Paul Beal

Exploring the amazing countryside of Northern England.

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🥾 WHITBY WALK: A COASTAL AND RAILWAY LOOP FROM ROBIN HOOD'S BAY

🌊 This circular walk along the North Yorkshire coast links two of the area's best-loved paths into one rewarding day out. Starting and finishing at Robin Hood's Bay, it follows the Cleveland Way clifftop path north to Whitby, then turns inland to return along the Cinder Track, the route of the old Scarborough to Whitby Railway. It is a walk of two distinct halves, open sea cliffs on the way out and a gentle, level railway path on the way back, taking in some of the finest scenery and most interesting history this coast has to offer.

🧭 The walk begins at the Station Car Park in Robin Hood's Bay and climbs to join the Cleveland Way, which also forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. Heading north along the clifftops, the route passes Rain Dale, Oakham Wood, Whitby Lighthouse on Ling Hill, the Whitby Fog Signal and Saltwick Bay before reaching Whitby Abbey, St Mary's Church and the famous 199 Steps. After crossing Whitby Bridge and passing the marina, it picks up the Cinder Track at the far side of town and follows the old line south over Larpool Viaduct, through Hawsker and back to Robin Hood's Bay.

📏 The full route is a circular walk of 13¼ miles, or around 21 kilometres, with about 1450 feet of ascent and an estimated walking time of just over six hours. The recommended map is the Ordnance Survey Explorer OL27, covering the eastern area of the North York Moors, and there is a long-stay pay and display car park with toilets at the start in Robin Hood's Bay. The route is clear and well signposted throughout, and detailed mapping, along with a downloadable GPX file, is available through OS Maps and Outdooractive.

🏛️ Whitby is a historic seaside town set where the North York Moors meet the sea at the mouth of the River Esk, and its harbour, piers and clifftop landmarks give it a strong maritime character. A monastery was founded on the headland in about 657 by Hild, and in 664 the Synod of Whitby helped settle how the date of Easter was calculated in the English Church. The town later grew through fishing, shipping, shipbuilding, whaling and local industries, with Whitby jet becoming especially fashionable in the nineteenth century. The arrival of the railway helped the town flourish as a visitor destination, and that heritage survives today in the Cinder Track, which forms a large part of this walk.

📷 The walk is full of memorable moments. The Cleveland Way offers superb views back across Robin Hood's Bay and along a coast dotted with curious old names such as Craze Naze, Clock Case Nab and Saltwick Nab, the last shaped by centuries of alum quarrying. Whitby Lighthouse and the fog signal, known locally as the Hawsker Bull, tell the story of how ships were guided safely past Whitby Rock, while the abbey ruins and St Mary's Church, with its links to Captain Cook and Bram Stoker's Dracula, crown the headland above the old town. The return leg crosses the impressive thirteen-arch Larpool Viaduct and follows the peaceful, tree-lined Cinder Track through Hawsker, ending with a final glorious view over the bay from a clifftop bench.

✨ With its blend of dramatic coastline, fascinating history and easy railway walking, this is a route that rewards walkers from start to finish. If you would like to follow it for yourself, you will find full directions, route maps, statistics and a complete set of my photographs on the website.

Whitby Walk: A Coastal and Railway Loop From Robin Hood's Bay

A circular Whitby walk from Robin Hood's Bay, with high sea cliffs, Whitby Abbey and the 199 Steps, returning on the old Cinder Track route.

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🥾 HEBDEN CIRCULAR WALK: GRASSINGTON, LINTON FALLS AND THE RIVER WHARFE

🌿 At just under five miles with easy terrain, this Hebden circular walk is well suited to beginners and families looking for a relaxed morning or afternoon in the Yorkshire Dales. Starting from the village of Hebden, the route takes in the wildflower meadows of the Grassington Park Estate and the cobbled streets of Grassington, before dropping down to the limestone cascades of Linton Falls and a peaceful riverside stretch along the Dales Way beside the River Wharfe.

🗺️ The walk sets off from Main Street in Hebden, heading west past the Clarendon Hotel before joining a footpath signposted to Grassington via High Lane. The route crosses Grassington Park Estate Meadows, follows High Lane, and drops gently down into Grassington itself. After passing through the cobbled market square, the path leads on to Linton Falls and the Dales Way alongside the River Wharfe. A pleasant riverside stretch brings walkers to Hebden Suspension Bridge, with the final leg following a quiet valley footpath back to Main Street.

📏 The route covers 4¾ miles, or 7½ kilometres, with an ascent of 439 feet, and takes around 2¼ hours to complete. The recommended map is OS Explorer OL2, covering the Southern and Western Areas of the Yorkshire Dales. Roadside parking is available on Main Street in Hebden, opposite Green Terrace or near The Old School Tea Room.

🏘️ Hebden is a small village in North Yorkshire, tucked into Wharfedale within the Yorkshire Dales National Park and sitting near Grimwith Reservoir, just under two miles east of Grassington. Its history reaches back thousands of years, with Bronze Age stone circles on the surrounding moors and a hoard of 33 Roman silver coins discovered in a local field. The village grew during the 19th century into a busy industrial community thanks to lead mining and a textile mill built in 1792. Today it is a quiet conservation area, with the Hebden Suspension Bridge and St Peter's Church among its most recognisable landmarks.

📸 Along the way on this Hebden circular walk, walkers pass the ivy-clad Clarendon Hotel, dating back to 1753, before crossing the wildflower-rich Grassington Park Estate Meadows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest home to more than fifty plant species. The flagged stone path offers sweeping views towards Barden Moor, while Grassington itself has cobbled streets, independent shops and The Devonshire, recognisable as The Drovers Arms from All Creatures Great and Small. Linton Falls is another highlight, where the River Wharfe tumbles through limestone channels carved deep into the bedrock. The final stretch returns through a peaceful valley to The Old School Tea Room, ideal for finishing the day with a cuppa.

🌄 If this sounds like your kind of day out, you'll find the full Hebden circular walk guide on my website, complete with step-by-step directions, photographs, map links and all the practical details needed to plan your visit. Happy walking!

Hebden Circular Walk: Grassington, Linton Falls and River Wharfe

Explore the scenic Yorkshire Dales on this Hebden circular walk, passing Grassington, Linton Falls and riverside paths along the Wharfe.

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🥾 HEBDEN WALK: GRASSINGTON, GRASS WOOD AND LINTON FALLS CIRCULAR

🌿 This circular Hebden walk is a wonderfully varied route through the heart of Wharfedale, taking in two of the Yorkshire Dales' most appealing villages, a celebrated ancient woodland, and one of the most striking waterfalls in the area. Setting off from the quiet village of Hebden, the route blends open countryside, riverside paths and characterful streets, with plenty of history and natural interest woven in along the way.

