10.6 miles.
Explorer Map No OL27 - North York Moors (Eastern Area)
Choose a sunny day and this is a superb moorland walk.
There are superb moorland views to be had, and visiting the Lilla Cross
is highly worthwhile.
There are no especially steep gradients, and navigation is relatively
straightforward.
The footpath between the Eller Beck Bridge and the Lilla Cross was a
bit tricky at times, involving crossing the Little Eller Beck on at
least one occasion. AS the beck was running very high, following extreme
wet weather, this proved to be fairly tricky. However, if you do the
walk in dry conditions, you should have no problem.
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 North York Moors car park in Goathland
(NZ83348 01347).
Turn left from the road leading from this car park, heading towards
the "Aidensfield Garage" on your left.
Almost opposite the garage is a broad track (which used to be the original
railway track bed) which takes you all the way to Moorgates.
At Moorgates, turn left onto the minor road. Vontinue along this road
in a South Easterly direction for about 1/2 mile, until you come to
the main Whitby - Pickering troad. Turn right here, towards Eller Beck
Bridge.
THis road can be extremely busy, so care is needed.
Cross the Eller Beck Bridge, and then cross the road.
Go through the gates onto an MOD signed track, which soon becomes a
fairly indistinct footpath that follows the Little Eller Beck.
Head East along this footpath. After a couple of miles, the footpath
merges into a broad track. Where the track meets another track, continue
straight ahead using the moorland footpath that takes you to the Lilla
Cross.
From the Lilla Cross, head North along the shooters' track to Louven
Howe. From here, take the shooters' track North Westwards past Ann's
Cross to York Cross Rigg. From here continue along the shooters' track
that follows the Whinstone Ridge all the way to the main Whitby - Pickering
road.
Cross this road, and continue along the track for a short distance until
you come to the minor road that lead towards Goathland. Here turn left
and follow the road downhill for about a mile, until you see a footpath
sign on your right.
Here, there is a footpath that heads across the moorland, downhill to
Goathland.