Cover Bridge, East Witton, Low Ellingstring, Jervaulx Abbey in a circular manner!

This was a walk made of a few walks already done but put together in a different way and was just lovely. About eleven miles but after the first pull up hill all easy going. As always please do check the route on your map before you set off and wear appropriate clothing and footwear not forgetting to take plenty to drink and snacks if not taking a picnic.

We parked in the car park opposite the Cover Bridge Inn and set off over the bridge, immediately over the bridge follow the finger post on the right and continue to make your way to East Witton through the fields. You’ll come out onto the road in East Witton, turn left here and make you way down the village until you see a road off to the right, Low Thorpe. Pass the telephone box and follow the road, past Waterloo Farm, past Thirsting Castle Lodge and up to Hammer Farm and to the end of the track, here turn left. Do not walk past Hammer Farm but go through a metal gate on the right into a field, follow along the wood side until you come to a gate taking you into the wood, Great Yaud Plantation. Through here and follow the track, which eventually turns into a footpath ever up wards until you come out into high pastureland. Keep going and you’ll soon see a little gate off to the left, through this and soon you’ll come to a little pack horse bridge, over here and keep going to Moor Cote. Follow the diversion round the house, down the long driveway onto the road. Keep going straight on down the hill and turn left to Ellingstring.

Once in Ellingstring keep going through the village and turn left on to the Six Dales Trail at Ruskil Bank Farm (if you get the telephone box you have missed the turn off) but leave the Six Dales Trail after a few yards off to the right in the direction of High Ellington. As you approach High Ellington follow the footpath signs bearing left which brings you out onto a track to the farm, cross here and take the footpath opposite, you soon pick up the footpath signs again. Turn left here and once out on to the road turn left and walk along the road until you see a chapel that is the last building. Just before here there is a track off to the left. Turn into here and take the overgrown path, if too overgrown, back track to the road and walk down the road to the A6108. Whichever way you have gone, now follow the road down into Low Ellington. A tiny hamlet, the houses surrounding the village green. Through Low Ellington, always follow the road which eventually turns into a track. Now follow the track, you’ll pick up a way marker at the next gate, onwards and round the field eventually coming to double gates. Do not go through here but keep to the left of the hedge and you’ll soon see a way marker and stile in front of you. Continue on here until you come to the river Ure, follow the riverbank until you come to the stile, over here and into a large pasture and aim for Squirrel Bank in the distance. Make your way on to the track to the house, turning right and follow to Kilgram Grange.

Once out on the road again, Kilgram Lane, turn left and follow to Jervaulx Park, turning in at the gate house and entrance gate posts. Over the cattle grid and keep going through the park to come out on the A6108 again. Turn right. Now the dodgy bit as you have to walk along the roadside for a little way, go down the hill, stopping at the café if you so wish, past Jervaulx Abbey entrance and keep going to Harker Beck Bridge, cross over the bridge. Turn right to follow the track down to the river again. Now it’s a matter of following the path along the riverbank to bring you back to Cover Bridge!

A glorious walk with, at times, sensational views and if you want to stay nearby, check out our cottages for availability or call myself, Nadine, or Joanne, my daughter, for friendly help and advice on 01969 663559.