Harrip one

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Harrip here.

The previous excellent review says almost all there is to say about this lovely walk and I have only a few additional comments. The walk as far as Ripley follows he old railway line and is tarmacked and generally suitable for all. Ripley has world famous ice cream, a castle, tea rooms and a pub. After Ripley the route is not considered suitable for dogs because of cows in some of the fields. The only reason for four rather than five stars is that I think the final section into Ripon can be changed slightly to pass through nature reserves and be closer to the river. I agree with the minor suggested modifications described in the previous review.

This is a really good walk through a quiet and scenic rural area. It is generally well signposted with good paths and is easy going all the way. There are only 2 stiles.
The route leaves Harrogate on the Nidderdale Greenway, a Sustrans cycle/pedestrian asphalted path to Ripley, mainly built along the old railway line to Pateley Bridge. The route is well used by dog walkers and cyclists. When the path reaches the A61 there is a combined pelican and pegasus crossing over the busy road. The Slow Ways route is then shown along the verge at the side of the road, but it is better to continue along the Greenway through the field into the Ripley car park, which is more direct and is away from the traffic. There are public toilets in the car park.
Ripley village has been built in French style and has a pub serving good food, the 'famous' ice cream shop and a village store.
The Slow Ways route suggests following the road out of Ripley to the roundabout and then along the first 100m of the Pateley Bridge road. There is no pavement for part of this route and the road is busy. It is better to turn down the road between the Ripley Castle wall and the tennis court (the gate has a sign saying the road is private but this is only for cars and there is a pedestrian gate). The road leads directly to the end of BIrthwaite Lane and the start of a section of the walk on the Nidderdale Way to High Cayton farm. The path leaves the Nidderdale Way at High Cayton farm and continues on to Markington over a mixture of arable and grazing land for cows. There were cows in 3 of the fields but they were dairy cows and not interested in us.
Markington has a pub that serves food and convenient benches round the cricket field to stop if needed.
The path continues round the cricket and football field, leaving the football field up 4 or 5 steep steps (in need of repair) towards Ingerthorpe where it joins the Ripon Rowel path on to Markington Hall. The path to Markington Hall has had new fences build on both sides to protect walkers from the cows in the field.
The route leaves the Ripon Rowel at Whitcliffe Hall farm and then follows a long very quiet single track road, with good views of Ripon Minster, to Hell Wath Nature reserve before dropping down to the River Skell for the final approach to Ripon. The path down to the River Skell is a steep descent down 20+ shallow, well maintained steps.

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