10.9 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map OL30 - Yorkshire Dales (North)
Choose a fine day and this walk takes you along some absolutely
stunning scenery, in a part of "Swaledale" which is perhaps
somewhat less well known than it should be.
There are some modest gradients, and some moorland walking. However,
there is nothing especially difficult about the walk, although by the
end of the walk you will certainly know that you have had a full day
out!
If neccessary, the walk can be shortened by about 2 1/2 miles by parking
in Marske itself, rather than near Downholme Bridge. Please note, though,
that parking is somewhat limite din Marske.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)
The start of the walk is from a gravel pit on the main A6108 Richmond-Leyburn
road, just North of Downholme Bridge (SE11312 99666). As mentioned above,
though, you might want to shorten the walk by starting from Marke itself.
Either follow the minor road over Downholme Bridge that takes you directly
to Marske via Cat Bank (the road is fairly quiet) or take the field footpath
to Cat Bank and Marske.
Turn right at the crossroads in Marske, to walk uphill past St. Edmund's
Church.
At the road junction (NZ105 005) turn left onto the minor road, which
then becomes a fram track. Continue on this track past Clints, through
Clints Wood, and past Orgate Farm.
Not too far past Orgate farm the footpath divides. The right hand path,
- the more obvious one, takes you uphill in a direction you DON'T want
to be heading in. The less obvious left hand footpath takes you down the
hill to the old stone bridhe over the Marske Beck.
Take the path from this bridge to Telft Farm, and once at the farm turn
right and head North. Continue on the lesser footpath to the Mraske Beck,
now flowing West to East, and continue along the footpath beside the Marske
Beck to the crossing at Helwith Manor.
Don't cross the beck at this point, but continue along for a short distance
in a Westerly direction, now beside the Shaw Beck.
Cross the Shaw Beck by the ford (there is a rather indistinct waymark
near the crossing) and continue along the North bank of the Shaw Beck
until you come to the old lead mine at White Scar.
Just past the lead mine, the footpath divides again. The (less obvious)
right hand path takes you up a field slope to a gapin the wall. The path
then continues to the hamlet of Washfold.
Just past the Old School House, there is a walled lane which leads you
to the South Easterly direction footpath that heads uphill over farmland.
Now follow the various footpaths in a South Easterly direction to High
Greenas, and then the very distinct moorland footpath that heads East
towards Marske.
When you eventually reach the minor road just outside Marske, head South
for a hundred yards or so until you come to the signposted footpath that
takes you back to Marske.