Hackfall

Hackfall is a wood of about 48 hectares in a steep, rocky gorge of the River Ure near Grewelthorpe, roughly 6 miles north-west of Ripon and 3 miles from Masham. John Aislabie bought it in 1731, and his son William turned it into an ornamental landscape of follies, viewpoints and water. It is the same family that laid out the water garden at Studley Royal beside Fountains Abbey, so the two make a natural pair.

After a sale in 1932 the wood was clear-felled and then neglected. It is now a Grade I listed garden and a Site of Special Scientific Interest, owned by the Woodland Trust and managed with the Hackfall Trust. The follies are still there among the trees, including the mock ruins of Mowbray Castle and, deep in the wood, Fisher's Hall, and the paths drop down through the woodland towards the river.

From Tea Time Cafe at 87 Market Place, Hackfall is about 35 minutes by car to the west. The free car park is at the Masham end of the wood, about half a mile before Grewelthorpe village. For a satnav, the Hackfall Trust gives HG4 3DE as the nearest postcode and the coordinates 54.192877, -1.648086. The Woodland Trust lists HG4 3BS, which the Hackfall Trust says takes you to Grewelthorpe Village Hall, so the coordinates are the safer choice.

The car park sits on a very dangerous bend that is often busy with large vehicles, and the Hackfall Trust asks visitors to use the car park rather than the roadside. If it is full, park in Masham. From there the Woodland Trust suggests a 7 to 8 mile Masham to Hackfall walk, which suits a full day on foot.

Car-free, a Ripon to Masham bus is listed through Grewelthorpe, but the timetable we found is dated 2014. Treat Hackfall as a car trip unless you have checked a current timetable with the operator.

From the car park, drop down into the gorge and pick one of the set walks, which run from 30 minutes to two or three hours. The longer routes take you deep into the wood to the mock ruins of Mowbray Castle and to Fisher's Hall. The Hackfall Trust publishes the Aislabie Walk on its website for anyone who wants the follies in a planned order.

For a full day, start in Masham and walk the 7 to 8 mile route out to Hackfall. If you want to wake up there, The Ruin is let as holiday accommodation by the Landmark Trust, with views over Hackfall from the door.

The Grade I listed landscape is the reason to come: an 18th-century garden of follies and viewpoints set in ancient woodland on the sides of a gorge. The Aislabie connection makes it a strong second stop for anyone who has already walked Studley Royal. It is free to enter and free to park, and dogs are welcome under close control.

Wear proper walking boots, or wellies when it is wet, because the paths are compacted earth and some are always muddy. Save some energy for the return: the Hackfall Trust says the walk back up the slope is hard unless you are reasonably fit, so we would suggest it for older children and adults. Take particular care on the high path in Common Wood at the Mickley end, which runs along the top of a very steep slope. Use the public toilets in Masham, behind the Bruce Arms, before you set off, since the nearest ones are off site. Allow at least two hours, keep dogs under close control, and bring food and water with you.