Wensleydale
Wensleydale is one of the most beautiful areas in England to visit, and nowhere more so than Aysgarth Falls. The dramatic waterfalls, beautiful woodland and historic heritage in this corner of Wensleydale attract many visitors. The falls were the setting for one of the fight scenes in the Kevin Costner film, Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves.

Because of the rich natural history of adjacent Freeholders' Wood, the area has now been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and a Nature Reserve. Hazel dominates much of the woodland, but a number of other native British trees grow there, including Holly, Ash, Wych, Elm, Oak and Rowan. There are over 120 species of flowers and, in spring, the woodland floor fills with a carpet of bluebells studded with early purple orchids and woodland daisies. Adjacent is St Joseph's Wood, a newly-planted woodland of 11,500 broadleaved trees that is set aside for conservation of wild life, but can be traversed by a public footpath.

Yore Mill Yore Mill is a four-storey, Grade II listed building, built in 1784. It is of considerable historical interest, being one of the earliest examples of 'industrialisation' in a rural setting. With its row of cottages - St Joseph's Mews - and substantial two-storey barn, Miller's house, stables, cart sheds and smithy, it is perfectly preserved. Its situation made great use of the river, the adjacent pathway and footbridge, originally built in 1539 for packhorses. Of these, most important was the water flow of the River Ure that runs alongside. Water flows from the river by way of a stone race at the upper of three large waterfalls. The race channels the water behind the Mill, originally to turn a water wheel that drove the mechanisms within the building. The site is gazed over by St Andrew's, a mediaeval church site dating from AD 1000. Originally, the Mill, built by the Birkbeck family of Settle in Yorkshire, served as a cotton mill. In 1852 the Mill burned down and the interior was destroyed. It was rebuilt the following year, an extra storey high and twice the original length and width.

The upper storeys accommodated carding and spinning of knitting yarn. This finished in 1870. In the lower storey corn grinding continued until after the second World War. The Mill was converted in 1912 into a flour-rolling plant, and in 1937 two Gilks and Gilchrist water turbines, that are still in situ, replaced the water wheel, and the latest milling machinery was installed. Flour production ceased in 1958 and the Mill was used as a cattle food depot until it changed ownership in 1969. For further details or booking please contact Ann Kiely phone: 01969 663399 (ansaphone out of hours) fax: 01969 663939 mobile: 0790 000 4990 email: aysgarthfalls@btconnect.com