🗺️ The walk begins on Main Street in Hebden, just off the B6265, and heads out across the meadows of the Grassington Park Estate before joining the broad stone track of High Lane down into Grassington. From there, it works its way around the western edge of the village along Wood Lane, Moody Sty Lane and Garrs End Lane, before slipping into open countryside on Cove Lane and entering Grass Wood Nature Reserve. The route passes the remains of an Iron Age settlement and the ancient Brigantian hill fort of Fort Gregory, before dropping down to the banks of the River Wharfe at Lower Grass Wood. The riverside path then leads past Ghaistrill's Strid, the arched stone bridge at the western edge of Grassington, Linton Falls Hydro and the dramatic Linton Falls themselves. Joining the Dales Way, the route continues alongside the Wharfe to Hebden Suspension Bridge, before returning across fields and along Hebden Beck back into the village.

📋 The walk covers eight and a half miles, or roughly thirteen and a half kilometres, with around 816 feet of ascent, equivalent to 249 metres. It is a circular route taking approximately three and three-quarter hours to complete at a steady pace. The recommended map is Ordnance Survey OS Explorer OL2 for the Yorkshire Dales Southern and Western Area, and parking is easy to find along Main Street in Hebden, either beside the dry stone wall opposite Green Terrace or near The Old School Tea Room.

🌳 Grass Wood Nature Reserve is one of the great natural highlights of the route. Set in the celebrated landscape of the Yorkshire Dales and managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, it is a majestic woodland of limestone scars and open grassy clearings that supports a remarkable range of plants and animals. Spring brings birdsong from nuthatch, great spotted woodpecker, treecreepers, redstarts, wood warblers and blackcaps, and the wildflower display ranges from the tiny dog violet to the delicate lily-of-the-valley, whose bell-like flowers shine bright in the shade during May and June. The wood is also home to a wealth of fungi, including clouded agaric and purple deceiver, and a diverse insect life that includes the day-flying speckled yellow moth and the northern brown argus butterfly.

🏞️ There is plenty to enjoy along the way, beginning with the 18th-century Clarendon Hotel on Main Street in Hebden and the flower-rich Grassington Park Estate Meadows, a Site of Special Scientific Interest with over fifty plant species. Grassington itself is a former lead-mining village with cobbled streets, independent shops, art galleries and traditional pubs, including The Devonshire, which doubles as The Drovers Arms in Channel 5's All Creatures Great and Small. Further on, the route passes Fort Gregory, a Brigantian hill fort thought to date from around AD 70, before reaching Ghaistrill's Strid, where the River Wharfe is squeezed through a narrow channel in the limestone bedrock. Linton Falls Hydro, a restored hydroelectric station originally built in 1909, sits beside the dramatic Linton Falls, marking one of the easternmost features of the Craven Fault. The walk also takes in Hebden Suspension Bridge, built in 1885 by local blacksmith William Bell, and ends back beside The Old School Tea Room, a charming spot set in the village's former schoolhouse.

☕ With its rich blend of countryside, woodland, river scenery and history, this Hebden walk really is a wonderful way to spend a day in the Yorkshire Dales. From the welcoming pubs and tea rooms of Hebden and Grassington to the quieter corners of Grass Wood and the dramatic falls along the Wharfe, every stretch of the route offers something different to enjoy. For the full route description, maps, statistics and a complete photo gallery, please head over to the website using the link below.

Hebden Walk: Grassington, Grass Wood and Linton Falls Circular

Follow the River Wharfe on a circular Hebden walk through Grassington, Grass Wood and Linton Falls in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales.

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🥾 GREAT AYTON WALK: HUTTON MOOR AND HANGING STONE CIRCULAR ROUTE

🌄 This Great Ayton walk is a varied 9¼ mile circular route that takes in woodland, farmland, open moorland and some of the most rewarding viewpoints on the northern edge of the North York Moors. Setting out from the village itself, the walk weaves through quiet lanes, forestry tracks and ancient woodland before climbing onto Hutton Moor and reaching the dramatic sandstone outcrop at Hanging Stone.

🗺️ The walk begins at the small car park and roadside parking area at the eastern end of High Street in Great Ayton, close to the village green. From here, the route heads south along Station Road, past Fletcher's Farm Coffee Shop and over the railway line, before climbing the flanks of Round Hill on a quiet bridleway. The path leads through Ayton Banks Wood, on into Mill Bank Wood, then up past Bankside Farm and through Pale End Plantation. From Percy Cross Rigg, a fine moorland bridleway leads north-west across Hutton Moor before joining the Cleveland Way and dropping down to Hanging Stone. The return passes Little Roseberry, Aireyholme Farm, Cliff Ridge Wood and Rye Hill before completing the loop back into the village.

📏 The full route covers 9¼ miles, or 14¾ kilometres, with around 1,459 feet of ascent, or 448 metres. Most walkers will complete the circuit in about four and a half hours. It's a circular walk in Northern England, best followed using Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL26, which clearly shows footpaths, rights of way, open access land and the surrounding terrain.

🏡 Great Ayton is a picturesque village set at the foot of the Cleveland Hills, on the edge of the North York Moors National Park. The River Leven flows gently through the village, linking its two centres at High Green and Low Green, while the distinctive 320-metre profile of Roseberry Topping rises to the north. The village has a long and fascinating history, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and forever linked with Captain James Cook, whose family moved here in 1736. Today, Great Ayton enjoys a thriving independent High Street and a calendar of cherished local events, all of which earned it a place on the Sunday Times' "Best Places to Live" list in 2022.

📸 Highlights along the way include the open views south towards the Cleveland Hills, and the striking outline of Roseberry Topping, whose jagged profile was shaped by a partial summit collapse in 1912. Further on, the moorland stretches of Percy Cross Rigg and Hutton Moor open up wide views north towards the coast, with Highcliff Nab, the turbines of Teesside Wind Farm and even the silvery line of the North Sea all visible. The dramatic sandstone outcrop at Hanging Stone is a real highlight, perched above Guisborough with sweeping views to the north. Closer to the village, the route passes Aireyholme Farm and the "In search of Cook's Cottage" interpretation board, before descending through Cliff Ridge Wood beneath magnificent old beech trees.

☕ If you enjoy big views and a good day's walking in open countryside, this Great Ayton walk has plenty to offer. Full directions, photographs, maps and route tools are all available on my website, where you can also find the GPX file and printable details to take with you on the day.

Great Ayton Walk: Hutton Moor and Hanging Stone Circular Route

A scenic Great Ayton walk through woodland and open moorland, passing Hanging Stone, Little Roseberry and the historic Aireyholme Farm.

