The Grey Panthers

A walk that starts from a historic town in the Yorkshire Dales, and takes in three delightful and picturesque villages.
The walking is easy, with no gradients of any consequence. Navigation is very straightforward, with plenty of finger posts and waymarks to help guide you. As always, though, a 1 : 25000 OS map is very helpful in identifying field patters.
There are several stiles which could be a bit tricky.
The only "stile" that gave us real problems was one which entered a field in which there were three horses and a donkey. The "stile" consisted of two wooden bars which had to be moved sideways to allow you to progress, - not easy when the horses were being inquisitive (though friendly)!

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 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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from the long stay car park in Bedale (small fee payable), SE26685 88246.
Walk up the High Street towards the parish church, then continue along the A684. There is a pavement on the left hand side for pedestrians.
After 1/2 mile there is a finger post on the right directing you to the footpath to Kirkbridge. The footpath is well waymarked and is clear to follow.
Before reaching Kirkbridge, the footpath turns sharp left to bring you to Crakehall.
The footpath emerges at the church. Cross the road, and the village green, and head down Station Road.
When you reach Ruddings Lane, head down this lane to West Pasture Farm, then follow the waymarked footpath to Newton-le-Willows.
Just before Newton-le-Willows, the footpath crosses the hedge line just North of Fox Park Farm, then crosses a filed in which the "stile" consists of two horizontal wooden bars which need to be moved sideways to allow you to progress.
In Newton-le-Willows, leave the village by the road heading Southwards.
About 100 yards before you reach the railway bridge, the footpath leaves the road down a lane on your right. This may be fairly difficult to spot.
Follow the lane, until a slightly hidden gap allows you to cross the railway line.
Now follow a field footpath almost due South to Lindale Lodge Farm. Past the farm buildings, the field footpath crosses a stile to join the farm access lane.
At the end of the lane, turn left and then right to take the minor road to High Pond House Farm.
Just past the farm buildings on your left you enter High Lane>
Follow High Lane (initially a farm track, and then a quiet minor road) to the village of Burrill.
Continue along Burrill Road to return to Bedale.