Brimham Rocks

SEE

ON PAGE 34 car park near the rocks. and finish the walk at the NT our feature, or you can start retrace the journey taken in landlady Debbie if you want to in at Low Laithe with friendly parking in the Ye Olde Oak Inn life. You’ll need to prearrange thousand years can bring to that wind, water and a few mouth agape, at the shapes centre, this is a place to linger, refreshment kiosk and visitor Trust property with a Brimham Rocks. A National of the natural wonder of – culminates in an exploration the Yorkshire Dales forgot of Nidderdale – the valley FEATURE metres km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 from the lush floor This engrossing walk GUY PROCTER CHOSEN BY… 19 u Distance: 5 miles/8.5km u 5 miles/8.5km Distance: 2 BRIMHAM ROCKS NORTH YORKSHIRE 4

Dwarfed by the bizarre formations

6 a gate marked private (clearer which switches back L passed it then turn R uphill on a path footbridge when you come to (Curlew signs). Cross the mossy old stone wall on L. Bridge, soon passing a massive, a Curlew), signed to Pateley Nidderdale Way (marked with before turning off R on the 2 1 0.5km, alongside Fell Beck. Hall and follow the track R for swinging sign that reads Knox the woodland round. Pass a a tree to follow the edge of by a stag’s head badge on turn L on tiny path confirmed bridleway opposite. After 100m GR ADIENT PROFILE Leave car park and head up Start At the lane turn L for 50m ½ mile/0.8km Time: 3 hours u 3 hours Time:

8 of Brimham Rocks. 10

Grade: Moderate Grade: 12

TOM BAILEY TOM PHOTO: through woods of birch and breaking R, which heads grassy path on a narrower path map.) In 100 yards leave the on the ground than on the 14 Landranger 99 Maps OS Explorer 298; Harrogate-Pateley Bridge transportPublic Bus 24 Brimham Rocks car park toiletsPublic and Brimham Rocks Refreshments at Pub start Nearest town Ripon PLANNING Stiles 2 varied, untroubling terrain & bridleways through a Is it for me? Paths, tracks free to NT members £6/4hrs; £8 all day; 780247). Or at Brimham: drinks; call Debbie 01423 exchange for a round of grid ref SE191637 (free in Inn, Low Laithe, HG3 4DE, Start/parking Ye Olde Oak ROUTE PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN 16

20 ➥

NORTH EAST ✁ a lot more than a walk in However, this route offers restored by the local council. decorative features lovingly lakes, sham ruins and other (included in this route) has friends, its grand walk Burdon in 1748 to impress by wealthy merchant John is one of the best. Created Park, just outside Sedgefield, good country park? Hardwick refreshment. where you could seek birds and a historic village are sure to see interesting wetland ponds where you countryside, woodland and the park. It takes in the local metres km 20 0 40 0 60 0 0 0 Who doesn’t like a MONAGHAN PAUL & CHRISTINE CHOSEN BY… 20 u Distance: 7½ miles/12.2km u miles/12.2km 7½ Distance: 2 4

SEDGEFIELD DURHAM

6 across a plank bridge. side. Turn L at a junction narrows with hedges either R, keep straight on. Path golf course. When track turns At end of wood turn R across beside fence (ignoring track L). 2 1 gates to cross busy road. of large tree. Go through R on faint path aiming L Turn L for 100m, then bear public footpath to metal gate. through two gates, fork R on through gate. Cross field, go Go through courtyard and the arch at Hardwick Arms. T junction and go through along High Street. Cross at GR ADIENT PROFILE Turn R out of car park Start Continue on footpath ¾ mile/1.2km The return to the pretty

8 town of Sedgefield. Time: 3½ hours u hours 3½ Time: 10

➥

Grade: Moderate Grade:

P&C MONAGHAN P&C PHOTO: 14 ROUTE Landranger 93 Maps OS Explorer 305, or Sunderland from Darlington, Peterlee or Middlesbrough; X21 from Newcastle, Durham Public Centre, Hardwick Park Public cafés Sedgefield Café Hardwick Park, pubs/ Hardwick Hall Hotel, Tower Inn (at Bishop Middleham, Keys Inn or Ye Olde Fleece Refreshments The Cross Nearest town Sedgefield PLANNING Stiles 5 muddy in places be a bit overgrown and gradients. Paths may flat with a few short side of moderate, mostly Is it for me? On the easy grid ref NZ357289 Sedgefield, TS21 3BN, St Edmund’s Church, Free car park opposite Start/parking PLAN YOUR WALK YOUR PLAN transport Bus X12 toilets Visitor 16