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🥾 RUNSWICK BAY WALK: FISHING VILLAGES, IRONSTONE HISTORY AND CLIFFTOPS ON THE NORTH YORKSHIRE COAST

🌊 This circular walk from Runswick Bay takes in two of North Yorkshire's finest coastal villages, dramatic clifftop paths, a peaceful woodland nature reserve and centuries of local history. Starting and finishing at Runswick Bank Top, the route follows the Cleveland Way north to Staithes before looping inland through Dalehouse, Oakrigg Wood and Hinderwell on the return. Along the way you will pass through places shaped by fishing, ironstone mining and maritime folklore, with plenty of time to explore the harbours, lanes and landmarks that make this stretch of coast so rewarding on foot.

🗺️ The walk begins at the pay and display car park on Bank Top Lane, from where you descend into the lower village of Runswick Bay to explore its cottages, narrow streets and sandy beach before joining the Cleveland Way. The coastal path climbs onto the clifftops above Wrack Hills and Lingrow Cliffs, passing Port Mulgrave and Old Nab before dropping down into Staithes at roughly the halfway point. From Staithes, the route heads inland along the main road before turning off into Dalehouse, where a quiet path follows a former ironstone tramway into Oakrigg Wood Nature Reserve. The final section passes through Hinderwell, taking in St Hilda's Church and its ancient Holy Well, before a straight, level mile along a roadside footpath brings you back to Runswick Bank Top.

📏 The Runswick Bay walk covers a distance of eight and a quarter miles, or thirteen kilometres, and takes around four hours to complete. It is a circular route with a total ascent of 1,080 feet (329 metres), so you should expect a good number of short climbs along the way, particularly on the clifftop sections. The walk falls within the Yorkshire Coast area and is covered by OS Explorer map OL27. Pay and display parking is available at two car parks on Bank Top Lane at Runswick Bank Top.

🏘️ Runswick Bay is one of the most striking locations on the North Yorkshire coast, sitting roughly nine miles north-west of Whitby within the North York Moors National Park. The crescent-shaped bay was named Beach of the Year by The Sunday Times in 2020. The village is divided into two parts: the modern hamlet of Bank Top on the cliff edge and the historic lower village, where red-roofed cottages huddle against steep shale cliffs. The structure of the lower village is a direct result of the Great Landslide of 1682, when the original settlement was almost entirely destroyed as the cliff face collapsed. Every inhabitant escaped to higher ground before their homes were swallowed by the sea, and the villagers rebuilt on the more sheltered southern part of the bay. The area holds international importance for its Jurassic geology, with cliffs revealing rocks nearly 200 million years old, and is well known for fossil hunting. Local folklore tells of a benevolent spirit known as the Hob, said to live in the caves at the edge of the shore, to whom mothers once carried children suffering from whooping cough in the hope of a cure.

📸 Highlights along the way are plentiful. In Runswick Bay itself, sandstone cottages with red pantile roofs climb the hillside above a broad, sheltered beach, and the maze of narrow paths and ginnels rewards a slow wander. The clifftop stretch above Lingrow Cliffs reveals layered Jurassic rock in tones of ochre, grey and rust, with Port Mulgrave's quiet bay hinting at the ironstone industry that once transformed this coast. Old Nab is a bold headland with striking views along the shoreline, and the descent into Staithes reveals a village packed tightly around its harbour, the Cod and Lobster pub sitting at the water's edge beneath Cowbar Nab. In Oakrigg Wood, carved wooden sculptures line the path through native oaks, and the former tramway tells the story of the Grinkle Ironstone Mine, from where three million tons of ironstone were carried to Port Mulgrave for shipping. At Hinderwell, St Hilda's Church and its ancient Holy Well offer a peaceful stop rich in history, from the life of the great Anglo-Saxon saint to the folk custom of Shaking Bottle Sunday once held at the well each Ascension Day.

✨ Whether you are drawn by the fishing heritage of Staithes, the quiet beauty of Oakrigg Wood or the layered history of Hinderwell and its Holy Well, this is a walk that offers something at every turn. Visit the full route page for detailed walking directions, maps, photos and background information to help you plan your day.

Runswick Bay Walk: Staithes, Port Mulgrave and Hinderwell Route

This Runswick Bay walk follows the Cleveland Way to Staithes via Port Mulgrave and Old Nab, returning through Dalehouse and Hinderwell.

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🌊 CLOUGHTON WYKE WALK: COASTAL PATH TO HAYBURN WYKE AND RETURN

🥾 This circular walk along the North Yorkshire coast takes you from the village of Burniston to the secluded cove at Hayburn Wyke and back again, combining dramatic clifftop scenery with peaceful woodland and easy trail walking. The route follows two of the finest paths in the area, the Cleveland Way and the Cinder Track, and the contrast between them gives the walk a real sense of variety. With rocky inlets, a double waterfall, a nature reserve and a historic coaching inn along the way, there is plenty to see and enjoy across the full route.

🗺️ The walk begins on Field Lane in Burniston, near the stone bridge that carries the Cinder Track overhead. From there, you head north-east along the lane towards the coast and pick up the Cleveland Way clifftop path, which also forms part of the King Charles III England Coast Path. The outward leg passes the Long Nab Coastguard Station and Mine Shelter before following the cliff edge north through Cloughton Wyke and on to the viewpoint at Rodger Trod. From there, the path descends through National Trust woodland to reach the beach at Hayburn Wyke. The return follows Hayburn Beck upstream through the wooded valley, then joins the Cinder Track at Whitehouse Farm for a flat and easy walk south past the Hayburn Wyke Inn and the former Cloughton Station, finishing back at Field Lane.

📏 The full route covers eight and three quarter miles, or fourteen kilometres, and takes around four and a quarter hours to complete. Total ascent is 1,052 feet, or 321 metres, with several climbs and descents along the clifftop section and a steady descent into Hayburn Wyke. The walk is a circular route in the Yorkshire Coast area, and the recommended map is OS Explorer OL27. Parking is available on Field Lane near the Cinder Track bridge, with an additional car park at the far end of the lane.

🏛️ Cloughton is a small village on the edge of the North York Moors National Park, about five miles north of Scarborough. Its name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Cloctune", meaning the town in the valley, and the village has been part of the Duchy of Lancaster estate since 1267. The rocky inlet at Cloughton Wyke takes its name from the Old Norse word for a sea inlet, and the exposed cliffs here date from the Middle Jurassic period, around 170 million years ago. The site forms part of what is known as the Cloughton Formation and is popular with fossil hunters and geology enthusiasts. Hayburn Wyke, at the walk's northern turning point, is a designated Site of Special Scientific Interest, and the surrounding woodland is managed by the National Trust and the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as a nature reserve, home to roe deer, badgers and over thirty species of breeding birds.

