11.4 miles
Explorer Map 302, - Northallerton and Thirsk
A very pleasant country walk that makes use of field footpaths
and lanes, with a little bit of road walking.
If the route taken is clockwise, as described, there are no apparent
gradients upwards, htough there is a noticeable descent. The climb
upwards is very gentle, so much so that it is barely noticeable.
And yet, at the highest point of the walk there are stupendous
views all the way to the Cleveland Hills in one direction, and
Leyburn and Wensleydale in the other direction.
Navigation is very straightforward, with just a couple of places
where you need to check the map.
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 availabe 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 the East Witton village green (SE14307 85975).
Take the little lane that is signposted beside the small chapel. This
lane leads to the footpath to Cover Bridge,
Cross the road once you reach Cover Bridge, then take the footpath
that runs beside the River Cover and the River Ure. This takes you
to the A6108 West of Jervaulx Abbey.
Turn left and walk a short distance beside this road until you come
to the footpath that leads to the Abbey.
From the Abbey, follow the track that crosses the parkland until you
come to Kilgram Lane.
Just before Kilgram Grange, a bridleway is signposted heading South
South West. Follow this to Ramshaw Farm, then turn left and follow
the waymarked footpath until this emerges at Appletree House on the
A6108.
Turn right along the A6108 (CARE : traffic) for about 100 yards. On
your left is a farm gate which you will need to climb over. There
is no footpath sign here, but there is a right of way that leads South
South West across farmland to Haregill Farm in High Ellington.
Immediately past the entrance to this farm is a walled lane that heads
West. Waymarks along this bridleway help to keep you on the right
path, but essentially just head Westwards all the way to the village
of Ellingstring.
Take the road through the village of Ellingstring, and where it meets
another minor road turn right.
Where this road bends sharp right, take the track straight ahead to
Moor Cote Farm (take the right hand track where the track splits immediately
before Moor Cote Farm.
From Moor Cote, take the waymarked footpath Westwards through Great
Yaud Plantation towards Hammer Farm.
The footpath is not clear at Hammer Farm, . However, we found a track
to the West of the small plantation near this farm that takes you
all the way to Thirsting Castle Lodge , Waterloo Farm, and then East
Witton.