Yorkshire Walks

Steps from the playing fields up towards the market square

Jameson Feeds deopt on the Ripon Rowel Walk leaving Masham

I turned left to follow the A6108 for about 200m where I turned left again onto the Fearby road. About 150m along the Fearby road I turned left into the housing estate. After 100m the road turned sharp left into Westholme Road. Straight ahead is a bridge over Swinney Beck and the entrance to "Jamesons Animal Feeds". I crossed this bridge and followed the track in front of Jamesons feeds until at the end of the feed depot it became a grassy track between the fields. This is part of the "Ripon Rowel Walk".

The weather this morning was just perfect for a walk in the spring sunshine so I drove to Masham and parked in a little car park by the River Ure next to the playing fields on the edge of the town at map ref. SE226810. From the car park I followed the access road between the sports fields to some steps up towards the market square and some public toilets. When I came out onto the road I turned left to go past a butcher's shop where I got a pork pie for my lunch and then headed north to the A6108 on the edge of the town.

Bridge over Swinney Beck

Track on the Ripon Rowel Walk leaving Masham

Snowdrops by the path

Fungus known as King Alfred's Cakes

Stile on the Ripon Rowel Walk

I sat there for a drink just looking at the scenery with the sheep grazing the pasture in front of me. The large oak trees are a feature of this walk and I think that they are worth looking out for along the Ripon Rowel Walk.

I continued across the fields following the Ripon Rowel Walk for almost 2km to a minor road at map ref. SE202808. A few metres up the road is the stump of a large oak tree that was felled only four years ago. I believe it was about 400 years old.

The path goes round the fallen tree on the left and not through the yard

A fine old oak tree by the path

Approaching the road at map ref. SE202808

Here I turned left off the road onto a track along the edge of a field.

After my break in the sunshine I headed south along the road for about 200m to map ref. SE202806.

Looking back to Shaws Farm along the track above the River Burn

From this stoned area I followed a path around the edge of the field to a track next to a wood above the River Burn.

The track led me to Shaws Farm and between some farm buildings to a stoned yard area that is open on one side to a field on the east side of the farm.

Dropping down to the River Burn at the end of the woods

Wooden field gate onto the golf course

Looking down the River Burn from the footbridge

You can continue on a public footpath on the north side of the river on the golf course, but I crossed the footbridge and followed the path on the south side of the river through some rough woodland, then out onto the golf course.

At the end of the wood I continued on the track down a slope to the riverside and a wooden field gate into the golf course. Just through the gate on the right there is a footbridge over the River Burn.

Footbridge over the River Burn

Path through the woods by the River Burn

Stile from the golf course to the road at map ref. SE216801

River Burn through the golf course

There is also a well walked path along the riverbank with a delapidated green sign with white lettering proclaiming "Riverside Walk". I followed the Riverside Walk along the riverbank until I reached the road at map ref. SE226798.

After about 200m on the golf course the path brought me to a minor road at map ref. SE216801. I crossed the road and continued along the path by the riverside on the golf course. After about 300m the public footpath veers away from the river for a while.

River Burn through the golf course

Lichen covered branch of a hawthorn

Alder catkins by the River Burn

Ripon Rowel Walk by the River Burn

Ripon Rowel Walk by the River Burn

I followed the footpath on the north side of the River Burn. Here I had rejoined the Ripon Rowel Walk.

Here I turned left to cross the road bridge over the River Burn and then turned right off the road onto a footpath.

Ivy covered oak overhanging the River Ure

Hazel catkins by the River Ure

A comfortable seat by the River Ure

After just over a kilometer I was back at the riverside car park where I had started. On the way there was a comfortable seat where I sat to watch the river go by for almost half an hour.

I followed the path down to the confluence of the River Burn with the River Ure. I continued to follow the Ripon Rowel Walk upstream on the bank of the River Ure.

Oak apples

Ivy berries

After the walk, I drove up to the market square and had a coffee before driving back home. The whole walk had been about 8km and with all my stops to take photos and admire the view it had taken me about three and a half hours, a very pleasant outing indeed.

The church at Masham market square

Yellow aconites amongst the ivy

The church at Masham market square