9.5 miles
Explorer Map OL26 - North York Moors (Western Area)
A walk which takes you to two very attractive dales, both of
which are forested. Riccal Dale also has the River Riccal running
through it.
The two villages visited are both very attractive, - Pockley especially
so with its thatched cottages.
Navigation is very straightforward.
The only part which might present any difficulty is a very steep
climb up a wooded bank at the top end of Riccal Dale.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 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 Point : The street in Helmsley that is the start
of the road to Carlton, - NZ44621 22722. This street is off the main
A170 Helmsley - Scarborough road.
Take the signposted footpath on the right across fields to Reagarth
Farm.
Cross the farmyard and continue of the footpath to the bottom end
of Riccal Dale Wood. Descend to the River Riccal, where there is a
footbridge (However, the river may well be running dry as this is
limestone country).
After crossing the river, head up Intake Lane (a farm track) to Pockley.
After visiting Pockley, head Soth again but this time take the footpath
opposite Low Farm that leads to Riccal Dale.
Descend into Riccal Dale, then follow the forestry track almost due
North for about 2 miles.
You will see a waymarked footpath on your left, that heads steeply
up a bank. Opposite this footpath (to help you identify it) is another
footpath with a memorial bench at its top end).
Once at the top of the bank, turn left onto the forestry track that
takes you to the minor road that leads to Carlton.
Walk South to Carlton.
Just before you reach Carlton is Keld Lane, a farm track that takes
you to Ash Dale.
Follow the forestry track South in Ash Dale back to Helmsley.