Ripley - Nidderdale Way - Low Kettle Spring Hill Top - Bedlam - Ripley

Phil Catterall

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This is a circular walk taking in a chunk of the Nidderdale Way. The route takes you through woodland, open fields, pastoral land and over a hill to Bedlam before returning to Ripley alongside the castle's deer-park. There are good views on parts of the route. At Hill Top will be found the “Great Wall of Clint”. Which was built by one craftsman, Gordon Simpson, in 2019 from 230 tons of the finest Yorkshire Stone. For lovers of dry-stone walls, it is a sight to behold!
Ripley itself is a quaint little Yorkshire village, popular with the tourists and therefore offering several food and drink outlets. If you have time, you can visit Ripley Castle and Gardens before or after your walk. Unfortunately, in 2022 the car parking area is no longer free of charge, apart from the first 15 minutes. There are public toilets available there.

England - North England - Yorkshire - Nidderdale

Features

Birds, Butterflies, Cafe, Castle, Church, Flowers, Food Shop, Gift Shop, Lake/Loch, Pub, Public Transport, Restaurant, Stately Home, Tea Shop, Toilets, Waterfall, Wildlife, Woodland

9/29/2020 - Stephen Douglass

Just a fab walk on what was probably the last sunny summers day of 2020. Clearly marked and with wonderful views all the way round. Be sure to turn immediate left before the farm and follow the field downhill to the stream.

6/3/2016 - Wayne Lines

Really nice walk. Didn't see 'loads of red kites' but we did get a spectacular close up of just one of them. My phone app, which may not be 100% accurate, makes the walk 6.44 miles rather than 5, but the height gain of 500 feet (with which my legs agreed) rather than 32.81 feet!

2/7/2014 - MIKE DUDLEY

Not a bad walk - more undulating than I expected. Cool and grey February day, and very wet under foot. This made some of the paths very clarty, and with an adverse camber! You do not see a named 'Nidderdale Way' sign until about point 5. Up until then just follow the white/blue curlew roundel. Between 3-6 is probably the best bit. Fast unpleasant road section between 7 & 8. Thankfully no bull on this day! To avoid any confusion, once you reach the deer wall (between points 14 &15), just follow it effectively all the way back. Ripley is a nice village but suffers from nearby busy roads. In summer, I imagine it might live up to the name of the hamlet on this walk, i.e. Bedlam! Good food in the Boar's Head (which allows dogs in), and great ice cream across the road. Birds - loads of red kites, buzzards, fieldfares and redwings. Also heron and yellowhammer.

8/18/2011 - jenny pryor

Did this walk this afternoon and had to make a detour. There was a bull in the field at point 9 and no footpath signed here at all. There were warnings of 'beef bulls' at point 8 and cattle on the farm track. We got the feeling that walkers were being discouraged on this stretch. We continued on Nidderdale Way and caught up with route later.

9/21/2007 - Sean Diver

I completed this walk this afternoon, some great scenery to be seen and Ripley village centre is a great place, the scenery diverts your attention from road walking, completed in 135 mins. Seán Diver 21.09.07

9/7/2004 - Stephen Booker

On holiday recently our family completeted Walk 1141. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk, the instructions were clear and accurate. We would like to contribute a missing picture (Picture 11) to improve the walk instructions.