9.0 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Map OL26 - North York Moors (Western Area)
This walk offers some superb views of Danby Dale, Castleton,
and Little Fryup Dale amongst others.
However, the walk turned out to be surprisingly tough in sections, in
that there were at least two parts where the footpath is barely discernable
(if at all) and the way ahead is over tussock grass or heather.
For this reason, it is recommended that the walk only be undertaken
if you are familiar with using a map and compass, or, better still,
have a satellite navigator to hand.
About 80% of the walk is over well defined tracks or roads, and there
are no navigational difficulties on these sections. But the paths across
open moorland may require a bit of experience on the part of the walker.
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 the car park by Scaling Dam Reservoir
(NZ740126).
Leave the car park and head for the main Guisborough-Whitby road (A171)
and head West along the road towards Waupley Bridge. (NB THis road is
usually very busy, with fast moving traffic, so walk on the verge facing
the oncoming traffic).
Just past the farm building, where there is a junction with the minor
road from Easington, the footpath to Danby is signposted on the other
side of the road.
THis section of the footpath is barely discernable, if at all, and is
over very rough ground. You need to set a bearing of about 210 degrees,
to head for where the footpath crosses another at NZ722116. At this crossing,
there are two marker stones, - one tall one and one small one, both of
which have faint inscriptions on them.
Continue on approximately the same bearing to the Pannierman's Causeway,
- an ancient paved trod. Just before the causeway there is another marker
stone, with a very faint "Castleton" on one face, and "BY
WHIT" (Whitby) on another.
Continue along what is now an easily followed footpath to the road bridge
over the Black Beck.
After crossing the Black Beck, immediately turn left to follow the clear
footpath into Danby.
Where the footpath meets Lodge Lane (a minor road), turn left and walk
along the road to the Moors Centre.
From the Moors Centre, continue along the road, past the car park, until
you come to a footpath sign on your left at NZ719081. Here take the footpath
to Park House Farm, until you come to the minor road.
Take the farm track North up Oakley Side until you come to another minor
road. CRoss the road and continue along the minor road that leads you
to Danby Beacon.
At Danby Beacon, head Eastwards along the broad shooter's track to the
footpath at NZ743093.
Here head northwards along a well defined moorland track.
The footpath to Scaling Dam Reservoir leaves this well defined path at
NZ746113.
However, this next section of the path is not discernable at all, and
you will need to cross rough heather covered ground using your bearings
only (about 330 degrees). At one point the path crosses a ditch, followed
by a raised dyke, and this needs to be watched out for.
Eventually the path leads you to a well built and well maintained footbridge
over the Boghouse Beck.
From this point on there is a well defined and easy to follow path back
to the Scaling Dam Reservoir car park.