On a warm, but mainly cloudy, morning, 7 of us left the coach on the B6265 adjacent to the Ripon Rowell Walk, together with Ian Selkirk’s group.  A fingerpost pointed the way, but I have to say that the path was poorly defined and if Ian’s group had not been ahead, it would not have been easy to follow.  Anyhow, we headed SSE to Sawley Moor Lane and then E to another minor road (MR) just south of Sawley.  At this point I had intended taking a footpath S then SW to Lacon Hall but as this was ill defined, I took the road to Middycar Bank Farm then headed SW on a good track to the Hall.  Ian’s group had stopped for coffee but we carried on as I intended stopping at Butterton Bridge.  We then  headed SW via Green Lane to enter a path thro the woods to Butterton Bridge.  This was an attractive spot with several large patches of bluebells.  A good spot for a coffee break so we took the opportunity.  

After coffee, we climbed out of the valley and wood and headed SW & S to Warsill Hill Farm.  Here, I made my 1st mistake as we headed SSE along a good track io. SW on a path (which I did not see).  Anyhow, we ended up on a minor road and it was an easy 300 m to get back on the route.  This took us to an area called Warren where we headed alongside a wood to Warren House.   Although a RoW, this did involve climbing over a fence.  At Warren House, we stopped for a few moments to admire some lovely Rhododendrons in the garden.  We then joined a MR and this took us to Middle Farm.  Unfortunately the FP which cut the corner was non-existent even though I searched for it. So we stayed on the road past Middle South Farm and then turned onto  a FP heading W.  This path was supposed to cross a fence and head to the woods.  The group searched for a path but in the end we just headed in the general direction and eventually reached the stream on the route.  After the stream, the path was again more or less invisible but we continued in the correct direction and eventually came out of the wood and onto  a decent path which took us up to Summer Wood House.  We then headed up the farm track to join a MR crossing Brimham Moor.  A short distance WSW and we reached a gate with a good looking path on the north side.  The path I wanted, which I had used with Jeff 13 years previous, headed NW, however this path soon turned NE and there was no other path to be seen.  OK I thought, we will go  a bit further and all the time I was looking for a path on the left and looking at my GPS route.  Next thing I knew (2nd mistake), I was full length on the ground having tripped over a rock.  Shaken but otherwise unhurt, I decided to stay on the path as there would surely be a path NW soon (3rd mistake).  So we continued on our not so merry way  and managed to cover the circumference of the Brimham Rock area before reaching the cafe and ice cream shop.  We did make one detour but the path ran out after about 50 yds and we did have a lunch stop before reaching the cafe.  We arrived at the cafe to find Ian’s group leaving and Charles’ group getting ready to leave.  Anyhow, I am sure we all enjoyed our ice creams.

Leaving the cafe, we headed SSE to rejoin the MR and then S to join part of the Nidderdale Way.  Unfortunately this was not easy walking as the path was quite rough.  We then joined a MR and headed into Smelthouses from where we headed SSW to the River Nidd and the Six Dales trail.  We headed along the river bank in sunshine and a very warm day.   Fortunately there were no other problems and we headed NW past Glasshouses and the adjacent attractive small reservoir.   Keeping up a good pace, we arrived at Pateley Bridge with over 45 min left.  While some went straight to the coach, the rest of us of us headed over the bridge and up the road to the pub.

A nice walk, certainly in terms of scenery, but to say it was eventful is an understatement.  However, it was only 1 mile more than advertised!!!