11.3 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map No 26 - North York Moors Western Area
A circular walk over the North York Moors, where the highlights include the visit to Hob on the Hill and the Quaker Causeway. The paths are generally well defined, but as always when walking on the moors be prepared for bad weather with maps and navigation aids.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
The start of the walk is from the car park at
Birk Brow NZ6579114861.
Descend into the village of Charltons by the footpath alongside the A171.
Through Charltons, the Cleveland Way (heading West) is well signposted,
but attention MUST be paid to the waymarks. Deviate from the Cleveland
Way at this stage and you can get lost amongst the cyclo-cross tracks
in the disused quarry.
Follow the Cleveland Way into Guisborough Woods, and continue until you
reach the footpath at NZ6236614386 that heads in a South Easterly direction
across Stanghow Moor.
Take this path for the next two miles or so, when you should notice some
rather distinctive stones on your left. Watch out for a footpath heading
North at NZ647177 (approx), just past where a broad service track meets
the previous footpath. Head North for half a mile or so to visit Hob on
the Hill.
Return to the footpath to Commondale, which is well marked and relatively
easy to follow.
From Commondale, leave by the paved footpath that heads East-North-East
until you meet the minor road.
Here a footpath is indicated to the right of a small plantation. Take
this footpath and follow it to the right of the plantation to meet Smeathorns
Road on Moorsholme Moor.
At this point, take the clearly marked footpath North West across Stnaghow
Moor to Birk Brow via the Quaker's Causeway.