11.4 miles.

Explorer Map No 26, - Nidderdale

A country walk that starts from the public car park of Fountains Abbey (PLENTY of space!) and takes you through varied farmland, woodland, and lakeside scenery.
Although the walk can be enjoyed at any time of the year, some sunshine will dramatically enhance the scenery.
The first half of the walk uses the Ripon Rowel Way. As on previous occasions, we found the Ripon Rowel Way to be somewhat tricky as regards navigation. Even though it is a "major" footpath, there are some curiously obscure sections on it which demand that you pay close attention to the 1:25,000 map as you go along. It is quite easy to find yourself wandering well of course, as some of the waymarks are either obscured or missing.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Start from the Fountains Abbey public car park (SE27171 68695).
Leave the car park to take the minor road that heads South West in the direction of Fountains Bridge. There is a "protected footway" beside this minor road.
On the bend where the road heads downhill towards Fountains Bridge, there is a footpath sign. This shows the Ripon Rowel Way mark, and points towards the footpath beside the River Skell.
At SE262 680, the Ripon Rowel Way footpath leaves the main track, and heads off over a small bridge on the left.
Follow this footpath, and then minor road, all the way to Sawley.
Cross the road at Sawley to continue along the Ripon Rowel Way footpath, past Eaveston Lake, all the way to High Standing.
(CAUTION> The Ripon Rowel Way is not as clearly marked as one would expect, and it is essential to use a 1:25,000 map in order to be able to stick to the route).
At High Standing, the Ripon Rowel Way continues North after Skelding Grange Farm, along a minor road.
Here the route continues instead by heading East along Drift Lane.
At SE226 700 leave Drift Lane along the minor road to High Grantley.
Continue East through High Grantley, and as the road leaves the village there is a footpath sign that points to a gap in the wall just past a house. Follow the footpath signs to Sunny Bank Wood and Grantley Mill. The footpath is clearly shown.
From Grantley Mill continue South along the minor road to Risplith.
Here, take the B6265 East to Risplith house (CARE, - traffic) where there is a farm track South to Hind House Farm.
Just before the farm the footpath leaves the farm track, skirting round the outside of the farm before heading North East to Spa Gill Wood.
There is a VERY steep bank as you enter Spa Gill Wood, where you drop down to the valley floor again.
Cross the River Skell by a footbridge, and immediately turn right to return to Fountains Abbey car park, - rejoining the route to initially came out on.