⛰️ The clifftop views along this stretch of coast are outstanding, with layered rock faces, bright yellow gorse and green farmland stretching away in both directions. Cloughton Wyke itself is a striking rocky inlet where a stream tumbles through a gully to meet the sea, and the banded sandstone and shale cliffs are a draw for geologists. At Hayburn Wyke, the double waterfall where Hayburn Beck drops over a rocky ledge onto the beach is the clear highlight, with fossil-rich rock layers exposed in the cliff face. The woodland walk along the beck is one of the most peaceful sections, with wild garlic, ferns and birdsong throughout. On the return, the Cinder Track passes the Hayburn Wyke Inn, an eighteenth-century coaching inn serving real cask ales and homemade food, and the beautifully converted former Cloughton Station, where a 1962 Derby-built railway carriage named Oscar has been refurbished into self-catering accommodation.

✨ If you're looking for a walk that offers dramatic coastal scenery, a hidden waterfall, tranquil woodland and easy trail walking all in a single outing, the Cloughton Wyke walk delivers on every count. You can find the full route description, photographs and detailed directions on my website.

Cloughton Wyke Walk: Coastal Path to Hayburn Wyke and Return

From Burniston, follow the Cloughton Wyke walk along the Cleveland Way to Hayburn Wyke, returning south on the Cinder Track past Cloughton.

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🥾 ROBIN HOOD'S BAY WALK: CLEVELAND WAY AND CINDER TRACK CIRCULAR

🌊 The Robin Hood's Bay walk is a circular route combining clifftop drama, village history and the peaceful inland corridors of the old Cinder Track. It links two of the area's best-known long-distance routes, the Cleveland Way National Trail and the Cinder Track, which follows the former trackbed of the Scarborough and Whitby Railway, to create a varied and rewarding day out. Along the way, there are sweeping views across the bay, striking geological formations, and plenty of interest above and below the cliffs.

🗺️ The walk starts at Station Car Park in Robin Hood's Bay, a long-stay pay and display car park with toilet facilities, and heads south along the Cinder Track before cutting across to the Cleveland Way coastal path via Mark Lane and the clifftop approach into the village. The route descends into Robin Hood's Bay itself, passing through the narrow streets and climbing back out to the clifftop at Mount Pleasant North, where the Cleveland Way and Coast to Coast Path head north together. From here, the path follows the dramatic clifftops for several miles, passing through Rain Dale and Limekiln Slack before branching inland near Northcliffe Holiday Park. A broad stone track crosses the Cinder Track and passes through farmland to reach the village of High Hawsker, where the route turns south along the road before rejoining the Cinder Track for the return leg back into Robin Hood's Bay.

📋 The Robin Hood's Bay walk covers nine and a quarter miles, or just under fifteen kilometres, and takes around four and a quarter hours to complete. The total ascent is 945 feet, or 288 metres. It is a circular walk in the Yorkshire Coast area, and the recommended map is OS Explorer OL27 at the 1:25,000 scale, which clearly shows footpaths, rights of way and open access land. Station Car Park, the start and finish point, has plenty of spaces and an overflow car park nearby. The route is well waymarked throughout, following National Trail signage for the Cleveland Way and clear markers for the Cinder Track and Coast to Coast Path.

🏘️ Robin Hood's Bay is one of the most distinctive villages on the North Yorkshire coast, a maze of narrow streets and red-roofed cottages tumbling steeply down to the sea. Locally known as Bay or Bay Town, it sits within the North York Moors National Park, in the ancient parish of Fylingdales, a name thought to derive from the Old English word for marshy ground. The village has a long and colourful history, from its origins as a small coastal community described by Henry VIII's topographer in 1536 as a fisher town of twenty boats, to its later reputation as one of the busiest smuggling hubs on the Yorkshire coast. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, the whole community was said to be involved in the so-called free trade, with a warren of interconnected cellars and passageways allowing contraband to pass from the bottom of the village to the top without seeing the light of day. Fishing later became the dominant industry, and by the 1820s the village's fleet was larger than that of Whitby. The foreshore is also of significant geological interest, sitting on one of the finest Jurassic coastlines in northern England, with ammonites and other fossils regularly found along the beach.

📸 The highlights of the walk are many and varied. The initial descent to Robin Hood's Bay on the Cleveland Way offers a dramatic first view of the red-roofed village against the cliffs and sea. Within the village, points of interest include the original Victorian water fountain re-installed beside a flight of steps in 2016, the former police station built in 1886 and now a holiday cottage, and a memorial stone recounting the remarkable story of the Whitby lifeboat being hauled overland through seven-foot snowdrifts to rescue the crew of the brig Visiter in 1881. Out on the clifftop, an OS-marked exceptional viewpoint looks back across the full sweep of the bay towards Ravenscar, while the eroded cliff faces above Bulmer Steel, Craze Naze and Normanby Stye Batts reveal striking bands of grey, brown and ochre rock above broad, boulder-strewn shores. On the return leg, a small stone bridge on the Cinder Track offers one of the finest views on the whole route, looking south across Robin Hood's Bay towards Ravenscar in the distance.

🧭 Full route directions, an interactive map, OS map details and walk statistics are available on the website, along with a photo gallery from the route. Visit the link below to read the full walk guide and start planning your visit to this outstanding stretch of the North Yorkshire coast.

Robin Hood's Bay Walk: Cleveland Way and Cinder Track Circular

Explore the Robin Hood's Bay walk with the Cinder Track, Cleveland Way cliffs, huge coastal views and a return through High Hawsker village.

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🥾 HAYBURN WYKE WALK: THE CLEVELAND WAY, RAVENSCAR AND THE COAST

🌊 The Hayburn Wyke walk is a circular coastal route on the North Yorkshire coast that packs a remarkable amount into a single day. It combines the clifftop drama of the Cleveland Way, the wartime history of the Ravenscar Radar Station, sweeping views across Robin Hood's Bay, and the sheltered beauty of Hayburn Wyke itself, a hidden coastal valley where ancient woodland meets a rocky shore and a double waterfall tumbles onto the beach. Few walks in this part of England offer such variety, and the contrast between the open clifftop path and the quiet return along the Cinder Track gives the route a very satisfying shape.

🗺️ The walk starts at the small pay-and-display car park near the Hayburn Wyke Hotel, before dropping through National Trust woodland to the beach at Hayburn Wyke, where Hayburn Beck falls onto the shore as a waterfall. From there, the route climbs to the clifftop and follows the Cleveland Way north for several miles, passing Petard Point and the remains of the Ravenscar World War II Radar Station before arriving at Ravenscar. A short detour descends past the Raven Hall Hotel to one of the finest views of Robin Hood's Bay on the entire walk, before the route turns south and joins the Cinder Track, the former Scarborough and Whitby Railway line, for the return to Hayburn Wyke via Staintondale.

