Studley Royal circular + lunch option (see details below) - 6.8 miles

NEW WALK!! Easy walking with a couple of gentle ascents, a variation on another walk previously led in this area. Having traipsed through Ripon, we cross the river Laver and embark on woodland/riverside trails in the area known as Hell Wath. We next cross the Skell before making our way along a solid trail to the village of Studley Royal with its character properties en route to the grand drive leading up to St Marys Church in the grounds of Studley Royal Estate. We then drop down to the lake for a short morning break before partially retracing our steps then taking a different route back through Ripon to our starting point. The walk will be led at a steady pace: not too fast, not too slow. Please be ready to start walking at the advertised time. Walk fee: £3. No dogs please. Bring snacks/drink for a short morning break. Please note: the tearoom by the lake won’t be open but the public conveniences will still be accessible. Start point: meet by the obelisk in Ripon market square. The postcode of the Town Hall that faces the market square is HG4 1DG. Parking: St Marygate car park is £2.40 for four hours. You can also park in Cathedral car park (the one with the toilets) for the same fee. The former car park is the lower one, the latter car park is the upper one located immediately behind the shopping arcade. St Marygate/Cathedral car parks are linked and the postcode is HG4 1LX. Note: the postcode can vary depending on which website you’re looking at! LUNCH OPTION: I have booked a table for lunch at 1pm at The Furrow & Furlong pub located directly on the B6265 just past the racecourse and over the stone bridge, if driving away from Ripon (see photo). The pub was previously known as the Black-O-Moor Inn and was then taken over in May by the couple who ran the Malt Shovel in Brearton. It’s just a short drive from St Marygate to the pub. Pub address: Boroughbridge Road, Bridge Hewick, HG4 5AA. Parking at the pub: two car parks at the rear plus a small area at the front of the pub. Alternatively, drive past the pub and then immediately look for a gap in the hedge that opens into an unsurfaced area in front of some barns. The pub have permission to use this area as an overflow car park. You can then walk across the field into the rear of the pub. If you wish to book a place for lunch, please post a message. Please note the lunch option is open to Group members who have paid their annual membership fee. I have no formal walk leader or first-aid qualifications and the Group does not have insurance. When you RSVP for any walk, you accept that you remain responsible for your own safety at all times. You are required to respect the walk leader and be mindful of the safety of others. Please keep to the pace of the group and don’t go off ahead even if you think you know the route.