Ryburn

Start from the top of the car park at the end of Ryburn Dam point 1.  Cross the access road to the 'North Shore' path sign and a stile leading into the field.  Cross the field on the level track and go over a stile alongside the gate into the wood. Continue forward through the trees and follow the marked path parallel to the shore line, crossing a footbridge, and passing Beeston Hall Rocks point 2, for a third of a mile to the head of this arm of the reservoir. The path now follows the feeder stream to a junction of paths at point 3.

Turn left over the footbridge following the sign to Back O’the Height. Having crossed the stream turn right to the wall and then left up the steps.  Go over a stile at the top of the wooded section and continue straight up the wall side for 250 yards to the ruin of New House at the top. To the right there's a fine view of the downstream side of Baitings Dam.

By the ruin, turn right following the sign marked Baitings and car park. This leads along a grassy lane to the old farm at Higher Wormald. Go through the gate and across the frontage of the building. Note the date 1796 over the barn doorway, along with initials of the first owner.  Leave the farmyard and continue along the path to bear right through the field gate at (closing it behind you) and follow the track across the next farm - Upper Schole Carr. Go through the farmyard to the lane at point 4. 

At this point the walk links to the Baitings Walk. Turn right to visit Baitings dam returning to point 4 afterwards.  To continue your walk at Upper Schole Carr, stroll along the access lane to the road. Turn left to up the road to Heights picnic site at point 5.

Cross the parking area some 15 yards from the left hand wall, over a drainage channel and turn left over steps in the stone wall by the signpost. Go forward along the lane between old stone walls following it around a right and then a left bend to arrive at the former Heights Farm. Pass the buildings on your right and go over the next stile where the old lane continues ahead for another 250 yards.

The lane veers right at point 6 (ignore the wicket gate in the left hand wall), in another 50 yards the route brings you to a tall ladder stile. Cross the stile and walk ahead close to the left-hand wall to a stile at the far end of this field. Cross the stile and go forward keeping to the left-hand edge of the field. The land starts to drop a little and at the field corner go through the stile on the right and into an enclosed path along the side of the next field.

At the farm buildings near new Barn go straight ahead into another section of old walled track (NOT into the open field). Shortly, the track turns right to a stile at the side of an iron gate. Go through the stile and immediately left down slope with the wall on one's left.  At the bottom corner of the field, go through a gate and down through the wood to a footbridge. At the far end of the bridge turn left following the path alongside the reservoir to the dam. Cross the dam wall to return to the car park at point 1.

OS Map: Explorer OL12

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