11.0 miles.

Explorer Map OL26, - North Yoork Moors (Western Area)

A delightful walk that takes in plenty of varied scenery in this Western area of the Vale of Pickering.
The walking is all quite easy, using farm footpaths, farm tracks, forestry tracks, and some road walking.
Apart from in one place, there are no navigational problems. Most of the way, the way marks and sign posts are very clear.
There are some moderately steep inclines in two or three places, but these are well compensated for by the views or woodland walks associated with them.
THis walk can be underatken at any time of the year.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)

Start from a parking area at the Southern end of Station Road in Ampleforth, just by a small Millenium Park (SE58460 78259).
Head North up Station Road, to the East-West road that runs through Ampleforth. Turn left, and after a few yards a footpath North is indicated. Head uphill, along a paved roadway. Where this paved roadway meets a waymarked footpath at the edge of a field, continue uphill, Northwards, using this path.
The footpath takes you past Studfold Ring (and ancient British Hill Fort), towards Pry Rigg Plantation.
When the footpath meets the road, turn right and then after a few yards turn left down the forestry track, heading East North East.
Where the track meets another track at SE590 803, head North up this track.
At SE589 807, take the footpath East North East to Holly Bower Farm. From there, continue along the farm access road to the B1257.
When you meet this road, head uphill for a short distance until you come to Sproxton's Church.
Here, head down the short street through Sproxton itself.
Past Sproxton Hall, the street becomes the Ebor Way footpath. The route to Oswaldkirk is VERY clearly signposted and waymarked.
Continue along the Ebor Way to Oswaldkirk Bank Top, and then cross the B1257 to drop down into Oswaldkirk (CARE, the road is quite narrow at this point, and traffic can be a hazard).
Head West along Oswaldkirk's main street.
At SE617789 a footpath is signposted, heading up into the woods. Take this footpath North to Stockings Lane).
Follow Stockings Lane West for about one mile (CARE, traffic) until you come to the wide lane at SE604 792 that takes you down to Ampleforth College and Abbey.
Where this lane meets the roadway, there is another lane heading uphill, West North West, to Beacon Bank.
At Beacon Bank, head West for a few hundred yards (CARE, traffic) until you come to a small lane at SE591 789.
THis lane appears to be closed at its Western end, but by stepping over the wire fence to yur right you can then join the footpath that heads due West to Ampleforth.
This footpath is quite rough and overgrown at this point, but it IS a footpath.
When you reach the waymarks at SE580 789, take the footpath almost straight ahead of you. There is an initial steep descent through a thicket and woodland, until you join a clearer, waymarked footpath that takes you back to Ampleforth. The end section of this footpath runs through a private garden, - but it IS a footpath.
Finally, cross over the road and take the waymarked footpath to Mill Farm.
When you reach the road at Mill Farm, head Eastwards to reach the parking spot you started out from.