11. 7miles.
Explorer Maps No OL26 & OL27 - North York Moors (East &
West)
A circular walk setting out from Rosedale, where the hiker
has superb views across the valley towards the disused ironstone quarries
and Rosedale Bank. It helps to have clear weather for this, of course.
The route utilises some farm footpaths, and there is a bit of raod walking.
But the majority of the walk is on Forestry Commission tracks which are
well marked. There should be little trouble with navigation.
There are a couple of fairly steep ascents, and one steep descent, but
otherwise there are no significant problems for the walk.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Start from the car park in Rosedale Abbey (SE7246595986).
Walk South East along Alder Carr Lane (the road to Cropton and Pickering)
for a couple of hundred yards, then taken the farm track on the left.
Past the farm building there is a waymarked footpath that takes you to
Grange Farm.
In the farm yard there is a footpath sign on your right, which takes you
between two low walls.
Follow the way mark signs to take the footpath that heads intitially ESE
to join another footpath at SE73420 95512. Now head North West, ascending,
along the footpath to Hancow Road at SE74055 95737.
Cross the road and take the (Forestry Commission) waymark signed footpath
to Duks Ley Farm. (SE7545 96192). CRoss the road here, and take the track
down to the ford at White House Farm.
Take the waymarked footpath from here to the Forestry track on Hartoft
Moor at SE76235 95927. Follow this track approximately South for the next
two or three miles to Spier's House (SE75755 91812), - a Forestry Commission
camp site. (You will need to check your map as you follow the Forestry
trails).
From here, take the Spier's Bank Forestry track to Muffles Bridge.
At Muffles Bridge, take the road SW steeply ascending.
At the T-junction at the summit of this ascent (SE75720 94162) head NNW
along the road towards Rock Wood House, but at SE75545 94602 take the
waymarked Foretry track that eventually takes to to Hancow Road.
Either use Hancow Road itself to return you to SE74055 95737, or use the
waymarked Forestry tracks alongside Hancow Road.
At SE74055 95737, return to Rosedale along the footpaths you set out on.