The Bartle Trail, West Witton
This is the most unique trail in the Yorkshire Dales and it’s the perfect walk to try with the kids!
West Witton in Wensleydale is home to one of the oldest traditions in the Yorkshire Dales, the burning of Old Bartle. This trail is a series of mosaics that depict the old legend.
Fancy walking the Bartle Trail in West Witton?
This totally unique trail was created by the children of West Witton and follows the route of the final chase of Bartle from Penhill Crags to Grassgill in the village. Who on earth is Bartle? Well in the modern sense, Bartle is a straw effigy of a large man that’s burnt (a bit like Guy Fawkes) in an annual ceremony in the village. It’s very similar to the ritual of the procession of the guy on the 5th of November and some schools of thought actually believe that it predates bonfire night altogether!
Legend tells us that Bartle was the dastardly giant of Penhill, who lived in a castle on the slopes of the hill. Old Bartle had three passions in life. The first? His prized pigs (possibly stolen from the village), secondly, his wolfhound (who - in a different version of this story - ate him) and thirdly, being a royal pain in the bum to the residents of West Witton. Some say it’s this version of the story which is the basis of the doggerel of the Burning of Bartle. The other version is that the ritual is carried out to celebrate the capture of a prolific livestock thief (I prefer the giant version!)
Whichever is true is irrelevant. Because what this is, is a blummin’ lovely walk, with an excellent back story and is PERFECT for kids (ooh and it ends at the park!)
But before we begin with the walk details… let’s hear that Doggerel.
“On Penhill Crags, he tore his rags
At Hunter’s Thorn he blew his horn
At Capplebank Stee he brak’ his knee
At Grassgill beck he brak’ his neck
At Wadhams End he couldn’t fend
At Grassgill End we’ll mak’ his end”
And on that note… let’s go!
Nossill End heading towads High Lane on the approach to the first mosaic.
Walk Details for The Bartle Trail
Distance: 8.5km (which is around 5 miles)
Terrain: Well signposted and trodden routes. The section towards the end on the aptly titled ‘Watery Lane’ does easily get flooded after heavy rain, but the trail can still be completed regardless.
Parking: There is a large parking layby on the way into the village near to the ‘West Witton’ sign on the Leyburn side.
Public Transport: It is possible to get the bus to West Witton. Check out the bus timetable on the Dales Bus Website.
Dog friendly? Yes, dogs to be kept under close control, there is grazing livestock on this walk.
Location: West Witton, near Leyburn, Wensleydale.
Toilets/ Baby Change: None.
Nearest Cafe/ Amenities: West Witton for the Fox and Hounds pub and the Craven Heifer as well as village shop.
The first sign you’ll encounter along the way
How to walk the Bartle Trail
Directions to be used in conjunction with a map.
From the parking area, continue along the main street passing the Fox and Hounds to your left and the Craven Heifer to your right. Just shortly after the Craven Heifer, there is a triangular green with trees on it, creating a crossroads. At this point turn left.
Head through Kagram, passing the Chantry country and leisure park on your left. Here keep left on the surfaced road, as it bends round to the left. This is called Greengate. Continue to follow this track, it gradually climbs uphill, before turns 90 degrees to your left. This is Nossill End. Cross over the track that is High Lane.
Last walked October 2025.
Bluebells and primroses!