9.33 miles
Explorer Map OL26, - North York Moors, Western Area.
The walk as described is one that is very much for fit and experienced
walkers.
This is because the top end of Flassen Dale passes through a deep
and narrow valley which is heavily overgrown. The footpath effectively
follows a stream bed, and is quite difficult to walk along in
parts. This is because there is plenty of vegetation in the way,
with overhanging branches, and a lot of rocks to step over.
The rest of the walk presents few difficulties, though the path
into Low Gill from Old Bylands proved to be steep and slippery
in the conditions experienced.
Flassen Dale is a heavily wooded valley, used for pheasant shooting.
It is probably best seen in either Spring or Autumn, though was
enjoyable in the conditions experienced on the described walk.
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the
above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)
Some new mapping software is now available which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers website, - just use QUO!!
Start from Scawton village, opposite the church (SE54857
83569). Scawton is a VERY small village, and there is only space for
about two cars at the spot mentioned.
Immediately by the space (by a large beech tree with a seat round
it), the footpath to Flassen dale is marked.
Follow the footpath signs which take you to the woods above Flassen
Dale, and then steeply down into the valley itself.
Once in Flassen Dale, turn left. Start along the Forestry track and
then continue in a South Westerly direction along an increasingly
narrow and overgrown track.
This track follows a stream bed, and there may well be times when
it becomes impassable.
The track finally emerges on a section of roadway which carries part
of the Cleveland Way footpath. Here turn right and follow the well
marked Cleveland Way footpath to Cold Kirby village.
In the village, continue along the main street and through the farmyard
of East Farm.
Follow the footpath waymarks from east Farm to the road that runs
from Cold Kirby to Old Byland.
Continue along the road to Old Byland.
Here take the footpath (through the farm gate) that leads down to
Low Gill.
The path is quite steep and can be slippery before it reaches the
valley floor.
At the end of the valley is a farm road. Here turn sharp right to
climb up to Reins Farm.
Through the farmyard, a waymark shows the path to the ponds down in
Nettle Dale.
From the ponds, initially follow the Cleveland Way footpath (on broad
forestry tracks) in the direction of Cold Kirby. Where the Cleveland
Way branches off in Flassen Dale, continue straight ahead to return
to the point where you first descended into Flassen Dale.
Retrace your steps to Scawton.