Leyburn Shawl Walk

This circular walk explores the Leyburn Shawl limestone escarpment in Wensleydale.
Walk Report 28th August 2026 by Brian Atherton
We headed to Leyburn for a day in Wensleydale, setting off from the market town with the weather looking promising and some bright spells breaking through the cloud. The Shawl is one of those places that immediately gives you a sense of the scale of the Dales, with the limestone terrace rising above the town and the valley opening out towards Penhill and the Coverdale Fells.
We made our way up onto the Shawl and soon found ourselves following the well-defined path along the edge.... Much of the route passes through woodland, but there are frequent gaps in the trees where we could stop and look across Wensleydale. I thought the views were particularly impressive here, with the patchwork of fields, dry-stone walls and scattered farms stretching away beneath us.
The path is pleasant and relatively easy to follow, with benches along the way providing plenty of excuses to stop and take in the scenery. We also got chatting to another couple of walkers who were enjoying the route, and ended up exchanging suggestions about other walks in the area before continuing towards Tullis Cote.
As we reached the western end of the Shawl, the landscape became more open and we left the limestone terrace to continue through the countryside. There were some wetter sections underfoot, and not long afterwards a shower came through, so we found a convenient spot for some shelter and waited for it to pass. It was only a short interruption and soon we were back on our way, with the freshened-up countryside looking particularly green.
The route then took us through fields and woodland towards Wensley, passing streams and small waterfalls along the way. After the open views from the Shawl, this section felt much more enclosed and peaceful. We enjoyed the contrast, particularly as we followed the paths through the trees before emerging again into the wider Wensleydale landscape.
We continued into the village of Wensley, where the stone cottages and village green make a pleasant stopping point. From here we walked down towards Wensley Bridge and the River Ure, another nice change of scenery before beginning the return towards Leyburn.
The final section took us back through the countryside towards the town, and by this stage we felt we'd had a good variety of scenery without the walk ever becoming particularly strenuous. For me, the highlight was still the long stretch along the Shawl itself, where the combination of the limestone edge, woodland and huge views across Wensleydale makes this feel like a classic Yorkshire Dales walk.
Back in Leyburn, we had plenty of choice for somewhere to stop for a drink or something to eat, making it easy to turn the walk into a full day out. The combination of the Shawl, the views towards Penhill, the quieter countryside around Tullis Cote and the riverside scenery at Wensley made this a particularly enjoyable circular walk.
To continue your walking in the area you could try our other Leyburn Circular Walk which includes a riverside section along the Ure. Just to the east of the town there's a delightful hidden gem at the Harmby Waterfall or you could try our Middleham Circular Walk.
Pubs and More Info
The Three Horseshoes in Wensley is a fine old whitewashed stone pub on the route. There's a nice gazebo outside where you can relax on warmer days and a cosy interior with a neat beamed and flagstoned bar, serving five well kept ales. You can find the pub in the village at a postcode of DL8 4HJ for your sat navs.
Back in Leyburn head to the noteworthy Sandpiper Inn, located in the town's ancient market place. The inn dates right back to the 17th century and includes an attractive interior with wooden beams and fireplaces. They do excellent food and also provide accommodation if you need to stay over. The inn is also dog friendly and can be found at postcode DL8 5AT.
The Leyburn to Castle Bolton Circular Walk uses part of the trail to visit the popular Castle Bolton from the nearby market town. The historic 14th century castle is one of the area highlights and includes expansive grounds with lovely gardens, a maze and excellent views from the top of the fortification

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Nearby Routes

Leyburn Harmby Waterfall Walk Middleham Leyburn to Castle Bolton Circular Walk Castle Bolton

Photos

The eastern end of the Shawl, close to Leyburn town. From here there is a fine view across Wensleydale. The Shawl is said to have received its name from the time when Mary Queen of Scots was kept as a prisoner at nearby Bolton Castle. She is reputed to have escaped on a horse, but dropped her shawl on this bank and was soon caught.

The excellent footpath along the Shawl

Much of the Shawl is well wooded, but gaps in the trees afford splendid views over Wensleydale, like this one towards Penhill.

Pretty wildflowers off the path in this summer view

Limestone edge, Leyburn Shawl. For much of its length the Shawl is bounded by limestone crags which overlook the Dales. This view westwards is towards Tullis Cote Farm.

The end of the Shawl. The view south west from the western end, at the point where the line of limestone crags finally fades into the hillside. Penhill dominates the skyline on the south side of Wensleydale.

 Wensley Bridge Carries the A684 across the River Ure.

Leyburn Hall from the Shawl

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