Masham to Leighton Reservoir

Monday 22nd June 2020

Walking Diary (All Walks) North Yorkshire & Co Durham Other Dales

By my reckoning this walk is set in Lower Wensleydale. It's a gentle easy going trail westwards along a section of the Ripon Rowel Walk. We left the main trail and headed back towards Masham just after the change of direction near to the Leighton Reservoir. The return path is a lovely woodland walk alongside Sole Beck until the River Burn is reached near Swinton Park.

A quiet circular walk done at a very casual pace.

The information contained in the material on this Website is for information purposes only and does not constitute advice.
Distance: 10.9 miles
Duration: 5:00 hours
Ascent: 1216 ft
Difficulty: Moderate/Easy
Accompanied By: Davy, Ste & Dicko
Weather: Warm & Dry

3D outline of route

Parking

All cars parked up down by the river in Masham

Heading out from the town

....... and into the countryside

Heading in the direction of Fearby along the Ripon Rowel Path

Gentle going for long stretches along country tracks

Crossing the River Burn

Sometimes you feel like you're just banging your head against a wall !!

The change in direction of the Ripon Rowel path. We headed down towards the reservoir at this point and enjoyed a picnic in the sun - We had planned to sit alongside the waters edge, but it didn't seem straightforward to get there, so we found a nice spot and cracked open our cans.

A visit to the Druids temple is a possibility here.

And just along the road is where they all live now.

High Knowle

A holiday home for someone we know ! Hope he doesn't read this !! chuckles all round.

Easy going there big Dave - cameras at the ready !

Bit like a 'fairy dell' alongside the Sole Beck - nice walking though.

A large bird feeder we presumed - Didn't see any customers though

A long way down !

Crossing the River Burn just before reaching the Masham Golf Club

Don't particularly like walking through Golf Courses - had a few navigational problems in the past, but this one was okay

Arrival back in the small market town of Masham in Wensleydale (pronounced massam) on the western banks of the River Ure.

Just when big Dave's knees were getting sore - I remembered (from my childhood) a short-cut down to the river and our cars - ten minutes later were back in the market square after a nice walk round the church and a couple of fields. My 100% navigational performance for the day was ruined to the amusement of the others - maybe not Dave though. No pubs - but a cold beer was waiting back at our cars