8 miles/12.8km | 4.5 hours | moderate
Grassington is a village in Wharfedale, and the countryside around it is dotted with pools and falls along the River Wharfe. This riverside walk takes in Ghaistrill's Strid, a series of exhilarating rapids, and Loup Scar, where a high jump and plunge pool tempt the more intrepid. Families mess about in rubber dinghies, skip over stepping-stones and throw themselves down water chutes in the meadows south of the village.
The route follows the banks of the Wharfe, and in summer the hay meadows here are rich with wildflowers. Grassington itself has pubs, cafes and shops, and there is a small market square. It is about 50 minutes' drive from Garsdale, over the tops into Wharfedale. The Upper Wharfedale walk covers the next stretch of the valley north, through Cray, Yockenthwaite and Hubberholme, for a quieter, more remote stretch of the dale.
Walk details
- Start point: Grassington village
- Distance: 8 miles/12.8km
- Parking: Grassington National Park car park
- Route description: Countryfile - Grassington walk
