We picked up the walk just a few minutes from the B&B across the other side of the river heading North and anti-clockwise around the route. Quick piece of advice here ....if you normally wear double socks for a snug fit in your boot, DON'T only wear one pair when you are walking 20 miles! But DO go back and add second pair it's worth 5 minutes walk instead of blood & blisters & holy socks! You would think somebody who has done as many walks as I have would know better....oh well on with the walk :-)
The route is generally well signposted although there are a couple of sections where a map is useful for confirmation, but you could manage pretty much without. The walking is pretty easy although there are a couple of steeper sections within the woods which could be a little slippy in wet weather.
Like many walks you stay close to a river for much of the walk, which is always a handy reference point for keeping on track and for scenic views such as above. You follow the route along the Nidd gorge, where you reach the weir (pictured above) keep following the Nidd Westwards until you come to the Nidd Viaduct
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| View from the top of Nidd Viaduct |
Once you reach the viaduct the path deviates away from the river across to the back of houses on the Northern tip of Harrogate & South of Killinghall where you have to cross the A61 and the path starts to turn Southwards past a couple of farms towards the A59. Somewhere along the route (can't remember exactly where) you come across a delightful cottage sat just across a bridge next a closed ford crossing.
After you have passed the A59 you head down through the house and along the main road in Jennyfield, there is a handy Co-op for a drink or snack along the main road, then you continue down until you reach a footpath off to the right where you pick up the route along Oak Beck through more woodland & after this there is a straight stretch that takes you further South passing beside a country park. A little further along the route you reach the unforgettably named pub the "Squinting Cat" which is a welcome sight and a large pub with beer garden and plenty to eat & drink.
After you are suitably refreshed you follow the path through some cow inhabited fields (with caution!) It seems to be increasingly common these days for cows to show more than a passing interest to visitors to their field. And although of course you have a right of way through their field, I am not sure that all the cows are aware of this. Not for the first time as we were making our way quietly through the field a cow (followed by others) made towards us with intent and if we had not have speeded up and reached the style quicker than was anticipated it might have got a little messy! Be warned keep an eye out........
The path reaches it Southern most tip and up through Burn Bridge and up into the suburbs of Harrogate & back across the A61 before heading across the railway line at Oatlands before picking up Crimple Beck for a short while. The last section takes you South besides the A661 before heading across some open farmland & back towards Knaresborough.
Here is the link to the OS map that I used and is useful as back up should you need it -
All in all an excellent walk and would recommend for reasonable fit walkers, and of course you are never far away from the suburbs, bus routes & train if you decide to cut it short or divert into either town.
As I mentioned at the beginning we stayed at "Teardrop Cottage" a fantastic B&B right next to the river and town of Knaresborough. It's a delightful well decorated, well run establishment where Mike the owner will really look after you and serve you a very tasty breakfast full of variety & local produce.
Well thank you for joining me on the Harrogate Ringway walk, we are looking at a wee trip North soon so I am sure there will be another Autumnal blog soon
Oh & btw it's nearly time for the Glasgow Half Marathon again, and at the moment the legs are holding out so all being well (touch wood etc) I will be running on October 6th aiming to beat last years 2.05hrs and get under the 2 hr mark.............watch this space!
