Studley Royal Estate from Ripon - 7.5 miles

Return of this ever-popular walk. By starting this walk from Ripon, we not only take advantage of cheap parking, but enjoy a pleasant route to Studley Royal and the Fountains Abbey Estate along riverside & woodland trails before reaching the village of Hell Wath.

From here a solid access road, rough in places, brings us to a footpath across fields and down into further woodand from whence we emerge into the Valley of the Seven Bridges, following a meandering route up to Studley Lake where we will consume our packed lunches on the banks of the lake.

We will have a 30min lunch break (weather permitting), which will be relatively early, so no morning break today! Toilets available at our lunch-stop.

We then resume our walk ascending a grassy path to take a look at some of the other features in the Estate grounds, hopefully including some wildlife, as we then gently descend a grand driveway with Ripon Cathedral in the distance. We shortly veer off this and head through Studley Roger, eventually picking up the river Laver back to its confluence with the Skell and on to our start point.

On our return to the Market Square in Ripon, the Unicorn Hotel (Wetherspoons) has been a favourite and there are cafe options too.

The walk will be led at a steady pace: not too fast, not too slow. Please be ready to start walking at the advertised time.

Walk fee: £3. No dogs please. Bring packed lunch/snacks/drink with you.

Start Location/Parking: we will meet in the market square at the Town Hall end (see photo). Parking is available in Marygate (lower car park) and Cathedral (upper car park with free toilets) - from this car park, head for the shopping arcade and this will bring you out into the market square. Marygate costs £2 and Cathedral costs £2.50 (for 4 hrs+). Postcode is HG4 1QS.

I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.