Distance Eight and a half miles

Time Allowed Four hours

An 8.5 mile circular walk in the lovely countryside of Lower Nidderdale, from.Ripley via Clint, Hampsthwaite, Birstwith and Burnt Yates.

Start the walk in the picturesque village of Ripley, having looked around the castle and church. There is more information on the page on Ripley Castle on this website.

Take the bridle path which descends from the castle, pausing to enjoy the view across the lake to your right. Your route is now through a pleasant area known as Holly Bank Wood. Soon you reach a metalled road which leads to the hamlet of Clint. Turn left and go down the hill until you reach the old stone bridge over the river Nidd. From here is a pleasing view of the riverside church on the outskirts of the village of Hampsthwaite.

Hampsthwaite church is dedicated to St Thomas a Becket and dates from 1175 but apart from the tower was largely rebuilt in 1821 and 1902. The church is visited especially because of its association with Amy Woodforde-Finden, composer of the Indian love lyrics who died in 1919. You can see her grave and a lovely memorial to her (a reclining figure and scenes from her compositions) inside the church.

Take the path which leaves the churchyard in a westerly direction and joins the road to Birstwith. Go along the road for about half a mile and look out for a farm building, beyond which is a path which leads you across a field down to the banks of the Nidd.

Follow the riverside path until you reach a lane leading up from the mill to Birstwith village on your left. Go down the lane to the packhorse bridge and look for the path west of the bridge which is signposted Public Footpath, Ross Bridge. Keeping the river on your right you will soon come to another packhorse bridge. Cross this and turn left between the river and the railway line. Look out for 2 gates leading to a field, with another small gate in the wall opposite. Now go through the wood and along the lane to Low Winsley farm. Beyond the farm another lane takes you to the main road.

Turn right and walk into the village of Burnt Yates. Then take the footpath which starts at the end of a narrow lane between the church and the Bay Horse Inn. This path takes you in a southerly direction bearing left alongside a wood. Look for a gate in the corner of the field .Pass through this and soon you bear left, going in a southeasterly direction to join the main road. Pass through Clint (noting the mounting block and stocks) and rejoin the bridlepath which takes you back through Hollybank Wood to Ripley.