Full Description
Covering
554 square miles of wonderful Yorkshire countryside, the North
York Moors
National Park is an area of upland
bounded by the Cleveland plain and Tees Valley
to the north, the vales of York and Mowbray to the west, the Vale of Pickering
to the south, and the North Sea to the east, ranging from Thirsk to Scarborough. The ten superb walks in this guide explore
different characteristics of the landscape and its heritage.
The
crowning glory of the national park is its extensive heather moorland, which in
late summer becomes a beautiful expanse of pink and purple - pick the walks to
Captain Cook's Monument and from Hutton-le-Hole to witness this unforgettable
sight. In Farndale, in spring, it is a carpet of yellow daffodils that
captivates visitors. The tranquilly set romantic ruin of Rievaulx Abbey,
nestled in the pastoral seclusion of Ryedale, contrasts with the haunting
Gothic edifice of Whitby Abbey, standing resolutely on its headland hilltop.
Magnificent views can be admired from Sutton Bank (James Herriot's 'finest view
in England')
and from the clifftop vantage point above Robin Hood's Bay. You can immerse
yourself in the mixed woodland and open glades of Broxa Forest,
catch a steam train at Goathland to complete the walk from Grosmont, and enjoy
post-stroll refreshment in charming Osmotherley.
Contents
The
Walks
Cook's
Monument and Roseberry Topping
This richly rewarding walk is also the
hardest route in the book in terms of the distance and ascent involved, but
each climb brings superb views and an uplifting sense of space. It first rises
to Captain Cook's Monument, then drops through pine woods before heading uphill
again to the base of Roseberry Topping, Yorkshire's own little Matterhorn. You
then get to end the day by striding out along wonderful moorland tracks.
Fine
moorland circuit, a national hero's column and a mini Matterhorn
Osmotherley
The attractive village
of Osmotherley lies on the western
edge of the North
York Moors
National Park. Once the
location of a thriving linen industry, the village is more peaceful now, the
mills having been replaced by pubs, cafés and B&Bs. Using a
wildflower-fringed lane with moorland views, this walk climbs above the
honey-coloured cottages to join a section of the Cleveland Way. On the return, the flat
expanse of the Vale of Mowbray can be glimpsed through the trees.
Attractive
village; lovely reservoir and Vale of Mowbray views
Sutton
Bank and Kilburn White Horse
The view from Sutton Bank was described by
All Creatures Great and Small author James Herriot as the 'finest in England'.
Was he right? Decide for yourself by walking, from the National Park Centre,
along the excellent path skirting the escarpment edge. After passing over the
top of the Kilburn White Horse, the walk returns via a series of woodland paths
and quiet lanes. Watch for gliders taking off and soaring in the skies above.
Best views
from Sutton Bank; soaring gliders; white horse hill figure
Rievaulx
Abbey
The tiny settlement of Rievaulx, with its
romantic abbey ruin, is tucked away in Ryedale to the north-west of Helmsley.
This gentle walk explores a small section of the peaceful, wooded dale. After
briefly heading upstream from the village and crossing Bow Bridge,
it enters the atmospheric Ashberry Wood. The going gets rougher underfoot here,
but the outing ends with a stroll along quiet lanes and past the abbey, which
has a museum and café.
Splendid
abbey ruin; meadows, woods and tranquil Ryedale
Farndale
The first part of this walk, beside the
meandering River Dove, is known as the Daffodil Walk. In early spring, the dale
comes to dazzling life as wild daffodils burst into bloom. But the walk is
delightful all year round with the river, woodland and meadows in serene
harmony - and all enjoyed from an easy-going surfaced path. After visiting High
Mill, return via the sheep- filled pastures that climb the valley sides for a
fresh perspective on this lovely dale.
April
daffodil spectacle; Dove riverside stroll; pastoral, peaceful dale
Hutton-le-Hole
There's lots of variety on this moderately
undulating walk starting from the idyllic village of Hutton-le-Hole.
It passes through fields, woodland and along the edge of open moorland to reach
lovely Lastingham, with its fascinating church. From here, the route heads
along quiet lanes to peaceful Spaunton. Having reached the highest point on the
walk, with good views of the surrounding moors, the route concludes along
wildflower-fringed tracks across arable fields.
Great
moorland views; charming villages; good refreshment options
Grosmont
to Goathland
This linear walk, making use of the North
Yorkshire Moors Railway - a heritage line - is a special treat for lovers of
steam trains and enthusiasts of industrial archaeology. It's also great for
those who enjoy strolling through tranquil woods listening to birdsong, all the
while accompanied by a beck tumbling gently downstream. The popular route is
well-signposted throughout and there are several benches along the way. The
walk ends at the lovely village
of Goathland.
Delightful
old Whitby to Pickering railway path; catch a steam train
back
Whitby
Abbey
The atmospheric Gothic ruins of Whitby Abbey
are perched on a headland high above the historic harbour town - an impressive
spot made all the more dramatic by its links with Bram Stoker's Dracula. This
walk visits the abbey and neighbouring St Mary's Church before making its way
along an easy-going clifftop path in the company of seabirds. Turning away from
those magnificent North Sea views, the inland
return to the abbey is via field paths
and quiet lanes.
Bracing
clifftop stroll; legend of Dracula and atmospheric abbey ruin
Robin
Hood's Bay
This is a walk of two halves. Starting from
the popular seaside village
of Robin Hood's Bay, it
first heads out along a disused railway - a shared-use path known as the Cinder
Track - with good views out to sea. For the second half, it drops onto the
England Coast Path for a walk along high, windswept cliffs. Although the route
doesn't visit the lower, older part of the village, there are some impressive
glimpses of it on this return leg.
Leafy,
easy-going old railway path; great sea views on the coast path
Broxa
Forest
Broxa Forest is located in the south- eastern
corner of the National Park, on the edge of an area dominated by forestry.
Don't expect dark, oppressive plantations though; there is mixed woodland here,
as well as open areas with great views over Harwood Dale. This easy walk
combines broad tracks, sometimes shared with mountain bikers, and quieter
trails, where there's a good chance that your only company will be woodland
birds and, if you're lucky, an occasional deer.
Forest drives;
quiet trails; mixed woodland; open meadow glades
