The Grey Panthers

The walk described is one which the North York Moors National Park has included in its "Breath of Fresh Air" Guided Walk programme in 2019.
The walk is graded as a Level 4 walk for "suitably experienced walkers only and requiring a good level of fitness".
The walk crosses open moorland, and part of the walk follows the infant River Esk in a valley which includes a very uneven (and wet in places) footpath.

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 the Westerdale Village Hall (NZ664 058). Although there are parking spaces here, if the Village Hall is being used this space may not be available and you will have to park in the main street opposite the Church.
Take the footpath (somewhat hidden) that is to the right of the Village Hall.
This footpath is somewhat overgrown and passes through areas of bracken. This may cause problem in the Summer, when the bracken is growing.
At the end of the footpath, join the minor (farm access) road and follow this to its end. Here there is a narrow track on your left that leads to a ford.
Cross the ford then take the track / footpath in a South South-Easterly direction.
This footpath (the Esk Valley Walk) then enters an area where the path crosses moorland above the infant River Esk. The path can be quite narrow and not totally straightforward, and crosses wet and boggy ground in a few places.
Eventually, after crossing a footbridge the Esk Valley Walk emerges (through a field wall) in relatively open country.
Here there is a track, - easy to follow, which takes you up to Farndale Moor and the trackbed of a disused railway line.
Turn left, and follow the railway line for about 200 yards, where a small sign shows that there is a moorland path.
Take this path in an Easterly / North Easterly direction until you come to the Blakey Ridge at the Margery Bradley stone (a distinctive boundary marker stone).
Head up Blakey Ridge until you come to the Young Ralph Cross near a road junction (NZ677 020). A short detour to the West brings you to the Old Ralph Cross.
Return to the Young Ralph Cross then take the short footpath to the road that leads down into Rosedale. Follow this road until you come to the White CRoss ("Fat Betty").
Now take the footpath to Castleton Rigg, and follow the road along the Rigg until you come to the footpath that takes you down to Dale Head Farm.
From the farm take the farm road to Broad Gate Farm and continue along the road to the village of Westerdale.