📋 The walk covers nine and a quarter miles, or fourteen and three quarter kilometres, and takes around four and a half hours to complete, with a total ascent of 1,256 feet. It is a circular route in the Yorkshire Coast area and is best navigated using the Ordnance Survey Explorer map OL27 at a scale of 1:25,000, which clearly shows footpaths, rights of way, and open access land. Parking is available at the pay-and-display car park near the Hayburn Wyke Hotel, where the charge at the time of writing was five pounds for the day, payable by cash only.

🌿 Hayburn Wyke is one of the most distinctive natural spots on this stretch of the Yorkshire Coast. Rather than open clifftop scenery, it has the feel of a sheltered coastal valley, with paths dropping through ancient woodland to a rocky bay where Hayburn Beck reaches the shore in a double waterfall. The site is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, recognised for both its geology and its wildlife. The cliffs date from the Middle Jurassic period and the beck has exposed the Hayburn Wyke plant bed, part of the Cloughton Formation, which contains around sixty fossil species and is regarded as one of Yorkshire's most important Jurassic plant fossil sites. The woodland above the shore is equally significant, supporting oak, ash, birch, elm and large-leaved lime alongside a rich variety of ferns, mosses and liverworts, while breeding birds including chiffchaff, pied flycatcher, redstart and blackcap make it a lively place in spring and summer.

✨ The highlights are numerous and varied. The beach at Hayburn Wyke, reached early in the walk, is a wonderfully unspoilt cove where Hayburn Beck cascades over the low cliffs and falls directly onto the shore, a remarkably rare natural feature. The long clifftop section of the Cleveland Way delivers sweeping coastal views and a close look at the surviving buildings of the Ravenscar Radar Station, including the Communications Hut, the Transmitter and Receiver Block, the Fuel Store, and the Engine House, all of which tell a compelling story of Britain's wartime coastal defences. The descent past the Raven Hall Hotel towards the golf course offers what is arguably the finest view of Robin Hood's Bay on the entire walk, with the village clearly visible across the full sweep of the bay. The return along the Cinder Track is a pleasure in itself, passing through two stone tunnels, a beautiful tree-lined cutting, and the handsome former station at Staintondale.

🧭 Whether you are drawn by the coastal scenery, the history, the wildlife, or simply the pleasure of a well-crafted circular walk, the Hayburn Wyke walk has a great deal to offer. The full route description, interactive maps, photographs, and links to view the route on OS Maps and Outdooractive are all available on the website, making it straightforward to plan your visit and explore the route in as much detail as you need.

Hayburn Wyke Walk: The Cleveland Way, Ravenscar and the Coast

The Hayburn Wyke walk, with a secluded beach waterfall, clifftop paths, a wartime radar station and sweeping views across Robin Hood's Bay.

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🌿 RAVENSCAR WALK: CLEVELAND WAY AND CINDER TRACK CIRCULAR ROUTE

🌊 This circular walk from Ravenscar to Robin Hood's Bay brings together clifftop views, coastal history and a gentle return along the old railway line. Starting high above the North Sea in Ravenscar, the route follows the Cleveland Way to Peak Alum Works, continues along the coast to Boggle Hole and Robin Hood's Bay, then heads back inland on the Cinder Track. It is a varied walk that mixes open scenery, local history and a real change of pace between the outward and return legs.

🌤️ From the start, the route feels varied. There are open clifftop paths with wide views across Robin Hood's Bay, sections of woodland as the path drops towards the shore, and places that reveal the area's industrial and military past. The return journey is quieter, following the old railway through greener countryside back to Ravenscar.

🧭 THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE

🚶 The walk starts in Ravenscar, where there is roadside parking on Raven Hall Road opposite the public toilets. From there, the route heads north towards the Ravenscar Visitor Centre before turning left onto the Cleveland Way public footpath to Robin Hood's Bay. The first section descends on concrete tracks and woodland paths towards the coast, leading to Peak Alum Works, where the remains of the old industrial site form one of the most striking landmarks on the route.

🗺️ After passing through or around the alum works, the walk continues north along the clifftop on the Cleveland Way. It passes the old Second World War pillbox near Peter White Cliff, drops down to Boggle Hole, and then carries on towards Robin Hood's Bay, where the route descends into the village. From the lower village, the walk climbs the main road to the top, passes the Victoria Hotel, follows Station Road and Thorpe Lane, and reaches St Stephen's Church before joining the Cinder Track. The return follows the old railway line past Fyling Hall, Browside Farm and the Ravenscar Brickworks before rejoining the Cleveland Way and climbing back into Ravenscar.

📏 PLANNING YOUR WALK

🧾 This is a circular walk of 8¾ miles, or 14 kilometres, with a total ascent of 1147 feet, or 350 metres. It takes around 4¼ hours and lies on the Yorkshire Coast. The recommended map is Ordnance Survey Explorer OL27, covering the North York Moors Eastern Area at a scale of 1:25,000. It clearly shows footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground.

🅿️ Parking is on Raven Hall Road in Ravenscar, and the route starts very close to the Ravenscar Visitor Centre. The mix of coastal paths, village streets, stepped descents and the steady return along the Cinder Track makes this a varied but straightforward route to follow, especially with the Cleveland Way guiding much of the outward leg.

🏞️ RAVENSCAR AND THE SURROUNDING COAST

🌾 Ravenscar is a small, scattered village set high on the cliffs of the North Yorkshire coast, roughly midway between Scarborough and Whitby. It sits within the North York Moors National Park and looks out across Robin Hood's Bay, with open moorland stretching inland. Once known simply as Peak, it remains a quiet and unspoilt place, very different from the larger resorts along the coast, and it makes an excellent starting point for a walk that combines shoreline and countryside.

🏛️ Ravenscar has a long history. In the late fourth century, the Romans built a signal station here as part of a chain of coastal defences, and a Latin dedication slab connected with the site was later discovered during the construction of Raven Hall. The village's later story includes the building of Raven Hall in 1774, the fortunes of the Childs and Willis families, and the work of William Hammond, who helped shape the settlement by building St Hilda's Church and the windmill. Today, visitors can still enjoy the clifftop setting, the remains of the Roman station, the Raven Hall Hotel and the Ravenscar Visitor Centre. The village also marks the eastern end of the Lyke Wake Walk and sits on both the Cleveland Way National Trail and National Cycle Route 1.

✨ HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WALK

🌼 Soon after leaving Ravenscar, the path opens onto broad coastal views, with green fields falling away towards the sea and Robin Hood's Bay visible in the distance. The descent through woodland, the bright yellow gorse along the cliff edge, and the sweep of the bay make the outward leg especially enjoyable. Peak Alum Works is one of the main highlights, both for the scale of its ruins and for what they reveal about an industry that shaped this part of the coast for more than two centuries.

