11.4 miles.
Explorer Map OL26, - North York Moors (Western Area)
The first six or seven miles of this walk is very straightfoward,
using clearly defined tracks across Urra Moor and Slape Wath Moor.
From Slape Wath Moor the path then descends down Tripsdale (there is
an "escape route" at this point where you can return to Tripsdale
along shooters' tracks).
The footpath down Tripsdale is very faint, and goes over uneven ground.
In summer time, it would be extremely difficult to follow when the bracken
has grown. In winter, though, the track can be seen reasonably clearly.
From the Southern end of Tripsdale, the path follows field lanes and
footpaths along the Eastern flank of Bilsdale to return to the car park
at Chop Gate.
IMPORTANT NOTE : There may be a problem with the Public
Right of Way crossing the Tripsdale Beck. Please read the comments at
the bottom of this page in that respect.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from the village hall car park in Chop Gate (SE558
992).
Head along the road Northwards through Chop Gate until you come to the
minor road on your right at Seave Green. From here, go along this road
to Bilsdale Hall.
At Bilsdale Hall, go through the gate on your right onto the track,
and follow the track, and then footpath, up to Med Crag on Urra Moor.
From here, follow the shooters' track to Round Hill.
From Round Hill, follow the shooters' track (the Cleveland Way footpath)
Eastwards to Cockayne Head (NZ602 014).
Here, take the shooters' track South Eastwards until you come to a "cross
roads" (NZ607 006).
Here, turn right and follow the shooters' track to the Badger Stones,
- this group of stones are highly distinctive and are difficult to miss.
Continue along the shooters' track Westwards and then Southwards until
you come to another track on your right at SE603 986. Here turn right
to follow the shooters' track over Slape Wath Moor to Tripsdale.
As you approach Tripsdale, the track descends quite steeply into the
Dale.
At a bend in the roadway there are the remains of a sheep fold, and
at this point there is a faintly discernable footpath that heads Southwards.
This footpath takes you to the Ship Stone at SE582 986.
Continue in a Southerly direction along this footpath, which is quite
faint in parts.
When you come to a wall (in very poor condition), keep the wall on your
left as you head in this Southerly direction and you will shortly find
the path opening up onto a distinctive grassy track.
Continue on this track until you come to the Tarn Hole Beck.
Cross the beck, and then head Westwards on a farm track to Hagg House.
At Hagg House, there is a signposted footpath (across a bridge over
the Tripsdale Beck) that leads you to a lane. This lane heads towards
High End Farm. DO NOT follow the lane down to High End Farm, but continue
on the footpath in a North Westerly direction.
Follow the footpath to Cam House, and from there to High Ellermire Farm
and back to Chop Gate.
PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY CROSSING THE TRIPSDALE BECK.
The following comments were made in the Guest Book, and should be read
in conjunction with the route instructions (above);-
Comment by Hericus Domusalbus (<hericus@tripsdale.co.uk>)
It's worth pointing out that on the walk of 11 March 2009, Chop Gate
and Tripsdale, the stretch in and out of Tarn Hole, crossing Tarn Hole
Beck, is on private land (ie it's a private track, and outside the access
land boundary) so it's best to stay out of sight of the chap at Hagg
House. When you see him waving his stick, it's not a friendly greeting.
The final gate on this stretch, close to the confluence of Tarn Hole
Beck and Tripsdale Beck, is very shaky and held up with twine, so very
great care is needed to avoid damage.
Anyone wishing to avoid the private stretch can head for the Tripsdale
Beck ford at 580979 (the stones can be quite slippery and it's slightly
adventurous in high water conditions).
If anyone using either route diverts to High End Farm, they will find
nearby a short, but very impressive stretch of functioning 18th Century
Joseph Foord water race.
Comment by the Grey Panther in response;-
'Hericus' is correct about the stretch at the bottom of Tripsdale/Tarn
Beck not being a public right of way. Since the ford across Tripsdale
Beck was washed away in June 2005 it has been difficult to stay on the
public right of way as progress depends on the level of water in the
beck. When we did it, if I remember correctly, this was the case so
we had to continue down on the eastern side of the beck & where
it joins with Tarn Beck, we made the crossing. A photograph was taken
at the time of the damaged ford across Tarn Beck.