Elevation: 410 ft
Accesibility Rating: 4/10
Terrain: Paved city streets and off road paths
Parking: St Margate & Cathedral car park

Please take extra care during the months of October and November when the annual mating season – deer rut – takes place. Ensure you keep your distance and have dogs on a short lead at all times.

1). Start at Ripon Bus Station

2). Leave Ripon bus station, heading west towards Queen Street, then bear left to Market Place. Cross the square diagonally to the south-west corner and bear left via pedestrian crossings, past the end of Westgate and down the hill along High Skellgate. Continue down to the traffic-light-controlled junction. Go straight on at the junction, across the pedestrian crossing into Low Skellgate, taking care on the narrow footpath. Go past the service garage on the right, bear left and continue over the bridge to Harrogate Road.

3).  Turn right along Borrage Green Lane and continue down the road, which eventually becomes a wide footpath, joining the River Skell on your right. Pass a wooden bridge on your right and continue ahead to climb some concrete steps. Follow the path through scrubland, mostly keeping the river in view on your right. Emerge onto a road at Hell Wath Cottage.

4). Turn right through the wooden gate. If you've come down the vehicle track, continue straight through the wooden gate. Continue along a wide gravel path and across two narrow bridges. At the crossroads, turn left following the sign post to Studley Roger and Fountains Abbey. After passing through a swinging gate you'll arrive in Studley Roger village. 

5).  Cross the road, continue along straight along the public footpath and head through the gate into Studley Royal Deer Park. After you reach the interpretation panel, follow the path to your left along the wall until you join the main vehicle drive in the park.  On a clear day, you'll see St Mary's church ahead. Turning around, you'll see Ripon Cathedral in the distance.

6).  Follow the drive up towards a junction and turn left towards Studley Lake. At this point you can divert to visit the abbey ruins, water garden and lakeside tea-room. To continue your walk, as the drive bends right take the track on your left, crossing the footbridge with the lake on your right.

7).  There are two different routes depending on your confidence and the nature of your mobility vehicle. Off road route - after crossing the footbridge, follow the well-defined footpath ahead, down the Valley of the Seven Bridges and follow the course of the River Skell. The river can disappear into swallow holes in the limestone rock during dry weather. After you've crossed five bridges (there were originally seven), exit the land in our care via a metal gate, following the track beside the river. At the track junction, bear left and continue up the hill to open views over Ripon and past Plumpton Hall farmhouse, returning to Studley Roger village, passing the entrance to the estate on your left.

8). Continue straight ahead towards the B6265. When you reach the bus stop in Studley Royal village, turn right following the public footpath sign. From here, retrace your way back through sections 3, 2 and 1 to take you back to Ripon bus station.