10.7 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map No 26, - North York Moors Western Area
A walk which can be undertaken
at any time of the year. The walk starts out along Hambleton Street,
the ancient drovers' road, before dropping down into Thorodale.
Forestry paths are followed to near Arden Hall, with the remainder of
the walk using field footpaths, narrow country lanes, and moorland tracks.
There is little difficulty navigating.
The last section of the walk, just before Dale Head Farm, can be difficult
if the walker takes the open moorland path rather than the well-defined
bridle path.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
The walk starts from the car park on the Osmotherley
to Helmsley Road at SE4795295885.
Follow the srovers' road (Hambleton Street) South, rising gently for the
next two miles or so.
At Whitehead Gill Head, SE4903791918, the road levels off giving good
views of the plain below.
Continue to SE5025191564 where there is a track East to the head of Thorodale.
Descend into Thorodale, and follow the footpath through the woodland until
you reach the track leading to Arden Hall at SE5194290878. Here you can
take a short detour South to Arden Hall itself.
Continue East along the Footpath to Mount Pleasant Farm.
From Mount Pleasant Farm head North towards Harkers Gate cottage and Brewster
Hill Farm.
The track emerges from woodland to overlook Eskerdale and Brewster Hill
Farm at SE5250692132.
From Brewster Hill Farm continue North to Cow wath, Far House, and Lower
Locker Farm.
Just past the farm, at SE5093794062, take the track to the right rather
than the footpath indicated by a ladder stile and a finger post.
A short way along this track is a bridle path heading to Dale Head Farm.
Continue past this deserted building to return to the car park left at
the start of the walk.