NORTH EAST DATE WALKED TIME TAKEN YOUR RATING

OCTOBER 2018 OCTOBER

5 4 miles/6.5km rejoin to stile Cross IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes OS MAPS ONLINE: VIEW ON THE WALK 6 Nidderdale Way going R. At going R. At Way Nidderdale House turn L down Wood Low Smelthouses (not the lane to sign suggests). the garden into turn briefly L uphill the lane, At the largely then R into bridleway. tree-tunnelled finishes as it began, walk The Olde Oak. Ye opposite 4 6

3 miles/5km via finished, leave When 3 towards higher ground. higher ground. towards an option, get you Wherever to uphill path the most take and summit, viewpoint to get or freely Explore centre. visitor of the 65visit the highlights 1.3 on the NT’s named rocks which you Walk, mile Circular from and print can download www.bit.ly/brimhamcircular. 5 car park exit track, turning R, track, car park exit Cave Druid’s at road, before as it track sign. Follow Farm fork and R, then at goes down through turn L and downhill, on its L.) (exiting a farmyard as letterbox. microwave Note

Buy maps at: ordnancesurvey.co.uk/shop 2

1 NORTH YORKSHIRE NORTH BRIMHAM ROCKS 2 miles/3.3km mark and gate wall last The 1½ miles/2.4km grid ref at footbridge At START OS Explorer map 298 u

of a farmhouse. rowan. Ignore a cross path a cross Ignore rowan. the grounds reach when you 3 4 the start of Brimham Rocks/NT the start turn L gate through land. Once alongside path grass on narrow it turns sharp R uphill until wall SE197654, instead of going L instead SE197654, Soon stile. it, turn R over over again is open overhead the sky gate to gate head from as you High fields towards across over views Farm, North Pasture opening up behind. Nidderdale u

START 1

OCTOBER 2018 OCTOBER

2 5 IN ASSOCIATION WITH OS MAPS OS lfto.com/cwroutes OS MAPS ONLINE: VIEW ON THE WALK The Temple of Minerva is of Minerva Temple The Serpentine on the R. Cross Centre. Visitor Bridge to of Neptune Statue Note and Gothic Ruin. Complete and turn R up grassy circuit Run England 2). (signed track L the gate Exit park through Cross road. and turn R to the on. Take and go straight Sedgefield back to R fork point. and start

3 4 3¾ miles/6km and continue gate Climb to 5½ miles/8.9km 5½ miles/8.9km Turn R on the orange route route R on the orange Turn

straight on. At large pond bear large on. At straight and cross gate R. Go through field diagonally to Cross bridge. Park Hardwick first Follow gate. sign, turn second sign, then at (signed L on public footpath R near quad Turn No Bikes). of rear When track. bike Hall is seen ahead, Hardwick and stay gate turn R through ahead Continue track. on gravel beside blue sign and gate to park. enter 4 5 around the lake, past the past the lake, around following Keep Gothic Seat. Walk). signs (Circuit orange ©CROWN COPYRIGHT 2018 ORDNANCE SURVEY. MEDIA 007/18 MEDIA SURVEY. ORDNANCE 2018 COPYRIGHT ©CROWN

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DURHAM SEDGEFIELD species of have birds Almost 200 Almost DON’T MISS... DON’T Pass two pubs then fork pubs then fork two Pass 2¾ miles/4.5km been recorded. been recorded. sightings Common and grey white are Canada herons, swans, mute geese, coots, nesting oystercatchers, hobbies. See www. durhambirdclub.org/ castle-lake OS Explorer map 305 u u Cross the metal bridge and the metal Cross then 60m 550m for continue stile L, turn L over a track after on signed footpath. gate by stile near L hedge to Keep Turn road. to and up steps Bishop Middleham. L into 3 and climb bank. This is the and climb bank. This L downhill on the pavement. on the pavement. L downhill Street. L on Church Turn and descend, the church Pass then turn L on the footpath. the at stile after Immediately stile stone turn L over gate, of Middleham Castle site near barns). board (information the lane anti-clockwise Follow going a track and opposite a at works a treatment to on L, turn L andsignpost in the stile cross to descend of field. point the lowest boardwalk L on to Turn area. play then R before L then R up steps. Turn 20

NORTH EAST