11.0 miles.
Explorer Map No OL26 - North York Moors (West)
The route is reasonably starightforward to follow, using
mostly well used footpaths, tracks, and roads. However, there are some
notes of caution;-
1 Crossing Dale Town Common, the path is very faint
and it is absolutely essential to follow a compass bearing for this section
especially if the weather is poor.
2 There had been severe rain water erosion of Stony
Gill Hole, following flooding in July 2005. Descending this gully required
GREAT CARE. You may want to consider following another route down.
3 There was severe flooding in Hawnby in July 2005,
and this may affect other sections of the route.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from Kepwick village Church Hall car park (SE4674890868).
Leave the village along the road to Cowesby, and take the footpath found
soon after on the left. Follow this footpath in a South Easterly direction,
climbing up to Gallows Hill (SE4848889965).
At Gallows Hill, continue ahead into Boltby Forest and follow the footpath
in an Easterly direction through the Forest until you come to the Hambleton
Street (Drover's Road) at SE4952390130. Here, turn right and head in a
South Easterly direction until you see a finger post to Boltby on your
right. On your left there is gate opening on to a footpath across Dale
Town Common (SE5047888995).
Head across Dale Town Common in a North Easterly direction, following
a VERY faint footpath, to the head of Stony Gill Hole at SE5110390205.
After descending the gully of Stony Gill Hole, head East South East to
the woods of Coomb Hill. There is a gate opening onto a footpath through
the woods at SE5222390180.
Follow the footpath through the woods and descend to Church Bridge at
SE5346889875. From here, take the road to Hawnby Church (SE5366889685).
From Hawnby Church, take the road back to Church Bridge and continue along
the road past Arden Hall to ascend up to the Hambleton Street at SE4893891490.
From here, descend to Kepwick along the minor road past Kepwick Hall.