The Grey Panthers

Explorer Map OL27, - North York Moors Eastern Area

Something of a Curate's Egg of a walk. Parts of the walk are stunning as regards scenery, and some of the walk is also highly enjoyable as regards the path followed.
But, whereas the walk starts off with an easy, well-graded footpath after a mile or so this changes to a narrow path that clings to the side of a steep slope and takes you though woodland where is no view.
There is a section where the footpath has been diverted to prevent walkers invading the privacy of the owners of Staindale Lodge. This involves a detour with a steep climb of about 1/2 mile. The detour is NOT shown on older maps, though is shown on sign boards locally.
There are a couple of quite steep climbs, especially the one used to reach the High Bridestones.
Use of a 1 : 25000 map is highly recommended to use on this walk.

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 available 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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from car park run by the North York Moors Park above the Hole of Horcum (SE85261 93717). Fee payable.
From the car park, cross the road to take the footpath overlooking the Hole of Horcum and head Northwards.
Opposite the sharp bend in the road, enter the gate that leads you to the well maintained footpath through the Hole of Horcum, past Low Horcum Farm.
Continue Southwards on this footpath to the Levisham Beck.
From here the footpath is signposted to Levisham, and becomes quite narrow.
Approaching Levisham, you need to both check your map and also take note of finger posts in order to find the footpath to Lockton.
This path takes you down to the road above Lockton Mill. Just past the mill, a footpath rises steeply through woodland to take you to Lockton.
In Lockton, head along the road until you reach the main Whitby-Pickering road.
Cross this road to take the footpath over an agricultural field that heads South. Continue Southwards through woodland.
When you reach the boundary of Staindale Lodge, check the signposts and sign boards which show the footpath diversion to take you round Staindale Lodge.
From Staindale Lodge, take the footpath North Eastwards to Low Standale Farm, then onwards to the Bridestones.
From the Bridestones return to the Hole of Horcum car park using the footpath over Newgate Moor and Old Wife's Way.