🏖️ The clifftop section beyond the alum works is especially memorable. The narrow path between field and sea offers wide views towards the pale cliffs around Robin Hood's Bay, while places such as Miller's Nab, High Scar and the crumbling wartime pillbox at Peter White Cliff add interest along the way. The descent to Boggle Hole changes the feel of the walk again, with its folklore, youth hostel, rocky inlet and beach framed by high cliffs. From there, the approach to Robin Hood's Bay feels gradual and rewarding, with the red-roofed village drawing closer before the route drops into its steep streets and coastal setting.

🚲 The return along the Cinder Track has a quieter charm. After the climb out of Robin Hood's Bay past the Victoria Hotel, the Methodist Church and St Stephen's Church, the former railway line leads back through greener and more peaceful surroundings. Old bridges, the Stationmaster's House at Fyling Hall, glimpses back towards the coast, and the remains of the Ravenscar Brickworks all add interest to the final stretch. By the time the route reaches the last bridge and the houses on Raven Hall Road come back into view, the walk feels neatly complete.

🚶 FINAL THOUGHTS

🌅 If you want a walk that shows the range of the Yorkshire coast, this route from Ravenscar to Robin Hood's Bay is hard to beat. It combines clifftop scenery, industrial heritage, old village streets and a gentle return along the old railway line, making it a route well worth exploring in full before you set out.

Ravenscar Walk: Cleveland Way and Cinder Track Circular Route

Discover the Ravenscar walk, a stunning circular route along the Cleveland Way to Robin Hood's Bay, returning via the Cinder Track.

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🥾 A PERFECT DAY OUT IN THE NORTH YORK MOORS: WALKING, HISTORY AND HERITAGE

🏡 If you're looking for a really rewarding day out in the North York Moors, here's an idea worth considering. Combine a five-mile circular walk from Hutton-le-Hole through Lastingham and Spaunton with a visit to the Ryedale Folk Museum. At a steady pace, the walk takes around two to three hours, leaving plenty of time to explore the museum properly.

🌿 Hutton-le-Hole is one of the most beautiful villages in Yorkshire. Hutton Beck winds through the centre of the village, crossed by little footbridges, while moorland sheep graze freely along the long, winding village green. The village has 29 listed buildings, most dating from the 18th century, and features regularly on lists of the prettiest villages in the UK. The Crown is the village pub, a traditional country inn serving food and real ales, and St Chad's Church is the local parish church.

🗺️ From the village, the route heads east across fields and farmland to join a quiet road, then continues along a moorland footpath in a north-easterly direction. After reaching the top of a hill, a stone track descends and becomes a tarmac road that leads you down into Lastingham.

🍺 Lastingham is a gem of a village, and well worth taking your time over. The Blacksmiths Arms is a lovely stone pub, sitting in a conservation village and popular with walkers, locals, and visitors alike. It serves excellent food, including local game dishes in season, alongside real ales, and makes a perfect halfway stop. Directly opposite the pub is St Mary's Church, one of the most remarkable churches in England. Beneath it lies an 11th-century Norman crypt, thought to be the oldest of its kind in the world and the only one in England with a nave, aisles, and an apsidal chancel. The site has been a place of Christian worship since 654, when St Cedd of Lindisfarne founded a monastery here. Descending the steep steps into the crypt, you are immediately struck by its stillness and atmosphere. It is a genuinely special place.

🌲 From Lastingham, the route continues south through woodland and up to a minor road, then heads west through the beautiful village of Spaunton. A footpath across open countryside and farmland eventually brings you back down through woodland to the southern end of Hutton-le-Hole, and from there north through the village to the Ryedale Folk Museum.

🏛️ The museum is an open-air living history museum spread across six acres, with over twenty historic buildings rescued from surrounding villages and rebuilt stone by stone on the site. Together, they tell the story of everyday life in the North York Moors from the Iron Age to the 1950s. There is a huge amount to see, from rural workshops and a Victorian schoolroom to an Iron Age roundhouse and a remarkable collection of 40,000 objects. It is the kind of place where you could easily spend two or three hours without rushing.

📅 The museum opens for the 2026 season on 9 March, which is just over a week away. I have written a detailed blog post about it on my website, with lots of photographs, opening times, and admission prices. It is always worth checking the museum's own website too, just to make sure everything is up to date before you visit.

📸 There are many other walks in the area, but this one gives you a great combination of countryside, history, and heritage in a single day. I can highly recommend it.

🌐 To read about the museum and see lots of photographs, visit my website:

Ryedale Folk Museum: North York Moors Living Heritage Museum

Visit Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole and discover rural crafts, historic homes and centuries of North York Moors ordinary life.

🔎 To check the latest opening times and visitor information on the official museum website, visit:

https://www.ryedalefolkmuseum.co.uk

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🌄 BOLTON CASTLE WALK: EXPLORE WENSLEYDALE’S MOORLAND AND VILLAGES 🌿 This rewarding walk through Wensleydale offers a wonderful mix of scenery, history, and rural charm. Starting beside the impressive Bolton Castle, the route leads you across open moorland, through peaceful valleys shaped by Apedale Beck, and into welcoming villages full of character. It is a walk that captures the quiet beauty and heritage of this part of the Yorkshire Dales. 🧭 Beginning at Bolton Castle’s pay-and-display car park, the route heads north across moorland towards Dent’s Houses, continues east across Redmire Moor, and then drops into Preston-under-Scar. From here it turns south through farmland towards Redmire before looping back across fields to Castle Bolton. Along the way, you’ll encounter historic mining remains, far-reaching views, traditional villages, and a satisfying variety of landscapes. 🥾 This circular walk covers 9½ miles and takes around 4½ hours to complete, with a total ascent of 351 metres. Full directions, walk statistics, and parking information are provided on the walk page. You will also find links to both Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive maps, giving you the option to print the route, download it to your device, or export a GPX file. 🏘️ Castle Bolton is a small village in Wensleydale with a long history and close links to the nearby medieval fortress. Its cottages line a central green, many dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, and the village name reflects early Anglo-Saxon origins. The surrounding area includes other settlements such as Redmire, Carperby, and Aysgarth, all contributing to the dale’s distinctive character. 📸 The walk offers memorable moments throughout, from the rising track towards Bull Park Plantation and the wide moorland views above Black Hill to the sheltered stone buildings at Dent’s Houses. You’ll encounter old quarries and smelt-mill remains at Cobscar, welcoming villages along the route, and uplifting views as you return towards Bolton Castle at the walk’s end. 📍 If you enjoy varied landscapes, local history, and peaceful countryside, this route is well worth exploring. Visit the walk page to view the full directions, browse the maps, check parking information, and use the planning tools to help you prepare for your day out. https://www.paulbeal.com/bolton-castle-walk

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😊 Tupgill Park: Walk Linking Wensley, Middleham and West Witton

🌄 A brand-new walk is now live on my website! This scenic circular route explores the heart of Wensleydale, starting at Wensley Bridge on the banks of the River Ure. From there, it follows a peaceful riverside path before climbing gently south towards Middleham, famous for its castle and racing heritage. The walk then crosses the open expanse of Middleham Low Moor and leads into the varied landscape of the Tupgill Park Estate, home to The Forbidden Corner. From here, it heads across farmland towards West Witton, before returning along field paths and riverside tracks back to Wensley.

