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(S/E) From the car park for Hackfall (Grid Ref SE 23082 77517) walk past the information board at the bottom of the car park and follow the path to the gate, go through and turn left. Follow the path which enters a field and continue downhill to a wooden kissing gate. Go through and into the woods, follow the path to a junction. (This path comes from Masham and is a longer option if you want to start and finish there.)
(1) At the junction take the right hand path, this leads up to a seat, continue downwards to two Stone Pillars just above a sandy beach next to the river. (It is possible to drop down to the beach if you wish.) Walk between the pillars and continue to a ruin on the right, this is the Sandbed Hut. Continue along the path to another bifurcation.
(2) Take the right hand split which leads uphill to another junction and wooden signpost. Turn right and walk uphill to the ruin of The Grotto and then onto the Fountain Pond and Rustic Temple. (3) (There is a hand pump which, if not broken, will allow you to activate the fountain on the island in the pond)
(3) From the Fountain Pond, return to the junction in the path. (As you pass the grotto you can take a narrow path on the right up to The 40 Foot Fall where Hackfall woods gets its name.) Cross the stream and take the left hand path (signposted to Fisher Hall) which leads to the ruined folly of Fisher Hall.
(4) From the ruin continue downhill to join the riverside path again. Turn right and follow the path (over some stepping stones) and then along to another junction with a path on the right.
(5) Turn right and follow the path uphill to slant above Raven Scar, contour around to cross a stream (which might be dry in summer) and then gently uphill to the folly of Mowbray Castle (6). After looking at the ruin, re-join the path and follow it to a post and sign for Grewelthorpe. (This is just above the Alum Spring.) Follow the path to Grewelthorpe and arrive at an information board.
Here you can follow the description to go into Grewelthorpe for refreshments, or you can walk past the information board and turn right to pick up the top path, follow the directions to the Alum Spring below marked *.
(7) At the information board turn left and follow the path between fields; at the first bifurcation take the right hand split and at the second turn right to follow the farm road into the village. You will emerge with The Crown Inn on your left. Turn left, walk past the Crown and continue along the pavement until opposite the church and village hall. Cross over to the tea room for refreshments (8).
(8) Return to pass beside The Crown and continue straight on, through the village. Follow the bend down to the right (take care for cars as the pavement ends) and walk to a sign post on the right. Enter the woods and soon you will come back to the information board at (7)*.
* (7) Now walk straight on to another post, take the right hand path down hill to a second post where you turn right and walk down to the pool for The Alum Spring. You can have a dip in the water if you like and/or can cross the stepping stones and scramble up to find to spring which emerges (unimpressively) from some limestone (9).
(9) From the pool, return up to the first post mentioned above and turn right to follow the path to pass beside another ruined folly and onto The Ruin (which is a holiday let) (10). After The Ruin look out for some steps leading down to a seat known as Lovers Leap. Continue along the path to a gate, go through and follow the track back up to a gate, go through and follow the path back to the car park. (S/E)
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