Nidderdale Way - Summerbridge to Killinghall

This is a linear tour between Summerbridge and Killinghall; the former is reached from Harrogate by the #24 bus and the latter from Harrogate by the #36 bus.
I got off the #24 in the centre of the village and walked back down the hill, crossed the old bridge over the River Nidd and then took the signposted Nidderdale Way by the River Nidd. The going along the footpath here is good since it is quite broad. Along this stretch of the route there are several patches of harebells.
I stopped to photograph an old railway bridge on my right and then noticed on my left stepping stones over the river. On investigation, they looked too uneven for me to make a safe crossing.
At the next river crossing: a footbridge ignore paths to right and left and carry on by the river. After crossing a wall stile with a gate go diagonally across the field to reach the road and walk along taking the footpath on the right after the last house in the hamlet. On this footpath, keep close to a dry stone wall on your left. This takes you to Wilson's Plantation where you climb up an old packhorse trod.
Leaving the woods I walked along Reynard Crag Lane before turning off left to follow the signposted Nidderdale Way. There are spectacular views here of open countryside. You then go past Bell House and down a hill before turning right on to Darley Road and then turning left at a crossroads. Go down this lane and through a large metal gate between a house and a farm. Spanning the river you will find Haxby Packhorse Bridge. The route then follows the Nidd until your reach Birstwith. Here you have to go round a large factory, but the route is signposted.
Eventually you go diagonally to the right across a field following well worn down grass and pick up the road into Hampsthwaite. On the edge of the village there is a mediaeval path to explore if you wish. I chose to look for the old packhorse bridge and was disappointed with what I found.
The route then follows Cockhill Beck before turning right and going off through fields to reach Myers Green Lane, then Crag Hill Lane and then turn left on to Maltkin Lane. These lanes are tarmaced so the going is fast. Maltkin lane brings you to the Ripon Road, where you turn right and the bus stop is about 100 yards up the hill on the left, by Daleside Nurseries.
There are six wall stiles and six ordinary stiles along the way. There are some stretches where the vegetation needs cutting back, but these are not too bad.
The tour offers glimpses of past ways of travelling with some really wonderful views of North Yorkshire.