🧭 The walk covers 11¼ miles and takes around 5 hours to complete, with a total ascent of 249 metres. Full directions, detailed route statistics, and parking advice are available on the walk page. You’ll also find links to Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive maps, which offer a range of features including printing the route, downloading it to your device, and exporting it as a GPX file.

🏞️ Tupgill Park Estate, located near Middleham and Leyburn in North Yorkshire, is a vibrant and family-friendly destination. It’s best known for The Forbidden Corner—a surreal garden maze filled with tunnels, sculptures, and hidden surprises. The estate also includes self-catering holiday cottages, The Saddle Room restaurant, a beautifully designed herb garden, and several public rights of way that allow walkers to explore the grounds and surrounding countryside.

📸 Highlights of the walk include the historic villages of Middleham and West Witton, panoramic views over Wensleydale, and the tranquil woodland paths of the Tupgill Park Estate. In Middleham, you’ll pass the impressive ruins of the castle and the Jubilee Fountain in Swine Market. In West Witton, you’ll visit the peaceful St Bartholomew’s Church. Hidden gems within Tupgill Park include the whimsical Fishing Temple and a quiet memorial bench known as Leo’s Seat. The riverside sections along the Ure add even more variety to this rewarding route.

🚶‍♂️ If you’re looking for a walk packed with interest and variety, this one’s well worth a try. At just over 11 miles, it’s a reasonably lengthy route, and by the time you’ve paused for breaks, admired the scenery, and explored Middleham and the Tupgill Park estate, the full day will have slipped by. Some sections, like the crossing of Middleham Low Moor or the path between Tupgill Park and West Witton, may test your navigational skills—but that’s all part of the fun. Head over to my website to see the full route, explore the photo gallery, and use the handy planning tools to get started:

Tupgill Park: Walk Linking Wensley, Middleham and West Witton

Explore Middleham, West Witton and the River Ure on a beautiful Wensleydale route that winds through the grounds of Yorkshire’s Tupgill Park

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😊 FREE WALKING GUIDES TO DOWNLOAD

🧭 Discover North Yorkshire with these 15 comprehensively written walking guides. Each PDF includes a walk introduction, route highlights, practical information such as distance and difficulty, full step-by-step directions, and a detailed route map. Perfect for planning your next day out in the countryside.

🥾 BEWERLEY INDUSTRIAL HERITAGE TRAIL

🗺️ A walk guide from Pateley Bridge that explores the Bewerley Industrial Heritage Trail and reveals Nidderdale’s mining history.

🥾 BLAKEY RIDGE WALK

🌄 A detailed route guide for a Blakey Ridge walk in the North York Moors, with views of Rosedale’s countryside.

🥾 CRACKPOTS MOSAIC TRAIL

🎨 Enjoy a scenic walking adventure in Nidderdale as you explore the Crackpots Mosaic Trail through art and nature in Dallowgill.

🥾 DENT WALK

🌿 A walk through Flinter Gill ravine and the beautiful Dentdale countryside, showcasing the natural beauty of this peaceful valley.

🥾 GRASSINGTON WALK

💧 A circular walk from Grassington taking in Linton Falls, Hebden, riverside paths, and historical sites around Yarnbury.

🥾 GUISBOROUGH 3 PEAKS

⛰️ Climb Roseberry Topping, Hanging Stone and Highcliff Nab on this energetic Guisborough 3 Peaks challenge.

🥾 GUISBOROUGH WOODS WALK

🌲 A woodland and moorland route taking in scenic trails and expansive views via Highcliff Nab near Guisborough.

🥾 HAWES MOSAIC WALK

🧩 Follow an 11-mile circular trail in Upper Wensleydale to discover twenty mosaic artworks celebrating the local heritage.

🥾 INGLEBOROUGH WALK

🏞️ Start in Clapham and ascend to Ingleborough via Trow Gill and Gaping Gill on this classic Yorkshire Dales route.

🥾 KETTLEWELL WALK

🗻 Explore two scenic Yorkshire Dales valleys—Littondale and Wharfedale—on this varied circular walk from Kettlewell.

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🌿 Middleham to East Witton Including Jervaulx Park

🌄 A brand-new North Yorkshire walk is now live on my website! This circular route begins in the historic market town of Middleham and explores some of Wensleydale’s most scenic countryside. It follows sections of the Six Dales Trail through riverside woodland and rolling farmland, heading out to the village of East Witton via Jervaulx Park. Along the way, you’ll pass landmarks such as Middleham Castle, William’s Hill motte and bailey, the Cover Bridge Inn, and the ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. The walk ends with a peaceful return through meadows and ancient field paths beside the River Cover.

🧭 The route is 12 miles long and takes roughly 5½ hours to complete. Total ascent is around 337 metres. Full step-by-step directions, route statistics, and parking advice are available on the walk page. You’ll also find links to Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive maps, with tools to print the route, download it to your device, or export it as a GPX file.

🏞️ Middleham is a remarkable town with a rich past. Set in the heart of Wensleydale, where the River Cover joins the River Ure, it has roots going back to Roman times and features prominently in the Domesday Book. Middleham Castle was once home to Richard III, who spent much of his youth there. The town grew into a thriving mediaeval market centre and remains lively today, known especially for its racing stables and Georgian charm. A visit here offers a deep sense of history, from ancient castles and chapels to the legacy of horse training that continues to shape the community.

📸 This North Yorkshire walk is full of memorable highlights. You’ll set off from Middleham’s cobbled market square, where racehorses regularly clip-clop their way to the gallops. You’ll pass the dramatic ruins of Middleham Castle and enjoy sweeping views from the earlier Norman earthworks at William’s Hill. Follow riverside trails beside the Cover and the Ure, call in at the Cover Bridge Inn, and stroll through the peaceful grounds of Jervaulx Park. A glimpse of Jervaulx Abbey, the tranquillity of East Witton, and the scenic crossing of Hullo Bridge make this route a varied and rewarding day out.

