Art and about

I had targeted market-day Masham but got the day wrong. Never mind, the square-shaped dignity of the market place was restful, empty of stalls and cars, and I had a pre-amble

At a caf, ostrich burgers were on offer; I took the orange cake. A few doors down, Joneva tempted with delicious delights from near and far. I passed on chocs from Belgium and jellybeans from the USA and assembled a more local gourmet snack of cheese from Wensleydale and homemade fudge laced with Masham's Black Sheep Ale.

Loaded, I made for St Mary's Church in the corner, with a graveyard, an Anglo-Saxon shaft, and bright with snowdrops and aconites. And then today's first leaf carved in stone. We are on yet another art trail and for those of you who are starting to balk at rampant creativity in the wild and country then be reassured these 'leaves' don't gild the lily and we have a sweet circuit anyway.

For a while, the mighty River Ure races alongside, 50 yards across, long reaches fast and choppy. There had been some rain but a local dogwalker said the path doesn't flood. And there had been some wind; a tree blown across the route was already chastised by chainsaw. This is the Ripon Rowel. There's another 'leaf' by Sandy Bay.

We are deflected by the River Burn coming in from the west. The Burn is sizeable, warranting multi-arch bridges upstream. A confluence area is wooded and damp, just now a bed of green nails as bulbs fast-forward their clocks and race to catch the early spring.

At Low Burn Bridge I switched riversides, though the spurned bank looked good. Our side has more but different woods, grassy underfoot, with a resurgence, and views of Swinton Hall. Its feature is one big, rich red circular tower. St George's flag was fluttering, I like it - one tower is enough to command your domain.

Next some good news and some neutral news. The good news is the third sculpture, a leaf-shaped shrine, like sandstone corner-shelves, by the golf course which is the neutral news. The sculptor Alain Ayers is hoping people will leave offerings. I'd eaten mine, so the dozen long-tailed tits will have to stick with their dinners in the alder trees. No one had made offerings of lost golf balls, the river must claim them. However our fairway bypass was certainly not 'the ruin of a good walk', to misquote someone.

From Swinton Bridge we do a little one-field climb to Alain Ayers' 'Enclosure', which is good, makes shelter for two, gives a view of the first slopes of the Dales, Swinton Hall again, and looks down on a picture-book farm with black sheep.

The animal feed mill on Masham's outskirts is hard on the eye but minutes later Theakston's Brewery is easy on the nose.

DIRECTIONS

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1. From market place to churchyard, path by right of church, snickelgate and left, sculpture, snickelgate and downhill to gates.

2. Right to drive, fork left at track to Glebe House, fieldgate by Water Treatment Works, track then riverside path.

3. At right-hand bend and 200 yards after 'floating leaf' sculpture, path on left through wood. Left to road, bridge then ladderstile on right to riverside path.

4. At the golf course. Either waymarked and permissive Riverside Walk which has a 'one stride' stream crossing, or use public right of way on other side of fence through golf course. Route options meet at sculpture.

5. Squeezer and right to road, bridge, 50 yards, drive on left, 50 yards, track uphill on right, 100 yards, path up bank (waymarked), ten yards to squeezer and stile, straight on, pass farm and uphill.

6. 'Enclosure' sculpture, 20 yards, stile/fieldgate, 100 yards, stile on left, one o'clock for 50 yards to hedge-corner and left by hedge.

7.Fieldgate and right to track/lane, right to road, left to alley after brewery, right at end of alley, left by HSBC Bank, market place.

FACT FILE

Distance: three miles.

Time: two hours.

Start: Masham.

Right of way: the complete route is along public rights of way and permissive paths.

Date walked: Friday, February 4 2000.

Road route: Masham is north-west of Ripon on the A6108.

Car parking: market place and car park, free.

Lavatories: behind police station.

Refreshments: pubs and cafs.

Tourist and public transport information: Harrogate TIC 01423 537300.

Map: based on OS Pathfinders 631 Bedale and Pickhill and 641 Ripon.

Terrain: sound riverside paths and very small hill.

Footwear: walking boots.

Points of interest: sculptures by Alain Ayers (free leaflet available from Masham Post Office). Masham market days Wednesday and Saturday.

Difficulty: easy.

Dogs: suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. Every effort is made to provide accurate information, but walkers set out at their own risk.

PICTURE:snowdrops and aconites in St Mary's churchyard

No map available at present