Watery wonders, cakes, ancient history, a surprising hidden gem, Robin Hood & Zombies: not a very obvious combination but all to be found at Aysgarth Falls... Some visitors glance at the falls over the bridge on the bend in the road, and some walk to see the Upper Falls from the car park. Most visitors miss out if they just gaze at the waterfalls - there's real treasure nearby that many miss.
The three steps of the Falls are made from limestone rock sandwiched with shale. The steps were formed as water eroded the softer shale. Sometimes the limestone rock breaks and forms big steps over which the water tumbles. The Yorkshire Dales may be quite a distance from the sea now but 300 million years ago the area around Aysgarth Falls was under a tropical sea, filled with creatures. If you go into the Yorkshire Dales National Park Centre by the car park you can learn about the fossils and even coral to be found by the Falls.
Close by is Freeholders' Wood Millennium Trail where there are easy paths to wander along in the woods. At this point you probably need to make a tricky choice: where will you enjoy coffee and cake? Choose from the Coppice Cafe within the National Park Centre, Mill Race Teashop in Yore Mill, originally built in 1784 or go up the hill to the The Falls, Aysgarth or Aysgarth Falls Hotel & Restaurant.
Walk a little up the hill and you'll discover the true treasure inside St. Andrew's Church. Can a churchyard be beautiful or does its ultimate purpose preclude that? St. Andrew's churchyard is apparently over 4 acres, one of the largest in England. It's not just large, it's very pretty, gently undulating, with several old trees, and flowers. The mural on the back wall as you enter the church is pretty impressive but there's yet more.
The brightly coloured (make sure you switch on the light) carved wooden Rood Screen was apparently carried by 20 monks the 12 miles from Jervaulx abbey at the time of the Dissolution of the Abbeys. Look carefully and you'll see some fascinating details. Such paintings and carvings were used at a time when most of the population was illiterate, and tell a story, warning of the dangers of sin.
This beautiful and imposing piece commands most of your attention but look to your left and you'll see an ornate reredos in pale Caen stone, with a carving of the Last Supper. The detail on this is incredible - each finger nail, fold of the table cloth, Judas' money bag.
The Falls are very attractive: Wordsworth visited them and Turner sketched them. The Upper Falls were the setting for the gight scene between Robin Hood and Little John in the Prince of Thieves film starring Kevin Costner. More recently Jodie Comer has been filming there with Ralph Fiennes for a sequel of zombie film 28 Days Later.
You may have taken photos of the Falls? Please do share!