About 8.5 miles.
Explorer Map No OL26 - North York Moors (Western Area)
This walk is a delightful Summer-time walk. The principal
restrictions on the route described is that Duncombe Park is closed
between October and March, and that using the walk through the Parkland
involves payment of a small fee. Officially, also, the Parkland walk
doesn't open until 11.00 a.m.
However, full details on Duncombe Park are available on their website.,
- www.duncombepark.com/index.php
The walk is all on easy tracks, roads, or footpaths, and there are no
navigational difficulties or significant gradients.
The views of Helmsley Castle, the Duncome Park parklands, and Rievaulx
Abbey make this a superb day out.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above
link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Additonally, the map of the footpaths through the Duncombe
Park estate is extremely useful (PDF file).
Start from the main car park in Helmsley (SE61058 83787).
- NOTE : fee to be paid.
Exit the car park by the Tourist Information Centre, and head for the
road that leads to the bridge over the River Rye. However, before you
reach the bridge, you come to the road to Duncombe Park.
Follow the footpaths a son the map, above, to rake you to Griff Lodge
on the Cleveland Way.
From Griff Lodge, follow the signposted Cleveland Way to the road leading
into Rievaulx, and then on to the bridge over the River Rye at Bridge
Cottage (pause to admire the gardens).
Turn right to follow the road to Rievaulx Abbey.
Return by retracing your steps to Griff Lodge, then take the signposted
Cleveland Way footpath all the way back to Helmsley.