A 12 mile walk which starts with a bus ride. Start with a visit to Middleham Castle, follow initially the River Cover, then the Ure which serenely meanders past Jervaulx Abbey through a quintessentially English countryside

Park in Masham and take the bus from Masham to Middleham and return back to Masham. The no 159 leaves Masham market place at 10.15 (at present every day bar Sunday) and takes 20 minutes. Middleham is a very attractive Dales village, one of the best. The traditional castle (home amongst others of Richard 111) is worthy of closer inspection and overlooks the village, find it via a series of cobbled streets from the market place. To start the walk, take the main road heading east for ¼ of a mile from the end of the village to a farm lane heading south. Continue down the lane for ¾ a mile to the River Cover. The lane becomes a footpath as it approaches the river. Turn left and follow the river for half a mile to Cover Bridge.

There is a traditional Dales pub at Cover Bridge situated on a fine pack horse bridge. It sits on the River Cover, just 150 metres from the confluence with the River Ure. The next mile of this ever changing walk is a real pleasure. The path sticks close to the river (Cover soon becoming the Ure) as it passes serenely through the landscape of the area. As well as walkers it is popular with fishermen…do watch out for the legendary ‘kelpie’ fish which allegedly leaps out to devour its victims. The path follows a mix of woodland and open walking till it arrives at the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. Jervaulx Abbey was a Cistercian Abbey, the ruins today creating only a part impression of the size and power of the abbeys past.

Middleham Castle ruins (Image: Supplied)

Explore the remains of the abbey, set amongst the wild flowers, trees and shrubs which have been allowed to grow up within its walls. Then take the main track/road which crosses through the grounds of Jervaulx Abbey, a well preserved park full of sheep and deer (although I have never seen the deer!). After passing the gate house on the edge of the estate turn left at the road and follow this down to Kilgram Bridge. Although it was the monks who originally built this fine bridge if you lean over the side and look carefully in to the running water you will be able to see the foundations of an old Roman road, part of a ford for their legions on their way north. 

More walks:

Return a few metres along the road to Kilgram Grange to a track heading south east and parallel to the river. Keep the river in view as the well signposted path winds its way for two miles (sometimes difficult to see on the ground) until it leaves the river a little and arrives in the attractive village of Low Ellington. Head south east alongside some higher ground on a path past a small plantation and bend left back towards the river bank. The path then heads south to some marshy/wet ground before arriving at the wetlands reserve of Marland. Follow the marked paths through the reserve. You exit the wetlands at its southern end just a few hundred metres from the outskirts of Masham. The reserve makes an interesting end to this walk full of contrasts.

Fact Box:

Middleham to Masham map. (Image: Supplied)

Distance: Roughly 11.5 miles.

Height to Climb: 130m (430 feet)

Start: SE 127878. The bus drops you in the centre of Middleham.

Difficulty: Medium. Like all riverside walks the paths can be muddy and wet in places.  

Refreshments: There is plenty of pubs and cafes in Masham. Aside from the pub at Cover Bridge early in the walk there is no pubs or cafes enroute.

Be Prepared:

The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL30 & 302) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass. You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

Please observe the Countryside Code and park sensibly.

Jonathan runs Where2walk, a walking company based in the Yorkshire Dales:

• He has written 4 books on walking in the Dales; ‘The Yorkshire 3 Peaks’, ‘Walks without Stiles, ‘The Dales 30’ mountains a guide to ‘The Bracken Way. Please visit Where2walk where you can buy the books.
• Jonathan runs Navigation Training Courses from Long Preston and Reeth. The next ‘Introduction to Navigation’ course is at Reeth on the 5th September.
• You can buy Dales 30 Guide Book, T Shirts and branded caps from the new Dales 30 website. Start the challenge today.

Where2walk.co.uk features 100s of walks with descriptions across Yorkshire and beyond, from easy strolls to harder climbs. Visit the website for details of all these walks, guiding days and navigation.

EXCLUSIVE: The Co-operative Party – Labour’s sister Party – is calling for a new organisation, a Supporters Direct 2.0, to back supporter and community ownership across sport

Andy Burnham has been urged to help fight back against a “fundamentally broken” sports ownership model with a new organisation to hand power back to supporters.

The Co-operative Party – Labour’s sister Party – is calling for a new body, a Supporters Direct 2.0, to back supporter and community ownership across sport.

In a new report, they say this would help clubs across all sports with legal, governance and development support, reducing the power of private finance.

It comes amid a row over FIFA proposals to sell a stake in the World Cup. The governing body had launched a consultation over setting up a separate $20billion (£14.9billion) company to run its competitions, only to U-turn after a furious backlash.

