River Ure & Nutwith Common from Masham

A pleasant North Yorkshire walk that starts from the brewing town of Masham. The outward route follows the banks of the River Ure. The return uses paths and lanes to return via Nutwith Common.

Technical sheet

n°293120

A Masham walk posted on 04/07/16 by Walking Britain. Last update : 06/05/19

Activity: Walking
Distance: 10.67 km
Calculated time: 3h 25
Difficulty: Moderate
Return to departure point: Yes
Vertical gain: + 139 m
Vertical drop: - 131 m
Highest point: 207 m
Lowest point: 70 m

District: Masham
Start/End: N 54.221838° / W 1.656138°
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Description

(S/E)The start is Masham Market Place (grid ref. SE225807). From here follow the signed Ripon Rowell Walk east to reach the River Ure. The path follows the west bank of the River south turning away from the River Ure to follow the River Burn upstream to Low Burn Bridge (grid ref. SE226798).

(1)Turn left across the bridge and then left again still following the Ripon Rowell Walk beside the River Burn to re-join the path heading south along the River Ure. Continue for about one and a half miles along the Ure. When the path crosses a small stream, turn left to go through a gate into the wood. Do not go straight up from crossing the stream or you will be on the wrong side of the fence. Continue on to the junction of paths near Limehouse Hill (grid ref. SE235777),

(2)Here you turn right leaving the Ripon Rowell Walk, which continues straight ahead, following the path to reach a car park on Thorpe Road (grid ref. SE230774). Turn left along the road for a short way and then take the signed footpath on your right which heads west through Oak Bank Woods before turning north over Nutwith Common to reach Thorpe Road once again (grid ref. SE223782).

(3)Turn left along this road and after 250 metres bear left into Roomer Lane. After just over half a mile take the footpath on your right (grid ref. SE218789). This path leads across fields passing Low Swinton on your left to reach a road (grid ref. SE214797). Turn right along the road and follow it back into Masham and the start of the walk.

Waypoints

S/E : km 0 - alt. 87 m - Start: Masham market place
1 : km 2.04 - alt. 74 m - Turn left across bridge
2 : km 4.6 - alt. 92 m - Turn right at path junction
3 : km 6.63 - alt. 137 m - Turn left along road
S/E : km 10.67 - alt. 87 m - Finish: Masham market place

Useful Information

This walk starts from the small town of Masham which is home to Black Sheep and Theakston breweries. The route includes a section of the Ripon Rowell Walk along the banks of the River Ure before continuing across Nutwith Common to use field paths and lanes to return to the start.

Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

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Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5

Based on 14 reviews

Clarity of route description
3.7 / 5

Clarity of route map
3.5 / 5

Walk interest
4 / 5

Steadyeddy

05 Jun 2023 at 03:26 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 25/05/23
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Good instructions apart from one point at Limehouse hill.

Rojo

01 Jul 2021 at 10:20 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 30/06/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent combination of walking along the River Ure, through 2 woods and then through countryside. Unable to find one of the signposts, which should have taken us across fields. Not a problem, it just meant walking along a country lane further than expected. I believe the walk claims 5.3 miles, though we actually covered 7.3 miles, (not caused by the extra walking along the lane). We do recommend the walk.

Aurelie-21

28 Jun 2021 at 07:07 EDT

Sorry to hear that.
Did you use our mobile app and its feature called 'go to the starting point' ?

AllanL65

28 Jun 2021 at 06:37 EDT

Overall rating : 1 / 5

Date of walk : 05/06/21
Clarity of route description : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing
Walk interest : ★☆☆☆☆ Very disappointing

Never found the start point, couldn't see a signpost for Ripon Rowell. So didn't do the walk. We winged it and went on a walk ourselves

LadyG

10 May 2021 at 04:47 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 09/05/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Not enough details given and as others have said at several points were left guessing - luckily some helpful locals helped us.
Hilly ascent (once worked out where to turn right - several false starts!) to Hackfall car park was steeper than thought would be given description as average walk. Unfortunately for us when we got to top and then walked up to next part of walk through woods had to double back as paths closed as Swinton park were using for motorbike off road so had to double back and ended up going through fields further down off Thorpe Rd and retracing footsteps along river to bridge. We then walked along busy road to Masham which luckily was only for short way.

