10.5 miles.
Outdoor Leisure Maps OL26 & OL27, - North York Moors Western
& Eastern Areas.
(The distance for this walk should be about 9.5 miles,
but a few devations made the distance up to 10.5 miles)
If you have a fine day with good visibility, the scenery of this walk
is unbeatable. There are magnificent views of Esk Dale, Little Fryup
Dale, and Great Fryup Dale. The final leg down the Clitherbeck valley
is absolutely perfect.
There are few navigational difficulties with this walk, providing you
follow the map and the many waymarks and finger posts. All of the footpaths
are clear to follow.
There are some steep ascents and descents. There is a steep descent
into Little Fryup Dale, and a steep climb up from Houlsyke to Danby
Beacon.
All in all, though, the walk is highly rewarding.
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 Danby Moors Centre car park (NZ71789 08321).
Note that a fee is payable.
Take the signposted footpath opposite the car park that takes you in
a South Westwards direction over fields and the railway line to Easton
Lane.
Turn right in the lane, and walk past Kadelands House, where there is
a waymarked footpath on your left. Follow the waymarks to take the footpath
in a South Westerly direction to Low Coombs Farm. Continue on the farm
track, uphill, in a South Westerly direction until you come to a moorland
track. Here, turn left and continue in a Southerly direction until you
come to a waymark.
At the waymark, a narrow footpath heads East, - away from the track,
over the moors.
Continue until you reach a stone wall, where there is then a steep descent
into Little Fryup Dale and Crossley Gate Farm.
Turn right at the road, and a few yards along take the signposted footpath
to Forester's Lodge Farm. Make sure that you follow the waymarks.
Past Forester's Lodge Farm, follow the farm track North Eastwards past
four fields. In the fifth field, about 3/4 of the way along, there is
a footpath heading East up the slope. This footpath ISN'T waymarked,
so you need to watch out for it.
The footpath ascends fairly steeply through Crag Woods to a footpath
that takes you along Danby Crag.
Continue to Head House Farm, where you then drop down to the road just
West of Furnace Farm.
Take the road to Furnace Farm, and turn left at the junction to follow
the road past three fields. Take the signposted footpath North, across
the railway line, to another road where you turn left to walk into Houlsyke.
In Houlsyke take the first road on your right which leads steeply uphill
past the entrance to Hollins Farm. When you reach the minor road at
the top of the hill, continue straight ahead on the farm track to reach
Danby Beacon.
From Danby Beacon, follow the road North Westwards for about 2 miles,
until you come to where the Panierman's Causeway footpath (signposted)
crosses the road.
Take the left path to Clitherbeck Farm.
At Clitherbeck Farm, take the track Eastwards until you come to the
footpath that leads you down the Clitherbeck valley.
Continue Southwars all the way back to the Moors Centre.