The Grey Panthers

11.9 miles.

Explorer Map No OL26, - North York Moors (Western Area)

Although the walk described is relatively lengthy, it can be shortened by a mile or so if required.
There is one steepish ascent (the Ingleby Incline), and the walk ends with a plod up the road to the Clay Bank car park. But apart from these two ascents, the rest of the walk is generally level.
There is a descent to Bank Foot using a footpath which is rather steep and slippery, but this can be avoided easily by keeping to the track.
Navigation is very straightforward.
There are some superb views to be had, and therefore the walk is recommended for a clear day. However, the walk can be made at any time of the year.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now availabe which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!

Start from the Clay Bank car park (NZ57088 03480) on the road between Stokesley and Helmsley.
Head South along the Stokesley - Helmsley road for about 200 yards. On your left, there is an entrance to a Forestry Plantation track.
Follow this track through the Greenhow Plantation all the way until the track drops down to the valley floor.
Cross over the Ingleby Beck and continue along the Forestry track until you come to the foot of the Ingleby Incline.
Ascend the Ingleby Incline to the Incline Top, then continue along the track bed to Bloworth Crossing.
You can shorten the walk by a mile or so by taking the footpath from the Incline Top to the Cleveland Way footpath (see map).
At the Blowrth Crossing, turn left to follow the Cleveland Way footpath Northwards for the nextthree miles or so.
The Cleveland Way footpath leaves the stony track at a gate on Tidy Brown Hill. Do NOT turn right here, but continue ahead along the track, which now starts a gradual descent.
After about half a mile, the track makes a sharp left turn and starts descending quite steeply.
Where the track enters the plantation, there is a footpath that takes you to Bank Foot. This is quite steep and slippery, and you may decide to simply continue along the track, - bit end up at the same place.
At Bank Foot, go past the farm and continue until you come to the track on your left.
Turn left and follow the track (part of the Incline) until you see a footpath indicated on your right.
Follow this field footpath to Ingleby Manor, and through Ingleby Plantation to a small farm.
Past this farm, take the footpath on your left across fields to Low Farm.
At Low Farm, follow the road for a short distance towards Wood's Farm, and just before Wood's Farm take the field footpath on your right to West Wood Farm.
Past West Wood Farm, turn left and follow the road back to Clay Bank car park.