Middleham Circular Walk – Easy 2.89-Mile Route via Cover Banks

2.89mi Middleham Circular Walk

Middleham is a cracking little town for a walk. You have the castle, the old market place, plenty of history and proper Dales countryside right on the doorstep. Lyn and I started this circular in the town centre, went out towards the River Cover and came back through the countryside below the castle.

It is an easy 2.89-mile walk, with a good mixture of open countryside and woodland. There are a few tricky bits through the trees, but they are short sections and do not make the whole route difficult.

Middleham Circular Walk at a Glance

Distance: 2.89 miles (4.64 km), measured from our GPX route.

Grade: Easy overall, with a few trickier sections in the woodland.

Time: Around 1½–2 hours.

Start and finish: Middleham town centre, North Yorkshire.

Terrain: Town streets, fields and woodland paths. A few uneven sections in the woods.

Climbing: Approximately 76 metres of accumulated ascent on the recorded GPX.

Parking: Free parking in Middleham town centre.

Toilets: Public toilets are in the passage beside the Richard III Hotel in the main square.

Refreshments: Cafés and pubs in Middleham, including Castle Keep Tea Room near the castle.

Starting in Middleham

We started in the middle of Middleham, with the castle just a short distance away. It is a good place to begin because you are straight into the town’s older streets, but the fields and countryside are only a few minutes’ walk away. The other advantage is finishing close to the cafés and pubs.

From the centre, our route heads east, then turns south-east into open fields towards the River Cover. The town sits above the valley, so much of the outward stretch is downhill. The changing views of the countryside are one of the pleasures of this walk. The accompanying GPX shows the precise turns on the route.

Out of town and into the countryside

From the market place the walk drops away from Middleham towards the lower fields to the east. You soon notice how high the town sits above the surrounding countryside. The route then bends south-east, leaving the houses behind and heading towards the valley. It is a pleasant stretch, with open views and the castle still part of the landscape behind you. The first part gives you a good feel for the countryside around Middleham without having to travel far from town.

The track carries on towards the south-eastern corner of the circular before turning west. That change in direction brings you towards Cover Banks and the wooded slopes above the river. It is not simply an out-and-back to one viewpoint; the changing scenery is what makes the short distance worthwhile. You get town streets, open fields, the wooded valley and a return along a different line, all within less than three miles.

The River Cover and Cover Banks woodland

The woodland is one of the best sections. After reaching the River Cover valley, the route turns west along the slopes of Cover Banks. In places the river is below the path rather than alongside it, and the trees give this part of the walk a completely different feel from the open fields.

The woodland is also where the few awkward bits are. Some of the path is uneven, with short stretches that can be slippery after rain. We would still rate the route as easy overall; it is just worth knowing that the woodland is a little rougher than the rest.

Climbing back towards Middleham

As the path rises towards town again, the countryside opens out and the character of the walk changes once more. The southern part of the circuit is quiet and rural, while the final stretch brings you towards Middleham’s historic buildings. We ended up back near where we parked, so there was no need to move the car before having a look around. That makes it a particularly good walk to combine with a visit to Middleham Castle or a stop for coffee.

Leaving the wooded section, the route swings north and begins to climb back towards Middleham. It is a steady return, with around 76 metres of total ascent across the whole walk. Nothing too demanding, and the views as you climb back out of the valley are worth having.

A Little of Middleham's History

Middleham is much more than a convenient place to start a walk. The present stone castle was begun in the late twelfth century and later developed by the powerful Neville family. Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who became Richard III, spent part of his youth here and later used Middleham as one of his northern homes. That connection is still a major part of the town's identity.

There was an earlier castle too. The earthworks at William's Hill, south of the present fortress, mark the site of an earlier Norman stronghold. It is easy to walk past places such as these without giving them much thought, but they help explain why Middleham occupied such an important position above the surrounding countryside. For more background, see English Heritage's history of Middleham Castle.

Middleham is also famous for horse racing. Training yards are part of the town, and it is quite normal to see strings of racehorses making their way through the streets in the morning. It gives Middleham a character all of its own, alongside the castle and the older buildings.

Parking, Toilets and a Coffee Afterwards

Parking is straightforward: there is free parking in the centre of Middleham, where we started and finished. That makes this a handy walk if you want to combine a short outing with a look around the town and a café afterwards.

Public toilets are in the passage beside the Richard III Hotel in the market place. There are cafés and pubs in Middleham, including Castle Keep Tea Room beside the castle, where Lyn and I called in for coffee. We have written about our visit to Castle Keep Tea Room on The White Shire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Middleham circular walk easy? Yes. It is 2.89 miles with a modest amount of climbing. The only awkward bits are in the woodland.

Does the path get muddy? The woodland can be muddy after rain, particularly on the uneven sections.

Which part is the trickiest? The short stretch through Cover Banks woodland has the roughest footing. The rest is generally easy country walking.

Is Middleham Castle part of the walk? The route passes through the town near the castle, but you do not need to buy a ticket to complete the circular. English Heritage has opening times and admission details if you want to go inside.

Where can we stop for coffee? Middleham has a choice of cafés and pubs. Castle Keep Tea Room, near the castle, was our stop.

For our personal take on the town, its castle, racehorses and coffee stops, read Our Thoughts on Middleham

Explore More of Middleham and North Yorkshire

There is plenty more to see in Middleham beyond this walk. Our Middleham Town Hub covers the castle, the town’s history, cafés, local attractions and other useful places. We also have Yorkshire Town Hubs for other towns we have explored.

For visiting details and things to see nearby, read our Middleham Castle guide and the Castle Keep Tea Room visitor listing on The White Shire.

If you enjoyed this route, there are more walks on our North Yorkshire Walks page, from short countryside loops to coastal routes. Our main Yorkshire Walks guide also has routes across the four Yorkshire regions and an interactive walking map.

Walked by Us – The White Shire

Lyn and I walk and record these routes ourselves. This one comes from our 2.89-mile GPX track, and the route description reflects the paths we walked through Middleham, Cover Banks and the River Cover valley.

An enjoyable 2.89-mile circular from historic Middleham, with open countryside, the River Cover valley and a stretch through Cover Banks woodland. Easy overall, apart from a few awkward bits in the trees, and with free parking and a coffee stop back in town.