9.0 miles
Explorer Map 304 - Darlington & Richmond
This is a walk for anyone, at any time of the year. If you can,
choose a fine day when the visibility is good and the sun is out,
- for then you will have some of the finest views in Swaledale.
The walk is fairly straightforward with resoect to navigation.
Because it is well used by other walkers, there are plenty of
waymarks and signposts to help you.
The ascent up to Willance's Leap is fairly gradual; the descent
down Deepdale is fairly steep, - but uses a farm track with a
good surface.
Finally, Richmond town itself is well worth a visit, and a stroll
round the town can be combined with this walk.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory
Map)
Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
Start from the Nun's car park (NZ44633 22730). There
is a charge for using this car park, and the car park has toilets.
Parking can be a problem in Richmond. Where there is free parking
it is usually with a Blue Disc (2 hours max), and the Parking Wardens
in Richmond can be very efficient.
From the Nun's car park, head for the town centre (Trinity Church).
Crossthe square and on the Eastern side of the square take the narrow
street that leads down to the car park by Richmond Falls.
From here, walk along the road to Richmond Bridge.
Cross the bridge, then take the footpath along the South bank of the
River Swale to Round Howe (there are two paths, - one through Billy
Bank Woods and the other by the river. These paths are well shown
by wayside guides).
Cross the River Swale by the footbridge opposite Round Howe, and cross
the picnic area to find the footpath up to the main A6108 road. Cross
the road and immediately take the farm track that heads West.
When you come to Green Lane (after about 100 yards) turn right up
this lane.
Turn left atthe minor road and head past High Leases Farm. Almost
immediately, a footpath is signposted on your right. Follow this footpath
uphill to eventually arrive at Willance's Leap.
The footpath continues at the Leap on the South side of the wall,
and continues to Deepdale.
Descend the farm road at Deepdale to Low Applegarth Farm, and follow
the clear signposts and waymarks to the walk beside the River Swale,
heading back to Richmond.
The footpath rakes you though Whitecliffe Woods to Lownethwaite Farm,
where the footpath is signposted and waymarked to the track that leads
you back to the A6108.
From here, retrace your steps to Richmond Bridge and Richmond itself.