10.6 miles
Explorer Map OL30, - Yorkshire Dales, Northern & Central Areas
A delight of a walk.
There are some spectacular views, and these together with gentle
walks through peaceful valleys beside small becks, makes for a
day out to savour.
We have now done this walk on a very cold Winter day, and on a
warm Spring day, and both were equally enjoyable.
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 4 of Memory Map)
Some new mapping software is now available 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!!
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.
After crossing Downholme Bridge, immediately take the field footpath
on your right. This first follows theRiver Swale, then crosses a field
to arrive by the road at Cat Bank. Continue along the road to the
cross-roads in Marske (Care : traffic can be awkward on this road).
At the cross-roads there are some steps leading down to the footpath
beside the Marske Beck. Follow this footpath on the East bank of the
beck until you come to a stone footbridge. Cross the beck here, then
continue on the footpath in a North Westerly direction across fields
until you come to a minor road.
Head up the minor road for a few yards, and take the farm track on
the left. This heads up Telfit Bank, where it then becomes a footpath
across the moor tops. Follow the footpath beside the stone wall until
you come to a gate near High Greenas Farm.
The map shows the footpath continuing along the farm road, but we
were asked to avoid the farm by crossing the adjacent field.
Continue in a North Westerly direction until you come to the hamlet
of Washfold. Cross the Padley Beck by what appear to be holiday cottages,
and continue up the access road. Where this meets a minor road, turn
sharp right and now head due East. Follow the footpath signs to cross
the Padley Beck again, and after crossing some fields follow the Shaw
Beck Eastwards, - with the beck initially on your right.
The track soon becomes a very broad and obvious one. Head past the
old working s at White Scar and continue to the hamlet of Helwith.
Here cross the Shaw Beck by the ford, and continue Eastwards with
the Marske Beck on your left.
Follow the footpath signs to Telfit Farm and continue a short way
past the farm buildings along the road.
Take the field footpath on your left to cross the Marske Beck by the
old pack-horse bridge.
Immediately after crossing the bridge, head up the bank to find the
footpath and track back to Marske.
From Marske, retrace your steps to Downholme Bridge and the spot where
the car was parked.