Length: 5.72 miles. Height change: 777ft. Time: 2hrs 20mins.
A walk taking in woodlands, a ‘secret’ dale and stunning views from the tops. The walk is actually just outside the national park, although given the landscape it is difficult to understand why it is not in the park. Weather wise: you need moderate weather and it is a good walk in winter since much of it is on tracks and the snowdrops are stunning in late January and February.
Park your car opposite the T-junction near the church – see the map. There is space for 6 or 7 cars here and remember to put some money in the honesty box! The walk starts by following the road up into the village and past the church on your left. Follow the road to the top row of houses and turn left reaching a gate into a field. Go through and follow the track.
You will soon pass some houses and enter a woodland. In winter the wood to your left is carpeted with snowdrops. Carry on past the walled garden and cottage on your left. The track climbs and eventually comes out at a gate.
Go through the gate and into open country side. Stay on the track eventually reaching a house. Just before the house, turn left down a concrete roadway which zig zags down the hill and then across the Marske Beck. Look to your right for a rather pleasant waterfall. Continue on past a large barn on your left and a road leading to your left – go straight on here and follow the track to Telfit farm house. Fantastic open views all round…
At Telfit, take the track up the hill – as the track turns left, take the path through the gate opposite and down the bank – be careful here since it is very uneven. Then follow the path along the left bank of the beck all the way to Helwith.
At Helwith you can stop for a tea in the ‘Tea Garden’ in summer or continue on up the track on the left away from the beck. Eventually it climbs on to the tops, where you follow the ridge. Fantastic views into the valley below where you previously walked. Continue along the ridge which starts to descend eventually reaching a road which you take until you see a style on your left in the wall. Go over the style and follow the path back to Maske crossing the beck at the pack horse bridge. En route watch out for the disused water wheel near the bridge.