The report brands English football a “global commercial success story”, but that it has created an imbalance where “supporters provide the loyalty, culture and community identity which give clubs their value”, but ownership and decision-making remains concentrated in the hands of a “small number of private interests”.

It highlights that most Premier League clubs are privately-owned by international owners, such as hedge funds and private equity firms, and argues for more community ownership instead.

The Co-op Party says the attempts at selling off World Cup shares should be a warning about the state of sport ownership and the need for change

There have also been a series of issues in Rugby Union, with London Irish falling into administration in 2023, following Worcester and Wasps also folding. Speaking at the time, RFU chairman Tom llube blamed “unsustainable business models” for the clubs failing, adding that all three “have had fragile business models for many years”.

In Rugby league this year, six teams have faced financial issues, with Keighley, Salford Red Devils, Featherstone Rovers, Halifax Panthers and North Wales Crusaders all going bust.

In cricket, Yorkshire’s chief executive Sanjay Patel is trying to end 163 years of being a members-run club, and claiming failing to do so could see them miss out on test matches.

General Secretary of the Co-operative Party Joe Fortune said: “The World Cup fiasco of the past week is an extreme version of what already exists: private ownership across sport which comes at the expense of fans.

“The Co-op Party says private ownership dominates across sport – with several rugby league clubs in administration and efforts to demutualise Yorkshire Cricket.

“We want to see a shift in power to the people who are at the heart of sport. A new Supporters Direct would allow supporters and communities to take control of the clubs they love.”

The first Labour and Co-operative Prime Minister in history, Mr Burnham was previously chairman of Supporters Direct – an organisation set up to increase supporter voice and ownership in football.

Speaking in the 2000s on the issue, he said: “I have always believed that football clubs belong more to their supporters than their shareholders. Some people have bits of paper to say they own a clubs’ assets – stadium, training ground, brand – but the heart and soul of every club is the property of its fans.”

Cardiff City round off their pre-season preparations this afternoon with the glamour visit of Italian giants Roma to the Cardiff City Stadium.

After an encouraging summer under Brian Barry-Murphy, the Bluebirds face by far their toughest test yet as they take on one of Serie A’s biggest clubs just over a fortnight before the Championship season gets under way. Their first competitive game is against Swindon Town next weekend in the Carabao Cup.

Roma, who secured Champions League qualification with a third-place finish in Italy last season, arrive in the Welsh capital boasting a squad packed with international talent and led by highly-respected boss Gian Piero Gasperini. It promises to be a valuable examination of where Cardiff are ahead of next weekend’s league opener.

For Cardiff supporters, there will also be plenty of interest in Barry-Murphy’s team selection, with fans hoping to get another look at the club’s summer recruits and see how the manager shapes his side before competitive football returns.

The match kicks off at 3pm and you will be able to watch it via Cardiff City TV with a £5 match pass.

We’ll have all the build-up, confirmed team news, live updates, analysis and reaction throughout the afternoon, so stay with us as Cardiff City take on Roma.

Scroll down for live updates…

Dramatic dashcam footage caught the moment a car flipped and rolled across the M25.

The black hatchback overturned between junctions 12 and 13 near Staines, Surrey, on July 5.

After moving into the middle lane it can be seen clipping the vehicle in front and rolling over across the tarmac.

A man inside the car recording it all can be heard gasping ‘s**t’, while a woman shouts: ‘F**k.’

Traffic on the motorway quickly came to a halt and several motorists abandoned their own cars to try and help those inside the overturned hatchback.

Police said they were called to the scene at around 5.40pm on Sunday, July 5, following reports of a crash involving two vehicles.

Ambulance crews, firefighters and National Highways officers also attended.

The two occupants of the overturned car were treated there by paramedics.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service said both patients were then taken to St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey for further checks.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Rangers were held to a 1-1 draw by Dundee United in Derek McInnes’ first game in charge of the Ibrox club, with the Light Blues failing to win on the opening day for the third year in a row

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

What was meant to mark a fresh chapter for Rangers under Derek McInnes, complete with a raft of new arrivals, instead delivered a all-too-familiar feeling of déjà vu for the weary Ibrox faithful.

Having not tasted victory on the opening weekend since 2022, the Rangers supporters travelled north on the A9 desperate to witness a reversal in fortune at long last.

Yet McInnes’ side appeared plagued by the very same problems that undermined Danny Rohl’s squad throughout last season.

Lacking composure in crucial defensive moments and bereft of creativity in attack when faced with United’s backline, reports the Daily Record.

Thelo Aasgaard did build on his promising pre-season displays by equalising after Lachlan Rose had given Jim Goodwin’s side the lead.

