A PLEASANT walk along the River Wharfe through the Yorkshire Dales countryside will raise money for Manorlands.

The Sue Ryder charity is arranging a 10-mile marked route for hikers during the Bank Holiday in August.

Participants can raise money for the Oxenhope hospice while rambling on a route starting from Threshfield, near Grassington in Wharfedale.

The route has the option for people to pause at any of the seven traditional pubs on the route to re-fuel and re-hydrate.

The first stop is The Old Hall in Threshfield, then it is on to Linton’s Fountaine Inn before reaching The Red Lion at Burnsall.

On the return section walkers cross over the River Wharfe to call at the Clarendon at Hebden before continuing along the riverside to finish at any or all of the three pubs in Grassington.

Organisers say the route is suitable for all ages and the cost is £12 for adults and £8 for children, which includes a t-shirt.

Pre-entry is required at sueryder.org/pubwalk. Participants can register and start any time between 11.30pm and 12.30pm on August 25.

Manorlands is encouraging participants to get sponsored for the challenge but it is not essential.

The Manorlands Wharfedale Fundraising Support Group are helping with the event and are hoping to get an influx of entries over the next few weeks so t-shirts can be ordered.

Molly Ralphson, Community Fundraiser at Manorlands, said: “This event has the potential to be a wonderful day out in the Dales for groups of friends, families and couples.

“We love the idea of a sponsored walk in such a beautiful place and the pubs along the way are gorgeous country inns serving as waymarks and rest stops for walkers.

“We really hope this may become a regular event to fundraise for the hospice. We do need people to enter early so we can get t-shirts ordered for everyone in time.”

Threshfield, a village with less than 1000 residents, was founded by the Angles, and before 1066 was owned by the Viking Gamel Bern.

The Old Hall, a Georgian inn which takes its name from the 14th century hall at the rear, was built by monks and is reputedly the oldest inhabited building in Wharfedale.

In the 16th century, Threshfield was part of a huge deer park.

Grassington, the final destination of the walk, is one of the main tourist spots of upper Wharfedale.

The village was also originally part of Gamel Bern’s estate but following the Norman Conquest passed between various men favoured by the king.

Although often described by local people as a village, Grassington was granted a Royal Charter for a market and fair in 1282 giving it market town status. The market was held regularly until about 1860.

Lead mining brought Grassington prosperity in the early 17th century but it was the opening of the Yorkshire Dales Railway to Threshfield in 1902 that brought new visitors, some settling and working in the lead mines.