77) Ravenseat Farm, Richmond, Richmonshire, Yorkshire Dales, DL11 6LP

About this route and Access The Dales.
Ravenseat Farm is one of the most isolated working farms in Britain, at 420m above sea level.
Better known as the farm featured in "Our Yorkshire Farm, featuring Amanda ( the Yorkshire Shepherdess) & Clive Owen, who live here along with their 9 children.

The farm is a 2000 acre working sheep farm with hundreds of sheep, cows, chickens and horses.
The area is rich in beauty and quite hilly, well the fells are one of the reasons why the Yorkshire Dales are so beautiful . A stream runs through and around the farm which can be quite deep after heavy prolonged rain. Winters can also be quite harsh.

The farmland and area is a rich in wildlife, lapwing, curlew, oyster catcher, buzzards, kestrel, tawny and barn owls, meadow pipit, skylark, cuckoo, and many other species live - visit and breed here.
Insects, butterfly, moths and mammals also thrive.

Ravenseat Farm is the first of a number of accessible hubs being created by Debbie North and Access the Dales- as a fitting legacy and tribute to Andy North, Debbie's husband and soul mate who passed away tragically in 2021.
Andy and Debbie loved the dales - so much so that they relocated to a farmhouse in the locality of Ravenseat Farm. They became great friends of the Owen family.
Debbie set a goal of fund raising - to purchase a Terrain Hopper, q very capable off road disabled mobility vehicle. Generously Terrain Hopper match funded and supplied a further Terrain Hopper.

Amanda Owen is the patron of Access the Dales. Amanda and Clive appreciate the area they work and live - and see the benefits and value that their own children have gained from being raised in such a stunning location. At Ravenseat Access the Dales now have a Terrain Hopper (mini), and a Paratek off road pushed wheelchair, they also have a recumbant hand cycle. All suitable for children and smaller adults. These are available for disabled people to loan. Please see the web site for further info, booking instructions and the terms and conditions of the scheme.

https://www.access-the-dales.com

Dress for all expected weather conditions and have waterproofs with you.

Be self sufficient. There is a wooden transfer board available that you and your party may use if you need this to aid transfers on and off the equipment. 

No one at Ravenseat Farm can assist with transfers. A hoist is not available.

A few house keeping rules. Dogs are allowed but MUST be kept under strict control at all times (on leads). Sheep and much wildlife nest and live on the meadows and disturbance must be kept to a minimum. Please ensure any dog foul is picked up as children play on these fells.
Only the agreed person who has booked the equipment may use that equipment. 

We have all seen on the news the destruction from fires on the moor, so please be mindful and careful at all times. 

Please respect the countryside code  - always close any gate and make sure you take away everything you have brought with you including banana skins and bottles etc.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors

Facilities on site:
The nearest disabled toilet is located in Kirby Stephen several miles away. There is a sizeable toilet room  in a farm building but this is only to be used as a last resort if working on the farm operations permit.
On occasions the Owen's may have a pop up cafe operating - it can be open to provide drinks etc for passing walkers doing the coast to coast, opening this depends on farming operations - so again plan for this not being open and be self sufficient.

Route:
For the purpose of this route guide I was loaned Debbie North's own Terrain Hopper- I followed the permitted and recommended route by Access the Dales.
The route is a total of 1.7 miles - It is a linear route around the farm and high up the fell towards the Ravenseat, the highest part of the fell. 

From the hub building you go back down the path and bear left and enter a gate to a meadow. Through the meadow and through another gate. follow the obvious unmarked track and bear left to cross the gill (beck, stream). the track to this is not steep but gradual, grass then on compacted hardcore. This track takes you across the gill. The Terrain Hopper will cope very well- but do avoid the very visible deep hole so not to get the front wheel stuck, as your accompanying people will have to get wet feet as they help you out!

Out the water and follow the hardcore path as you loop back onto the main track that comes up from the farm. The route avoids the farm yard so to minimise the disturbance to the going on there. Farms are busy places with heavy machinery often at work.

From leading out the gill take the path higher and higher up the fell. Do stop and take in the views (this allows those not lucky enough to be using the Terrain Hopper to rest and catch their breath!
Follow the path and you pass a number of gates. The route finishes where the gravel ends - at a gate that leads onto the moors. DO NOT go any further. This is the point to turn around - breath the so fresh air and admire the vistas and landscape.

Terrain:
track, grass, water crossing, hardcore path, rocky track.