McInnes will stress there’s still plenty of time ahead as he attempts to guide Rangers back to the championship-winning glory he savoured as a player.

However, recent evidence suggests that when the Gers fall behind early, they rarely recover the deficit.

The ex-Hearts manager has been active in overhauling his squad with eight fresh signings, though only Ivor Pandur, Ben Godfrey, Cammy Devlin and new captain Lawrence Shankland were selected to begin the season opener.

Goodwin went a step further by fielding five debutants, handing starts to Joshua Rawlins, Michael Forbes, Dylan Tait, Jesse Randall and Rose.

Having already contested four competitive Premier Sports Cup fixtures, it came as little shock to see the home side emerge looking like the more organised outfit. Ryan Naderi – a surprise starter ahead of Youssef Chermiti – went close for Gers with a header.

However, it was United who were applying the pressure and they struck first, seven minutes before the interval.

Josh Rawlins played the ball out wide to Jesse Randall. With Godfrey falling for Zac Sapsford’s dummy and letting the cross go, Rangers found themselves in difficulty.

Rose had little idea about it as the ball deflected off his shins and into the bottom corner, yet he celebrated as though he had meant every bit of it.

McInnes made changes at half-time, bringing on both Chermiti and Dan Neil.

The substitutions helped lift Gers’ tempo, with Aasgaard testing Walton with an impressive long-range effort.

He was thwarted on that occasion but found the net with his next attempt on 56 minutes.

Under pressure from Shankland, Michael Fobes inadvertently headed the ball directly into the Norwegian’s path and, with remarkable composure, he shifted past Rawlins with his right foot before firing home the equaliser with his left.

United could have reclaimed the lead with 10 minutes remaining, but Randall squandered his chance to chip Pandur after being played clean through by Daniel Bennie’s superb pass.

Del back with a whimper

This was the evening McInnes had been anticipating.

It has been 28 years since he was compelled to leave the club he grew up supporting.

His previous visit to Tannadice representing Gers was the night Walter Smith’s side completed their nine-in-a-row achievement. Yet the challenge of reconstructing this Rangers squad could prove even more daunting than the achievement pulled off by his former boss.

McInnes was present on the sidelines after successfully appealing a three-match suspension stemming from his previous role as Hearts manager.

From his vantage point, however, it became apparent that significant work remains if this team is to mount a serious title challenge.

With a month remaining in the transfer window, Rangers urgently need to bolster their attacking options.

Ropey Ryan

The Ibrox support had spent the entire summer eagerly anticipating watching Shankland and Chermiti tear through the Premiership.

However, many of the away fans were left stunned upon reaching Tayside to learn that Naderi would be leading the line instead of the Portuguese striker.

Naderi had shown little during Rangers’ two pre-season friendlies to justify his selection, though McInnes maintained he was being rewarded for his performances on the training ground.

His gamble nearly paid dividends when the £5m signing from Hansa Rostock threatened with a header before the interval.

However, that proved his sole contribution during a woeful opening 45 minutes.

His withdrawal at half-time came as little shock, with Chermiti introduced for the second half.

Rangers’ spine creeks again.

Gers’ vulnerability through the middle was laid bare last season when they crumbled as the Premiership campaign reached its climax. McInnes has prioritised strengthening his squad’s defensive core this summer, despite some supporters wanting him to concentrate on bringing in attacking creativity instead.

However, until those offensive additions arrive, the Rangers backline will remain under sustained pressure.

This became evident throughout the match as they consistently found themselves pushed back whenever United regained possession.

McInnes will undoubtedly be frustrated by the lacklustre defending that allowed Rose’s opening goal, with both Aasgaard and Fernandez showing weakness in challenges during the build-up, while the towering defender was too slow getting back to prevent the cross.

Thelo takes his chance.

Naderi wasn’t alone amongst last season’s squad players given a chance by McInnes on the opening evening.

Yet only Aasgaard can truly say he grasped his moment.

The Norwegian’s belief has evidently grown following his World Cup experience, demonstrated by his spectacular turn and finish that brought Rangers level.

Djedi Gassama ought to have felt encouraged after being selected in the starting XI, but once more the Frenchman’s choices proved questionable and he didn’t emerge after the interval.

Mohamed Diomande was an unexpected starter ahead of former Sunderland captain Dan Neil, though he was frequently overwhelmed by United’s industrious midfielders.

Fair Dinkum, Dundee United.

Zac Sapsford served as Goodwin’s loan Antipodean ace last season. However, he has been joined by fellow countrymen Bennie, Rose and Rawlins, alongside New Zealander Randall this term.

The goal had antipodean origins, with Rawlins, Randall and Sapsford all contributing before Rose bundled the ball across the line.

