11.6 miles.
Explorer Map 298 (26) - Nidderdale
A circular walk starting from the Fountains Abbey Car Park.
There is no charge for using this car park, but if you want to visit Fountains
Abbey while you are there then there is an admission charge (or free entry
to National Trust members).
The walk makes extensive use of farm footpaths, together with some minor
roads. In wet weather the farm footpaths are wet and muddy and can prove
to be trying walking.
Providing you use a large scale (1 : 25,000) Ordnance Survey map then
navigation is reasonably straightforward. But the map needs to be followed
closely at times.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
The start of the walk is from the Fountains Abbey Car Park
(SE27147 68660).
From the car park, walk alongside the minor road in the direction of Fountains
Bridge. Before you reach the bridge, by a bend in the road, the Ripon
Rowel Way to Sawley is signposted at SE28633 68215.
Follow the footpath and road to Sawley.
At Sawley, take the road and then footpath Southwards to Lacon Hall (SE247
669).
From here, take the footpath across Picking Gill to Warsill Hall Farm
(SE234 659).
When you reach this farm, take the farm track South East to the minor
road near Rabbit Hill Farm. Turn West to Rabbit Hill Farm, and then take
the path South to Low Farm and High Gill Moor.
Continue on paths to Low Gill Moor and Gill Moor.
Finding the footpath at Gill Moor, East South East to Bowes Green Farm,
proved to be difficult. The start of the footpath is behind some derelict
farm buildings, and is somewhat hidden.
From Bowes Green Farm the footpath was initially followed towards Colber
House, but when the stream was reached we cut South down to Colber Lane
and followed that to Bishop Thornton village.
Opposite the church at the East end of Bishop Thornton village (SE263
636), there is a track and footpath heading North. Follow this to the
road at Raventofts Hall.
Here take Watergate Road to the footpath at Haddockstones (SE271 658),
and then head North along the footpath to Faol Cote Farm and "Fish
Pond".
Rejoinb the minor road at SE259 672, and return along this road to Fountains
Abbey.