Masham to Leyburn – 29 February 2020
It’s a Northumberland Breakout this Saturday. We have done three walks in Northumberland this year plus a walk into Durham but that did not really count as a breakout as it was just over the county border. This one is all the way into the Yorkshire Dales and not just into them but all the way down to Masham, well not quite Masham but close enough.
We walked south of Leyburn in May 2018 all the way to Masham on a really nice sunny day. With the recent weather, we have been having lately it is doubtful that we will get a full day of sunshine but it is the last day of February in this leap year so changes could be happening.
To get back to Leyburn all the walks have to start north of Masham which leaves the coach going into Masham with only the driver on board so that he can turn around and head back on the A6108 road. All the routes get off the coach along this road with the 8-mile route getting off first just after Masham Bank.
This route goes north but then swings west to pass through the site of Jervaulx Abbey. The last time the shorter route came this way in 2018 they stopped off at the tearooms at the Abbey. It just so happens that the tearooms reopened on the 15th February so the chances are that another visit could take place. From the Abbey, this route follows the River Ure and then crosses Cover Bridge over the River Cover and back across the River Ure on an unnamed bridge to head towards Leyburn on the east side of the river.
Both the 11-mile route and the 12-mile route get off at the same location about a mile from Masham with the 11-mile route heading north-west between the A6108 road and the River Ure until it reaches Jervaulx Abbey where it picks up the same route as the 8-mile walk. Probably without the benefit of visiting the tearooms.
The 12-mile route heads north-west on the southern side of the A6108 and then goes north at East Witton to cross the Cover Bridge and then walks along the northern bank of the River Cover before heading towards Middleham. There are some stepping stones across the river south of Middleham that could have provided a shortcut but the water levels are probably going to be somewhat high to be able to use the shortcut. After Middleham, the route has to cross Middleham Bridge over the River Ure and after a short stretch of road walking the route comes into Leyburn using the same footpaths as the other two routes.
So if you fancy a Northumberland Breakout with a trip to Yorkshire Dales you can get in touch with us from our Contact Page and you can download the walk descriptions here and the GPX routes here.
The image for this walk was taken on that May day in 2018 as we walked through the grounds of Jervaulx Abbey. We had two 11-mile routes out that day and one of them is just heading around the side of the small lake.
Leyburn Weather
| Walk No. 5 | Masham to Leyburn | 29 February 2020 |
| Area: Yorkshire Dales | Map: OL30, Exp 302 |
8 miles Moderate
Start: A6108 Road OS Grid Ref: SE185846
Ramshaw – Kilgram Lane – Wind Hills – Jervaulx Abbey – Jervaulx Hall – Fish Pond Plantation – Cover Bridge – Footpath to Wood Lane – Beggar’s Mouth – Howe Hills – The Cottage – Leyburn
11 miles Moderate
Start: A6108 Road OS Grid Ref: SE213821
Marfield Plantation – High Mains Cottages – High Mains Whin – Wind Hills – Low Ellington – Appletree House – Hazel Lane – Ramshaw – Kilgram Lane – Wind Hills – Jervaulx Abbey – Jervaulx Hall – Fish Pond Plantation – Cover Bridge – Footpath to Wood Lane – Beggar’s Mouth – Howe Hills – The Cottage – Leyburn
12 miles Moderate
Start: A6108 Road OS Grid Ref: SE213821
Mile House Farm – Low Spelder Banks – Sutton Penn – High Sutton – High Ellington – Hammersdale Farm – High Newstead – Hammer Road – Hammer Farm – Waterloo Farm – East Witton – Cover Bridge – Straight Lane – Middleham – Gel Pool – Middleham Bridge – Howe Hills – The Cottage – Leyburn
Pub: The Golden Lion Telephone No: 01969 622161
