Art in the Environment
Art experienced out in the open air is a great way to get a new appreciation of both artwork and the setting it sits in. We have a number of striking sculptures and sculpture trails locally – they always provide an interesting focus for a good walk!
Masham Swift Trail
Nothing evokes warm summer evenings in Masham Market Square quite like the overhead aerobatics and unique calls of the swifts.
Swifts swoop low and fast to catch flying insects but don’t land – feeding, mating and even sleeping in the air. They visit Masham to nest and breed, inside barns and in the nooks crannies of old buildings.
The Swift Trail celebrates their iconic significance to Masham with ten unique sculptures mounted on historic buildings around town. It is an easy short and accessible walk to locate the sculpture.
Pick up a trail leaflet at Masham Community Office.
Read MoreMasham Leaves Walk
Explore the countryside immediately around town by following the Masham Leaves walk and finding these huge carved oak leaves.
The trail is a three mile walk over footpaths and fields. Easy-going, the route circles the town and is punctuated by oak leaf sculptures. Each sculpture is hewn from the stone slabs that once formed the platform at Masham Railway Station. A walk leaflet and map is available from Masham Community Office.
Read MoreLucy Pittaway Sycamore Gap Trail at Druid’s Temple
3 miles from Masham
Artist Lucy Pittaway is collaborating with the Swinton Estate to develop a new woodland art trail in memory of the Sycamore Gap tree felling. Sales of her print, depicting the original Sycamore Gap, will result in a tree planted for each print sold. Over 1,000 trees have already been planted which brings new life to an area of the Swinton Estate that was devastated by larch tree blight.
The short woodland trail will, over time, display sculptures, art resources, and attractions in this beautiful regenerating landscape.
Watch Lucy talk about the trail here.
Find out more info about Druid’s Temple here.
Read MoreThe Himalayan Garden & Sculpture Park
5 miles from Masham
In 2024 The Himalayan Garden and Sculpture Park in Grewelthorp launched its first Sculpture in the Landscape Exhibition. The exhibition featured 60 sculptures from artists across the UK with the objective of allowing visitors to explore the intricate sculptures set against their breathtaking landscapes. It was a selling exhibition which proved to be highly successful and the team at The Himalayan Garden pan for it to be an annual exhibition.
More information here.
Crackpots Mosaic Trail
7 miles from Masham
This is a 7 mile circular walk around part of Dallowgill in the area of the Nidderdale National Landcape. The walk is illuminated with 22 different mosaics depicting local landmarks and images inspired by nature which were originally created as part of a community project to celebrate the designation of Nidderdale as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
As well as the mosaics, the walk takes in varied landscape and breathtaking views.
More information here
Pillars Past
At Pateley Bridge 10 miles from Masham
The stone sculpture ‘Pillars Past’ was designed and carved by Pateley Bridge sculptor Joseph Hayton. It consists of three, two-metre-high figures representing agriculture, mining and Monastic heritage, carved from sandstone pillars. The sculpture is located at the site of the old railway turntable on Nidd Walk adjacent to the Nidd.
Read MoreThe Coldstones Cut
If you like your art in the landscape on a monumental scale, this is not to be missed! Created by the artist Andrew Sabin, The Coldstones Cut is a massive construction located at Coldstones Quarry on top of Greenhow Hill just beyond Pateley Bridge. It is one of the highest quarries in England and this is the highest public art work in England.
It consists of an array of viewing platforms and winding pathways. Visitors can wander freely between the vistas revealing the vast quarrying operations, the unique sweeping panoramas across the Nidderdale landscape and feel the ancient links between the two.
Read MoreThirsk Hall Sculpture Garden - 16 miles from Masham
Thirsk Hall Sculpture Garden showcases modern and contemporary art within its 20 acres of garden and parkland. In addition to outdoor sculptures, there are also two indoor gallery spaces within the garden – The Orangery and Gallery One. The Sculpture Garden was opened in 2021 by Willoughby Gerrish Ltd, showing 30 monumental outdoor sculptures.
The Sculpture Garden is open to the public, taking an active role in promoting culture in North Yorkshire, with an educational programme, and a series of lectures, concerts, and workshops.
More information here.
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