Brymore Ice Cream parlour, a lovely walk on a sunny afternoon in the Yorkshire Dales

Our little family all decided to meet at Brymor Ice Cream Parlour at High Jervaulx near Masham, have a walk and then finish with one of their super ice creams. We parked at Brymor, plenty of parking and all socially spaced, donned boots and hats etc and set off for a walk just less than five miles, mostly easy going. It was the perfect afternoon and we were looking forward to it. It was walk full of wild flowers, bird song, there was a bird in the wood that no one could identify by its call, lush pasture, arable crops, woods and wonderful elevated views of Wensleydale, east towards the North York Moors in the distance, with Leyburn, Harmby, Spennithorne to the north. Even though this is just a short walk you really do need your map for this one as there isn’t an abundance of footpath markers. Always wear suitable clothing and footwear and take a drink and snacks.

Park up and make your way back to the entrance of Brymor and on the right you will see a footpath signing the Six Dales Trail, over the stile and walk straight ahead keeping the hedge on your left. Over the ladder stile at the top of the field, veer to the right a little but continue up the hill, keep going until you see a stone post in the hedge at nearly the highest point, continue further up the hill and eventually through a couple stile gates coming out onto a track, still the Six Dales Trail. When the road through Ellingstring comes into view, do not go to the road but turn left down another track and follow to High Ellington. You will go through arable farmland and then into rough pasture. Wild flowers all along here, quite different to what we had seen in the arable fields. Once the farm yard comes into view, turn left up the hill along a track to a metal stile gate ahead of you. Keep to the right down the arable field and towards the bottom keep a sharp look out for a footpath taking you across the field to another metal stile gate which has become quite overgrown so keep looking!

Across to the wood, picking up footpath stickers. In the wood, Ellington Firtlh, turn left, west, and follow the track, ignore the green arrow taking you up the hill but continue through the wood along the track. You will come a fenced area where pheasants are being bred. The first time I walked through here you could continue through here, if this is possible then do so. But this Sunday it was impassable so we skirted round, up the hill and followed a well worn path along the top of the ravine, keep going until you see stone gate posts in front of you. Here keep to the right, do not go through the gate posts and keep the wall on your left eventually coming to a small stream and pool of water, be careful here, but you’ll see a gate on your left to take you into open pastureland.

Soon you can see your destination at the bottom of the hill! Keep to the right here, follow the fence, over the makeshift wooden fence in the corner and wend your way down the hill. You will now see the gated stile you should have come out of if you hadn’t had to make a detour. Turn east again, up the hillock and head for the red metal gate. Through here turn down the hill, you will recognise where you are now and head back to ladder gate in the corner and the arable field you came through at the beginning of the walk and finally a joyous ice cream!

We do have some lovely cottages in Masham and the surrounding area, have a look on our website for ideas and availability or do call me, Nadine, or my daughter Joanne on 01969 663559 for friendly help and advice.