Distance Covered: 5 miles Time to complete walk: 2.5 hours
Suitable for dog walking: No - livestock in most fields
Total Steps: approx. 10,500
Safety Tips: Walk this in fine weather when there has been no rainfall as the ground is mainly in fields and can get muddy. Special care is needed when descending down into Countersett. Walk on the grass verge if frosty or after rainfall.
Semer Water is a hidden glacial lake which also boasts myths of being Yorkshires Atlantis with treasures beneath the surface of the lake. This walk starts by the lake and then beside and outwards to Marsett. The walk then becomes harder on the climb to the ridge out of Marsett and then back to Semer Water passing through Countersett. Parking is ample in the pay and display car park next to the lake. A parking ticket should be obtained from the nearby Low Blean Farm and is £1.80 for up to four hours.
The Semer Water walk
Getting There
From Middlesbrough, take the A66 towards Darlington. Then follow it through Scotch Corner on the M1. Look for the Catterick turn off junction. Follow the road through Catterick and then follow it as it bends left onto Range Road. Follow it as it bends right through Barden Moor. Then keep left onto the A6108. Pass through the village of Redmire and then through the village of Low Bolton. Keep heading for the village of Bainbridge and then look out for signposts on a left turn to Semer Water. The road winds and climbs and then descends to the car park beside the lake.
Map of the Semer Water walk
The Walk
From the car park, turn right and head towards Low Blean Farm for the parking ticket.
Information Board
Shore of the Lake
Turn right and head towards the farm
Low Blean Farm
Head across the field
Go through the gate stile
Head towards a barn in the distance and keep to the right of it and climb over the step stile
Head towards the right of the barn
Climb the step stile
Follow the track ahead soon leaving the lake behind you
Walk beside the lake
Follow the clear track ahead
Cross a small stream and over a small step stile passing a Semer Water sign
Cross over the small stream
Go over the stile
Pass the Semer Water sign
Follow the track and go through small gates and then above a church and graveyard- this is a nice excursion and very peaceful
Follow the track
Go through the small gate stile
Graveyard and church
Exploring the church
Head towards a gate and signpost beyond the church
Go through the gate and follow the signpost to Marsett
Follow the direction of the signpost to a gated stile in the corner and then through more stiles and fields in the same general direction
Follow the signpost direction signed to Marsettt
Go through the gate stile
Go through another gate stile
In a larger field keep above the steep slope to your right and head to the right of a barn through some trees
Keep above the slope in the field
Head to the right of the barn
To the right of the barn is a gate, however the right of way is through the gate next to it
Head to the the right of the barn to a gate stile
Go through the gate stile instead
Cross a stream and then immediately take a branch in the path to the right
Cross the stream
Take the branch in the path to the right
Pass a roofless barn to your right and head towards a gate stile
Pass by the roofless barn
Keep on the path
Go through the gate stile
Continue to a corner of another barn through another stile
Head to the corner of the barn
Go through the gate stile in the corner
Turn sharp right and follow the field track across a meadow with a wall to your right. Look for a gate in the wall and go through it to a paved path
Turn sharp right onto the meadow
Go through the gate in the wall
Head onto the paved path
Follow the path to a footbridge and cross over to the other side
Go through the gate onto the footbridge
View from the footbridge
Head towards an obvious track and follow this down to a ford. Go over the footbridge on the left
Head onto the obvious track ahead
Head to the ford
Cross the footbridge
Follow the gravel track ahead through a gate and then onto the village of Marsett
Go through the gate
Follow the track for a while
Approach the village of Marsett
Head for a red telephone box and then take the road out to the right.
Look for a road heading to the left shortly, signed to Butterset and Hawes
Head onto the road to the right of the red telephone box
Turn left onto the road signed to Butterset and Hawes
Follow this road until you come to the end of the wire fence on your right and go through a gate on the right
Head up the road
Go through the gate on your right
Head up the path which is the steep climb in the walk. Head towards a stile in the wall ahead
Follow the grassy path uphill
Go through the stile in the wall
Head up further in the field.
There are beautiful views behind you as you climb
Views behind you as you climb
Semer Water
Keep climbing the track
Head through another gate and then another climb up
Go through the gate and keep climbing
Head over the ladder stile and keep climbing to the top
Go over the ladder stile
Climb up the grassy path again
At the top turn right and follow the ridge until you come to a gate in the wall. If you become unsure of your bearings you are heading towards Countersett and the road down to it.
Turn right at the ridge and follow the track across
Go through the gate
Descend to another gate stile in the wall and then descend the grass track with Semer Water coming into view
Go through the stile in the wall
Follow the grass track as it descends
View of Semer Water
Take care on this path if it is wet or frosty- stick to the grass track. You soon come to a gate- go through the gate and then when the path bends to the right go through another gate
Go through the gate
Go through another gate
The path then bends to the left and down to another gate onto the road
Follow the path as it bends to the left again
Follow the path down to the gate onto a road
Turn right onto the road
Follow the road down to Countersett, and then turn right and immediately left onto the road back down to the car park
Follow the road into Countersett
Turn right and then left onto the road back to the car park
Semer Water
Semerwater is the second largest natural lake in North Yorkshire, England, after Malham Tarn. It is half a mile (800 m) long, covers 100 acres (0.40 km2) and lies in Raydale, opposite England's shortest river the River Bain. A private pay and display parking area is at the foot of the lake.
Semerwater attracts canoers, windsurfers, yachtsmen and fishermen. There are three small settlements nearby:
Semerwater was the subject of a number of sketches and paintings by the artist J M W Turner.
Semerwater is a pleonastic place name. The name, first recorded in 1153, derives from the Old English elements sæ 'lake', mere 'lake' and water.The form "Lake Semerwater" introduces a fourth element with the same meaning.
The lake is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, first notified in 1975.
According to an old legend, Semerwater was once occupied by a prosperous city. One night an old man (or in some versions, an angel in disguise) came down to the city, in search of food and drink. He went from door to door, and at each house he was turned away. Finally, he came to the hovel of a poor couple just outside the town; the couple took him in and treated him with great kindness.
When the stranger was about to leave, he turned to face the town and uttered the curse:
"Semerwater rise, and Semerwater sink, And swallow the town all save this house, Where they gave me food and drink."
An alternative version as told by locals;
"Semerwater rise, Semerwater sink, drown all the people In the village except for this house which gave me meat". And as soon as this was said, the waters of the lake rose up and flooded the village, drowning the proud inhabitants and leaving only the hovel of the poor couple on the hillside unscathed.
The legend was the subject of a poem, The Ballad of Semerwater, by Sir William Watson.
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