RICHMOND is a lovely town, and its castle, abbeys, good pubs and the River Swale combine perfectly here.

This walk from Richmond heads for the scar to the west of the town and visits pretty Marske before returning high above the River Swale. The views are excellent throughout.

Leave Richmond on the main road heading west and just after a second sharp kink in the road (167011) follow a minor road heading uphill. After 250m and leaving the houses on either side, the road turns into a wide track where there's a sign for the Coast to Coast.

The Coast to Coast has recently been designated a National Trail, increasing its public awareness and no the doubt signage on its route. I'm not sure Wainwright would approve!

Follow this lane as it gradually climbs and turns west, enjoying the views south over the River Swale.

After one mile the track enters Whitecliffe Wood, just beyond the farm of High Leases. This ancient and mixed woodland offers an enjoyable half-mile variation from the previous open countryside.

Soon after emerging from the woodland a short path goes directly uphill to the remains of an ancient Breton fort, which is definitely worth the detour.

Return to the main track and carry on a few hundred metres to East Applegarth Farm. From here the track becomes a footpath but carries on at a similar height, contouring the two escarpments above.

After Whitecliff Scar is Applegarth Scar, both signifying the remains of the last ice age only 15,000 years ago; the retreating glacier exposing the limestone bedrock.

From West Applegarth Farm the path returns to a farm track. Follow it for half a mile before taking the footpath downhill (leaving the track) through the fields and into Marske.

The attractive village of Marske was once the centre of a large mining community, probably going back all the way to Elizabethan times – certainly the bridge does.

Marske Hall itself has a colourful history (but is difficult to get at through the trees). However, there is a more accessible, pretty church and village hall where, if you're lucky, they will be serving tea.

The Little White Bus stops at the Vicarage at Downholme one mile away on the River Swale, offering a quicker return for the weary, but it's better to return via the outbound route to the farm at Low Applegarth.

Just before arriving at a dry stone wall a path heads south then east/right downhill through the fields to the banks of the River Swale. It is an area which is prone to flooding but does offer an interesting three-mile route back to the caravan park on the outskirts of Richmond.

Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales. He has published three books on walks in the Dales – The Yorkshire 3 Peaks, The Dales 30 Mountains and the new Walks without Stiles, all of which are available direct from the Where2walk website. Also on the site you can book a navigation training day in Long Preston, near Settle (Beginners or Compass & Contours). All dates and further information are available on the website, Where2walk.co.uk, which also features hundreds of walks across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs.