BETWEEN Ripon and Fountain’s Abbey lies a lovely area of parkland, ripe for walking and exploring.
Throw in a pleasant stroll over a series of packhorse bridges and some excellent views over Ripon and this is a lovely way to spend a half day walk.
On the B6265 road heading west out of Ripon there is a garden centre (and cafe) making an excellent start to the walk. From the parking cross the road and join a bridleway heading south. After 200m turn right and continue for half a mile along a narrow pathway in to the pretty settlement of Studley Roger. It is a nice setting with a historical feel and I never found the sewage works mentioned on the O/S map - although I didn’t look very hard!
Cross the road and continue directly on the marked footpath until it enters the deer park at a gate. There is a choice of grassy paths after the gate, take the one forking slightly to the left, heading south west.
However, this is all Open Access Land so feel free to wander in any direction you choose. It is a lovely area of parkland and you should be able to spot one of the 500 plus deer which roam the area.
Along with Fountain’s Abbey, the park was the first World Heritage site in the UK. If you stick to the path you will soon arrive at the main road through the estate. Follow this gradually uphill towards some buildings in the distance.
On approaching the first of these, the old stables, now apartments, turn round and enjoy the view down the road and towards Ripon and its impressive cathedral. It is the spot of many award-winning photos!
Soon after the stables is St Mary’s Church, a beautiful Anglican Gothic style church only built in 1870. It is worth a visit inside. Further on are some gates leading to the abbey grounds and on your right the Obelisk, standing proudly towards the trees.
However, our walk turns left at the signpost near the gate and heads south along the wall and then left to the car park overlooking the lake. The lake (with a cafe on its shores) is a pleasant place to linger. Follow the shoreline on its western bank to the ford (and bridge). Cross the bridge and then turn left and follow the River Skell in a along the valley floor.
The path crosses the river on a number of occasions, the ancient fords for horse and cart now replaced with modern footbridges, beautifully made. The section of nearly one mile from the Lake to a gate leading out of the park is my favourite part of the walk, steep sided with some old woodland of oak, ash and beech helping to set the scene.
After the gate the track climbs through the woodland, out of the valley and back on to open countryside.
The path heads north past Plumpton Hall before re-entering the settlement of Studley Roger. The footpath you arrived at is on the right, join it and return to the garden centre and a well-earned cup of tea.
* Fact Box:
Distance: Roughly five miles. (sticking to the paths)
Height to Climb: 100m (330 feet)
Start: SE 295708. Studley Royal garden centre has a café and plenty of parking.
Difficulty: Easy. All the paths are well maintained and there is little climbing.
Refreshments: There is a cafe at the garden centre or return the one mile to Ripon for a wider choice.
The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer 298) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.
* Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:
• He has published three books on walks in the Dales, ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains and the Brand New ‘Walks without Stiles’ book. All are available direct from the Where2walk website.
• Book a Navigation Training day in Long Preston, near Settle (Beginners or ‘Compass & Contours’) The 2023 dates and further information are now available on the website.
Where2walk.co.uk also features hundreds of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here