The Grey Panthers
23 March 2011, - Newgate Bank & Riccal Dale Wood
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10.2 miles

Explorer Map No OL26 - North York Moors Western Area

Choose a fine day and this walk provides some superb views.
The walk is very easy to follow, and is essentially flat all the way. There is just one descent / ascent into a fairly steep ravine, through which a stream bed runs. It is possible that in very wet weather this stream bed will be full and present some difficulty.
But otherwise there are no problems with the walk.

Memory Map
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!!

Quo logo

Park in the Newgate Bank car park, near the observation platform (SE56431 89018).
Walk back towards the main road for a short distance. On your left is a track which takes you all the way along past Helmsley Bank and Clark Bank until you end just above Cowhouse Bank. Here there are some benches which are worth resting on, as they provide somewhere to sit and take in the view.
When you reach the road at Cowhouse Bank, turn left for a few yards then take the track through Riccal Dale Wood.
Follow this track all the way until you come to the minor road from carlton to Cowhouse Bank. Cross the road, and take the track to Carlton Grange Farm.
Follow the waymarked footpath past the farm to Ash Dale Plantation and continue to the minor road at High Baxton's Farm.
Turn left then take the waymarked footpath into Acre Grain Plantation.
Here you need to turn half right and take the path that descends quite steeply into the ravine.
Ascenfd out of the ravine, then take the path Westwards through the plantation.
Although the path is quite clear, it tends to wander about very drunkenly through the plantation.
When the path emerges onto a forestry track, turn right.
Follow the track for about 200 yards, then turn sharp left.
After a short distance, a broad track leads Northwards through the plantation to take you to Rievaulx Moor.
Here, follow the clear track that returns you to Newgate Bank car park.