United arrived aiming to protect a seven-match undefeated home record dating back to last campaign, and it was straightforward to understand why Tannadice has proved such an intimidating venue.

Dundee United boss Goodwin has got this side fighting for everything and they will certainly be no push-overs this term.

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Tottenham almost won it when Rio Kyerematen’s powerful strike crashed against the crossbar, but the decisive moment arrived in stoppage time. Jamie Donley’s effort rebounded off the post and Richarlison was on hand to convert from close range, sealing victory for Spurs in their final match of the Australian tour.

The County Durham-born Countryfile star introduced the new arrival, named Ted, in a touching social media post showing the day his family chose him.

Matt revealed that the puppy had already been living with them for several weeks, although eagle-eared listeners to his pet podcast may have previously spotted a clue.

Alongside footage of the family meeting Ted, the 48-year-old wrote: “This happened a few weeks ago.

“The eagle-eared listeners of my pet podcast heard me say that we have a new pup at home and we’ve got baby gates everywhere.

Matt Baker (Image: PA MEDIA)

“Here’s the day we chose him and the start of something epic.”

Ted’s arrival comes after Matt told followers in May that his dog Bob had died.

The presenter said Bob had actually passed away some time before the announcement, but he had found the loss too painful to discuss publicly.

In an emotional tribute, Matt described Bob as a “brilliant dog” and the “ultimate companion” who had supported him through some of the greatest chapters of his life.

He wrote: “It’s with a very heavy heart that I’m letting you know our wonderful Bob is no longer with us.

“He’s been gone a while, but I haven’t been able to talk about it as I’ve been finding it so incredibly sad.”

Matt said Bob had been alongside him while he and his wife, Nicola, raised their two children and made significant changes to the family farm.

He continued: “Bob was a brilliant dog.

“He was there for me with his gentle soul as the ultimate companion through some of the greatest chapters of my life, from raising our kids to all the changes we made on our family farm.

“It’s broken my heart, but I feel hugely grateful to have had him in our lives, and I thank him from the bottom of my heart for everything he’s taught me and brought to our family.”

Concluding the tribute, Matt said: “I’m sure all you dog lovers will agree the reason we love our dogs so much is that the only time they break our hearts is when they leave us.

“RIP Bob.”

Bob, a Border Collie, died in 2025, although Matt did not feel able to announce the news until May 2026.

He has since spoken about the difficulty of losing an animal which had been present for so many important moments in his life.

Animals and farming have played a major part in Matt’s life since his childhood in the North East.

The former Blue Peter and The One Show presenter was born in Easington, County Durham, and grew up on his family’s farm in the Durham Dales.

His rural upbringing later became central to his television career, particularly through his work on the BBC’s Countryfile and the Channel 4 series Matt Baker: Our Farm in the Dales.

The latter programme followed Matt as he returned to the Durham farm to help make it safer and more accessible for his parents, Mike and Janice.

Eyewitnesses say the car overturned around 8.30am at the junction of Silver Street and Wells Lane in Barton, North Yorkshire, near the village primary school.

Staff at the nearby Barton Post Office said they heard and saw “blue flashing lights and sirens” as police, ambulances and fire crews arrived.

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

They added that one of their paper boys had witnessed the incident.

Pictures show police tape blocking off the corner of the playground where the car came to rest, while debris is strewn across the park.

A telephone pole had come down, with engineers working to make it safe at lunchtime.

Meanwhile, park exercise equipment has been uprooted from its foundations.

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

The car involved has since been removed.

It is believed a man behind the wheel of the car was not seriously injured.

The Northern Echo has contacted the police, ambulance service and fire brigade for confirmation of further details.

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

Damage caused by an overturned car in Barton (Image: ANDY FUTERS/NORTHERN ECHO)

The roads will be closed overnight across the month

A busy Cambridge road is set to close for month-long works. Works will take place along the A1301 Addenbrooke’s Road in Trumpington, Cambridge, from Saturday (August 1) and are set to last until September 11.

The resurfacing work will take place overnight from 9am until 5am. Signed diversion routes will be put in place.

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “When roads are closed, official diversion routes must use the equivalent class of road, or higher, if there is no equivalent.

“Therefore, the signed diversion route will necessarily follow A roads: A1301; A505; A11; A1307; A1134; A1309 and vice versa.”

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The summer window continues to heat up as Arsenal take a huge step towards signing Bruno Guimaraes, while Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham also work to secure statement signings. The Gunners are said to have agreed a deal worth around £80million for the Newcastle captain, with a medical pencilled in for next week. There is also said to be an agreement with Vinicius Junior over personal terms, while Mikel Arteta is said to have identified a surprise defender signing.