The medium walk (8 miles) headed to Borrage Lane and crossed the river Skell taking the path along the river to the junction of the River Laver. Climbing some concrete steps (a former First World War camp relic which extends along the river to the Deer Park), we continued along the path to Hellwath Cottage and then turn towards Rose Bridge and onto Studley Roger Village before entering Studley Royal Deer Park. Reaching the main drive, we saw St Mary’s church and by looking back we also saw Ripon Cathedral. Following the drive to just before the church, we turned left towards Studley Lake crossing the footbridge down the valley of the Seven Bridges part of the Chinese Garden created by William Aislabie. Leaving the National Trust grounds, we continued along the path next to the river and up the hill to see views over Ripon and continued to Plumpton Hall. We returned to Studley Roger Village where we retraced our steps to Ripon passing the cricket and rugby grounds back to our starting point.
The long walk (12 miles) followed a similar route to the Deer Park and through the Chinese Gardens after which on leaving the National Trust grounds, we travelled along the Ripon Rowel Walk path south past the moated Markenfield Hall (home of the Grantley family). We then turned east along Hellwath Lane. We then crossed the A61at Grantley Wood and passed the Holland Hall Lake to reach Knaresborough Road – from here we took the path to Fairfield and continued on to LittleThorpe Village. Leaving LittleThorpe Village we crossed the bridge over the canal adjacent to the small marina before returning along the canal bank into Ripon.
