11.2 miles.
Explorer Maps OL26, - North York Moors (Western Area) &
Explorer Map 300 (Howardian Hills)
A pleasant walk that takes in the two villages of Coxwold
and Ampleforth, passing by Bylands Abbey.
The first part of the walk makes extensive use of field footpaths, and
in parts requires the walker to check the field patterns on the map.
There are also many stiles to cross on the first part of the walk.
The second part of the walk involves a short stretch of a field footpath,
with the bulk of the route using the Colley Broach Road, - a narrow
farm track.
There were some quite muddy sections on the route, especially one stretch
South of Ampleforth where the footpath shares a track that is used by
cows in getting from one field to another.
The gradients are all fairly gentle on the walk, and there are some
superb views to be had on a sunny day.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Park in the village car park in Coxwold, SE53628 77805.
Head West up the main street in Coxwold. Past Shandy Hall (on your right)
a footpath sign takes you initially almost due North across a field.
Turn left at the hedgeline, and at the next gap in the hedgeline, take
the footpath almost due North again. At the enxt field, turn right and
follow the hedgeline for the next two fields until you come to a gate
leading to some overgrown land. Here take the marked footpath to South
of Cam's Head Farm, then head almost due East to Bylands Abbey.
Passing the Abbey ruins on the road, there is a footpath reached by
a stile in a gap in the hedge.
Follow this marked footpath in a Southerly direction until you come
to some ruins at SE553 782. Here turn left to follow the marked footpath
to Wass Grange Farm, and from there to the road at Carr Lane.
Walk Eastwards along the road (CARE, traffic) into Ampleforth.
There is a footpath heading South at SE579 786 which you may care to
take. Alternatively, continue along Ampleforth's main street until you
come to the street that leads South past St. Hilda's Church. The Church
is well worth a visit.
At the bottom of the above street, where there is a sharp right hand
bend, continue South along the footpath (passing playing fields on your
left).
Follow the footpath all the way to the farm track found just before
the fish ponds.
Here, turn right to Redcar House Farm.
To the right of the farm, a field footpath takes you Westwards to the
minor road at SE577 764. This field footpath was quite uneven and muddy
at the time of use.
When you reachthe minor road, you can either continue straight ahead
along the Colley Braich Road, - a farm track that leads all the way
back to Coxwold.
Alternatively, head Northwards along the minor road to Thorpe Hall Open
Farm, where vintage farm machinery can be viewed, to then take the footpath
to rejoin the Colley Broach Road.