Hackfall Woods Walk near Ripon. A historic woodland walk in Yorkshire,

Lush foliage surrounding cascading waterfalls in Hackfall Wood - it looks tropical but it's actually Yorkshire. This walk is full of surprises!

Hackfall Woods walk - one of the best woodland walks in Yorkshire?

I came across the Hackfall Woodland walk in an article on the Guardian website called 'Readers Best Woodland Walks' - and Hackfall Woods was the winning walk - so thinking it must be a good and made a plan to visit the area!

Here's what the article had to say: "Hackfall Wood is deep in a ravine with a churning river at the bottom. What makes it different are the follies that were dotted around the landscape by William Aislabie, son of the creator of the nearby Fountains Abbey garden, in the 18th century. They have just been restored – but only partly, which leaves the place with an air of mystery so that it feels like you're discovering it for the first time. At twilight on an autumn day it's magical"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2010/oct/15/woodland-walks-readers-tips

Hackfall Wood is in a deep ravine - with the River Ure cutting straight through it

Hackfall Woods - a stunning woodland walk in Yorkshire

I recommend Hackfall Woods for a woodland walk in Yorkshire and to enjoy a short wander around, which can be done in around an hour or longer if you chose to explore more of the pathways and stop off at the various follies and interest points. It's also a great place to take children as there are lots of things to keep them interested and I guess the place would seem a little magical to them - and probably more so if you have a good imagination to explain all the follies, ruins and castle! You could even stretch the walk out a lot further if you choose to walk to it from Masham along the river.

You can find out a lot more about hackfall wood on this link www.hackfall.org.uk

Hackfall Woods walk map route:

There are usually printed leaflets with maps of the walking routes and points of interest in the small car park for Hackfall Wood - which are a great idea and very useful. I've shown the map from the leaflet below in case you want to print it off before your visit. The leaflet has 4 ideas for different walking routes - short/easy/flat to more longer ones with climbs. The leaflet can also be viewed as a pdf here www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/our-woods/hackfall/documents/hackfall-walks.pdf with the actual map from the leaflet below:

hackfall wood, leaflet, map, route, walks

The map from the Hackfall Wood leaflet produced by the Woodland Trust, copies of which are in the hackfall car park.

Here you can see the location of the Hackfall Wood Car Park - which is on Thorpe Road between Masham & Grewelhorpe

Photos documenting my walk around Hackfall Wood:

The car park is easily found on the road south from Masham to Grewelthorpe

Really useful info point and even some free leaflets to plan your walk

The map of Hackfall which is also located in the car park

Here you have the choice to go straight on through the gate and down the field to Limehouse Hill and the Sandbed Hut - or to see the views from Lovers Leap and the Rustic temple - go right on the path which is in the bottom right of this photo.

No much of a view from Limehouse hill in Summer when all the leaves are on the trees!

First glimpse of the Sandbed Hut - I didn't expect a beach in deepest Yorkshire!

Didn't think I would be sitting in the sun on a beach today!

The Grotto for a little sit down if you need it

Glimpse of Forty Foot Fall

Forty Foot waterfall is surrounded by Lush Foliage in peak summer

The Grotto as you approach the Fountain Pond

The fountain on the pond - which apparently comes on every 15 minutes.
You can just about see the Ruin up above overlooking the fountain.

Child friendly seating :)

Fishers Hall

Inside Fishers Hall

The River Ure

I wasn't aware that there would be so much water flowing through Hackfall Wood - and Grewelthorpe Beck was a cracking place to delve down into and take some photographs of its cascading waterfalls and lush foliage. The beck wasn't the most accessible part of the walk though and did result in some very muddy and wet boots! Worth it though as I think the photos above and below are my favourite shots from the walk

Another waterfall shot

Mowbray Castle

The stepping stones crossing to Alum Spring

Waterfall at Alum Springs

Alum Spring - a magical place - it didn't seem real

The Ruin

hack fall wood, vale of york, view, walk

Fantastic views from the ruin over towards the Vale of York

More Great views can be seen from Lovers Leap

That wraps that walk up - hope you found the blog post interesting & useful and decide to visit Hackfall Woods yourself - trust me it will make a great day out for a walk. I'll be planning to come back in the autumn when the rusty leaves on the trees give the place a different atmosphere.

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions - just post a comment and I'll try and answer.

Happy Hiking!

Post by Stuart Hodgson
'The Hiking Photographer'

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