12.5 miles.
Explorer Map OL26, - North York Moors Western Area
The walk starts out from Chop Gate, and involves a circular
walk round Bilsdale East Moor, returning through farm paths and tracks
in Bilsdale.
Although much of the walk uses Grouse Shooting tracks, which are well
defined, one section of the walk is across the moor itself where the
paths are NOT well defined. It is essential to have map reading and
navigational skills for this section.
Some of the farm tracks and paths are VERY muddy in wet weather, and
navigation using a map and field pattern recognition is required.
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 Chop Gate car park. (SE5589499332).
Walk down the B1257 to Helmsley for a short distance (CARE, - traffic!)
until you come to the track leading to William Beck Farm on your left.
Follow the track (waymarked) East towards Tripsdale.
Just past the gated wall on to the moor, follow the shooter's track
to Tripsdale, rather than the footpath.
Continue along the shooter's track, across Tripsdale, all the way to
Stump Cross at SE6063698178.
Here, follow the shooter's track South until you meet a minor road.
(SE6096696251).
Here, take the footpath (marked by a cairn) South East. The path descends
to cross a small beck (SE6029095469), and at this point the footpath
becomes very indistinct. It is essential to use you map and compass
to continue on the footpath as it crosses the moor.
You eventually leave the moor at a gated wall at SE5834794565 and descend
West into Bilsdale. Follow the footpath signs.
By High Crossett Farm, follow the footpath North East to High Bracken
Hill Farm. Again, use of the map and field recognition is required.
From High Bracken Hill Farm follow fram tracks North to Sheepwash (SE583972).
Immediately turn left to follow the footpath to Hill End Farm (SE5763296880).
You can either continue at this point along farm footpaths to reach
the William Beck Farm, or return to the B1257 for a quicker journey
back to Chop Gate (though, again, CARE, - traffic!).