Varied scenery and welcome refreshments at end in Masham.

Mwb

03 May 2021 at 07:19 EDT

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of walk : 02/05/21
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Nice, varied walk with riverside, woodland and open country. And a few places for an outside drink at the end.

theoxforddictionary

24 Aug 2020 at 06:34 EDT

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of walk : 19/08/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We did this walk with two friends all around the late sixties. it was decided to start the walk at Hackfall car park, halfway round the walk. We arrived at 11.30 am with no room in the small park, we moved back towards Masham and parked in the Nutwith Common roadside parking. From here the directions take you up the road, (no need the path on left meets Roomer Lane in 250 yds and keeps you off the road.) next directions take you off the road but the map shown in red shows taking the road. We followed the directions and had no problem. we continued towards Masham passing high Swinton but took the path through the golf club onto the ripon Rowell walk (The path through the golf course starts over the bridge by the entrance to the course should anyone else wish to take this route.) and entered Masham at the top end of the village and had a pre booked lunch and stop at the White Bear Pub/ Hotel.(very good but pricey.)We had been warned to look for Millgate as the exit from Masham, here after we had a glorious walk along the river Ure. There some uncertainty where the path turned right to get to Hackfall car park. A home made sign was helpful in finding the path. The walk up to the carpark was strenuous and would suggest as another reviewers have mentioned, the walk might be easier getting this hill out of the way first. The walk through Nutwith Common wood was the least enjoyable part of the walk. But a very enjoyable walk nonetheless one that all our party would recommend.
The day was warm 20 c, It had rained the day before but was relatively dry underfoot.

Ianandaby

01 Aug 2020 at 02:16 EDT

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : 31/07/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

We lost our way on a number of occasions....firstly at the very start where we could not find the sign in the town that is referred to. There were several other occasions too where we really felt we were guessing. It was a very hot day and we had our large dog with us. The final part of the walk, near Swinton, (which is probably more than a mile from the 'main' Masham road) was awful as we ended up following the public footpath across a number of farmer's fields which all had poorly maintained styles and required us to carry our dog over each of them. I believe the walk we did, based on the instructions as best that we could follow them, was at least 8 miles and took us 5 hours. It is a great walk, with differing scenery but the directions really could do with updating. We're not inexperienced walkers but this one really took it out of us!!

Matelot

15 Jul 2020 at 04:15 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 12/07/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : N/A
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Would be more useful for direction 'On entering Hackfall Woods turn immediately right'

Fishnic

23 Mar 2020 at 13:48 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 21/03/20
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent walk! Instructions improvements:
1. We never saw a Ripon Rowell sign. Better to say exit market square walking East on Millgate.
2. Line4: NOT into the wood, TOWARDS the wood.
Line6: Continue on THROUGH ANOTHER GATE to the junction .......
3. The route shown in red on the map does not follow the instructions to take the fieldpath to Low Swinton.

David J Mackintosh

14 Oct 2019 at 14:05 EDT

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : 13/10/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

I feel that the walk description text could be a little more detailed.

Chrisbuck10765

28 May 2019 at 13:27 EDT

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : 27/05/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Walk interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Excellent walk with clear instructions

Stuart and Susan

27 May 2019 at 11:53 EDT

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : 26/05/19
Clarity of route description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Walk interest : ★★★★☆ Good

The climb from the river bank up to the car park was steeper than anticipated for an "average" walk. It might possibly be an easier walk if done anti-clockwise. Otherwise a most enjoyable walk.

Penny meakin

04 Apr 2019 at 01:29 EDT

Thank for your reply. I looked at Oak Bank Woods and that was the part we could not find. I wanted to ask where they are as they are not shown on another map I have seen. The only woods I could find were the Hackfall woods which were before the car park. Just to confirm after the car park we could not find the next part of the route. Thank you

Aurelie-21

02 Apr 2019 at 03:58 EDT

Sorry to hear that.
We did some changes on the track and hope it make it clearer.

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