire. It gets its name from the castle which looks over the village green. It was built in 1399 by Richard le Scrope, 1st Lord Scrope of Bolton and Lord Chancellor of England.

During the English Civil War Bolton was a royalist stronghold, and was besieged and fell to Cromwell in 1645.

Mary, Queen of Scots was imprisoned in Bolton for 6 months (with 51 personal servants) after being transferred from Carlisle Castle by Lord Henry Scrope, under orders from Elizabeth I.

Bolton Castle has had scenes from Ivanhoe, Elizabeth (the film), Heartbeat and 'All Things Great and Small' (James Herriot).

Across the road from Bolton castle is the church of St Oswald.

*info from Wikipedia