🚶‍♂️ If you’re after a blend of history, scenery, and countryside walking, this route from Middleham to East Witton is a brilliant choice. Explore the full walk, view the maps, and plan your day using the tools on my website:

North Yorkshire Walk: Middleham to East Witton via Jervaulx Park

This North Yorkshire walk features Middleham Castle, Jervaulx Park, the River Ure, and a stop at the Cover Bridge Inn near East Witton.

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🌿 Appleton-le-Moors Walk: From Sinnington by Way of Cropton

🗺️ There’s a newly published walk now available on my website, and it’s a fantastic route through the peaceful countryside of the southern North York Moors. Starting in the picturesque village of Sinnington, the route follows quiet lanes and woodland bridleways to reach the historic village of Cropton, before continuing on to Appleton-le-Moors. The circular walk explores parts of the Tabular Hills Walk and returns along the scenic banks of the River Seven.

📏 The walk is approximately 7 miles long and takes around 3¼ hours to complete. It involves a reasonably easy total ascent of 242 metres. Full directions, route statistics, and parking advice are included on the walk page. You’ll also find links to both Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive maps, which offer useful tools such as printable routes and GPX files.

🏘️ Appleton-le-Moors is a historic village in North Yorkshire, located within the North York Moors National Park. It’s a classic example of a 12th-century planned settlement, where the houses were laid out with long garden plots, or garths, stretching 330 feet to a back lane. The village appears in the Domesday Book and is known for archaeological finds ranging from flint tools to Roman coins. Its standout landmark is Christ Church, a Grade I listed building designed by J. L. Pearson, often described as “the little gem of moorland churches”.

🌳 This Appleton-le-Moors walk is packed with memorable moments, including peaceful woodland trails, traditional stone cottages, and sweeping farmland views. You’ll visit St Gregory’s Church in Cropton, walk beside the River Seven, and pass several charming spots such as the handsome farmhouse at Kirby Balk and the welcoming New Inn in Cropton.

🥾 If you fancy exploring this southern area of the North York Moors between Pickering and Kirkbymoorside, you’ll find everything you need to plan your route over on my website:

Appleton-le-Moors: Walk from Sinnington Village by Way of Cropton

This Appleton-le-Moors walk from Sinnington explores peaceful woods, rolling farmland, historic churches, and the lovely village of Cropton.

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🌿 Masham Moor Circular Walk, Including Dale Edge and Colsterdale

🗺️ There’s a brand-new walk now available on my website, and it’s a real gem for lovers of open landscapes and quieter trails. Starting from Gollinglith Foot, the circular route explores the rugged terrain of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It follows the Six Dales Trail through fields and woodland before heading out onto the windswept uplands of Pott Moor and Dale Edge. The route loops through remote Colsterdale and returns via Coal Road.

🌬️ Along the way, you’ll experience exhilarating exposed moorland to blow the cobwebs away, and a short section in a valley where the bracken can be high in summer—adding an extra bit of excitement as you push through the overgrown trail. There are also a few trickier sections where the path becomes faint and navigation requires care. This is a less well walked route, ideal for those who enjoy solitude, nature, and a true sense of the wild.

📏 The walk covers 11½ miles and takes around 5¾ hours to complete, with a total ascent of 351 metres. You’ll find full directions, walk statistics, and parking advice on the walk page. There are links to both Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive maps, giving you the option to print the route, download it to your device, or explore it using interactive tools.

🏞️ Colsterdale is a remote valley carved by the River Burn, located within the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and part of the Swinton Estate. The valley has a fascinating history, from medieval coal mining to military use during the First World War, when it served as a training camp for the Leeds Pals. Scattered throughout the area are old stone sighting towers, built during the surveying of nearby reservoirs and pipelines. Quiet, scenic, and steeped in heritage, Colsterdale is a hidden highlight of the English landscape.

📸 Highlights of the walk include a peaceful climb through woodland, followed by wide, open crossings of Pott Moor and Dale Edge with sweeping views towards Scar House Reservoir and the high ridges of Little Whernside and Great Whernside. The route skirts South Haw, marked by a lonely boundary stone, and descends into the valley along the banks of the River Burn. You’ll pass old farm buildings, Swaledale sheep, and colourful upland moorland filled with heather and bracken. The final stretch along Coal Road offers an easy finish with spectacular views across the Colsterdale valley.

🥾 If you're after a proper Yorkshire moors walk with big skies, peaceful trails, and a touch of adventure, this one’s well worth exploring. Head to my website for the full route, interactive maps, and all the tools you need to plan your day.

Yorkshire Moors Walk: Masham Moor, Dale Edge and Colsterdale

Enjoy a scenic Yorkshire moors walk from Gollinglith Foot across Dale Edge, Colsterdale, and the remote uplands of Masham Moor in Nidderdale

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🗺️ Hutton-le-Hole Walk: Route to Lastingham and Appleton-le-Moors

🚶‍♀️ There’s a brand-new route now live on my website, and it’s a cracking walk through some of the most beautiful countryside in the North York Moors. Starting from the National Park car park in Hutton-le-Hole, the circular route heads through fields, woodland, and moorland to visit the historic villages of Lastingham, Spaunton, and Appleton-le-Moors. You’ll pass Jennie’s Bridge over Hole Beck, stop at three charming churches, and enjoy stunning scenery throughout. Clear walking directions guide you every step of the way.

📏 The walk covers 9¼ miles and takes around 4¼ hours to complete, with a total ascent of 289 metres. The walk page includes full directions, walk statistics, and parking advice. You’ll also find links to the route on both Ordnance Survey and Outdooractive, where you can print the map, download it to your device, or export it as a GPX file for easy navigation.

🏘️ Hutton-le-Hole is one of the most picturesque villages in the North York Moors National Park. It’s steeped in history, with a name that dates back to the Domesday Book and a strong Quaker heritage. Sheep graze freely on the village green, Hutton Beck winds through the centre, and the village is home to 29 listed buildings.

🔍 The walk is packed with highlights. You’ll pass shops and cafés, explore quiet country lanes and hidden woodland paths, and stop by three very different churches. Look out for the crypt of Lastingham’s ancient Church of St Mary. Along the way, discover a 17th-century hotel and tea room, a pub with a pewter-lined bar, a beautifully restored reading room, and two old pinfolds once used for stray livestock. The scenery is varied and memorable, from rolling farmland to sweeping moorland and peaceful bridleways.

🥾 If you enjoy a proper day out in the North York Moors, this one’s not to be missed. Head to the walk page for the full route, maps, photos, and all the planning tools you’ll need.

Hutton-le-Hole Walk: Route to Lastingham and Appleton-le-Moors

This Hutton-le-Hole walk explores moorland, woodland, and villages, including Lastingham and Appleton-le-Moors in the North York Moors.