Hackfall Woods from Swinton Estate

The route

Start at Swinton Estate and drop into Hackfall Woods, following steep wooded paths down towards the River Ure and back up through the trees to close a 9.8km loop. The climbing is modest at around 102m, but it comes in sharp pitches on the valley sides, so it feels busier underfoot than the numbers suggest. It is a short, rich route that rewards curiosity as much as pace.

Hackfall

Hackfall is an 18th-century designed landscape, laid out by the Aislabie family of nearby Studley Royal as a deliberately wild and romantic garden. Left to nature for decades and now cared for by the Woodland Trust and the Hackfall Trust, it is a tangle of ancient trees, ruined follies, grottoes and cascades tumbling to the Ure. The centrepiece is Fisher's Hall and the restored fountain, which still plays in the woods. Paths thread steeply between the features, so the running is twisting and technical rather than fast.

Why it works

This is a route about atmosphere. The distance is short and the setting is unlike anywhere else in the area, a distinctive patch of woodland with history at every turn. It suits an easy day, a run with the family, or a change of pace from the open moor. The paths are steep, rooty and slippery when wet, and some drop close to the river, so take care with footing and keep children close near the water. Grewelthorpe and Masham are both a short distance away for food afterwards. Come in spring for the flowers or autumn for the colour, and pair it with the wider lanes around Grewelthorpe if you want to stretch the distance out. It is a useful change from the open moor when you want a shorter, more technical woodland run.