Bill's Walks

The Pack Horse Bridges of Marske

Filed under: Pack Horse Bridges

Approx. Distance: 9 miles or 13 miles

Start: Marske Village church

Click to view start position on Google Maps

Map : OL 30 – Yorkshire Dales: Northern and Central

This walk starts in the lovely village of Marske (not to be confused with Marske-by-the-Sea in Teeside!) which is about six miles west of Richmond. It is well known to Coast to Coast walkers, being 112 miles from the western end, but walkers on this route have no time to explore the beautiful side valley of Marske Beck. Indeed in other parts of the Dales this valley could well be elevated to Marskedale. Marske itself is a pretty village enhanced by the grounds of Marske Hall and is on the course of the old road from Reeth to Richmond. For many years the nearby lake was home to black swans which are from Australia. Marske Hall was for many years the home of the Hutton family (no relation to that fine cricketer that Yorkshire produced!) but they did indeed provide two Archbishops of York.

It is best to park in the small car park for the church, on the west side of the bridge in the village where they suggest a small donation for the fine church which we will pass at the end of the walk. Money well spent! Cross the bridge and immediately take the path down to the beck. This is followed alongside the beck and at Pillmire Bridge (which is also visited later) continue through woodland for about 300 metres gradually moving away from the beck to Clints, which is a few mainly holiday cottages. Here we turn left on a broad track through super mature woodland which was a delight when we walked it in early Spring. I think there are some ancient trees in these woods and this is currently being checked with the Woodland Trust although these woods do not belong to them. The woods are known as Clints Wood and the fine limestone scar above on your right is Clints Scar.

At a fork in the path take the track to the left which leaves the woods by a gate. You now cross open pasture to reach and pass Orgate Farm. Do not take the track down to the river but continue up the valley. Down below is Orgate Force, a fine waterfall, but this is not on a right of way and can only be seen from a distance. Just after this leave the bridleway on a smaller footpath and head towards Telfit Farm where after about 300 metres you come to Telfit packhorse bridge. This has a span of 24 feet, supported by a semi circular arch. The arch is sprung from the beck level below and as the path is at the same level as the top of the bridge there is no characteristic hump. This bridge was used by the pack horses operating from Clints lead mine up the hill behind you to the east . Follow the footpath to the access road for Telfit Farm which emerges on the road about 100 metres to the south of the farm. Just after the farm do not take the clear track winding uphill but search out the smaller footpath which contours round Cold Fell to take you to Helwith Brige.

This valley is exquisite apart from the massive scar on the track leading out of the dale to the south-east which has been badly damaged by 4WD vehicles. Do not cross Helwith Bridge but follow the beck upstream for about 100 metres where the beck is then forded and the clear track up the nose of Shaw Tongue is taken. Note here the mining remains further up Shaw Beck. Near the top is an option to take the footpath direct to Shaws but it is probably better to stay on the broad track, presumably constructed for grouse shooting, continuing in a north-west direction (looking across to Hell Holes) to arrive at the access road to Schoolmaster Pasture. Here turn left alongside a new plantation. This is known as Goats Road and drops down to the Padley Beck. The house on the left was formerly the school for the area/ We continue past this just above the beck to the cross roads at Hurst where there is a seat provided by the Council for the Preservation of Rural England (CPRE) in memory of one of the locals who made good but always loved this area.

All around are remants of the lead industry with spoil heaps and the remains of bell pits. It is worth the few minutes to head north for a short distance to see the cemetery alongside the old chapel, now being converted to a house. In the 1800s there was a fair population here including a pub which l vaguely remember. The Romans worked here for lead and the straight road which we now take to the south-east is a Roman Road which went to Boroughbridge and l believe Bowes. We only follow this for a short distance and take the access road on the left for Prys House. Where this goes downhill and turns left at GR 062021, continue straight ahead on a bridleway making initially for the farm of Low Greenas. After passing a spring, head slightly left to High Greenas, which is now only farm buildings, to emerge onto Helwith Road. This is crossed and, ignoring the bridleway over Skelton Moor, take the old mine road east passing some mining humps to arrive at a gate looking down into Marske Beck. Just before this gate is another one on your right which is waymarked and followed this footpath down to a ford over Moor House Gill where you turn left and follow a path, alongside some newly planted trees which have been damaged by rabbit activity. The recent heavy snowfalls has enabled the rabbits to reach the bark above the protective sheaths.

The footpath goes through several fields to pass through Moor House and just after you reach a t-junction. Here the short route follows an old lane downhill through an avenue of trees to come out on Skelton Lane next to two fine restored old houses which look 17th century. Turn right downhill and after about 400 metres look for the footpath on the left. This passes by a fine old tree with branches reaching down to the ground to arrive at Pillmire packhorse bridge. Note the waterwheel upstream which was built in the late 19th century in an effort to provide electricity for Skelton Hall, but l believe this was not a success. The bridge, which is late 18th century, was probably used for the lead industry and is on the line of an old route from Marrick Priory to Marske Moor, where the monks took their sheep for grazing. The purpose of such a big structure is a little uncertain as Marske Bridge (15th century) is not too far away further downstream.

After crossing hte bridge we head diagonally uphill, ignoring the footpath taken at the start of the walk to the access track to Clints and this is followed east to Marske village. The first building on the left was the school and note the old style railings now in disrepair which enclosed the school playing field. Further along was the reading rooms with a sundial. We now turn right down to the bridge, but before reaching it, turn right to go to the fine 12th century St Edmunds Church. You can return to the road through the churchyard and in a few minutes arrive back at the start.

This 9 mile walk can be extended into a 13 mile walk by turning right at the t-junction after Moor House and following the bridleway south-west, contouring under Cock How, and down to Nun Cote Nook at GR 080989 where a bridleway is taken under Shaw Bank to Low Oxque and on to Downholme Bridge on the Swale. A fine footpath follows the river downstream before climbing back to Cat Bank and Marske.