9.07 miles
Explorer Map No 302 (Northallerton & Thirsk) & Outdoor Leisure Maps OL26 (North York Moors Western Area)
A walk in some very pleasant countryside, visiting several of
the churches in the Hillside Parishes near Leake.
Although the walk is fairly straightforward in respect of the
route, there were several significant difficulties.
The difficulties lay with the poor standard of maintenance of
the footpaths in the area, - very poor signs, hidden stiles, broken
stiles, broken gates.... you name it. Some of the stiles and gates
required quite an effort to get over.
It is absolutely essential to carry the 1 : 25,000 maps with you,
as some of the route needs checking as regards field patterns,
- waymarks not being present.
A walk possibly for the more experienced.
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!!
Park by St. Mary's Church, Leake (NZ44629 22753). -
plenyt of space outside the churchyard.
In the churchyard, due North of the church, is a gap in the wall.
Exit through the gap, and with the fence on your left take a bearing
of about 10 degrees across the field to the footbridge over the small
beck. Continue almost due Northwards, and at the next field corner
head across the field at a bearing of about 45 degrees. Climb over
the right hand gate and then keep the hedge on your left for the next
field. At the field exit, turn left and head for the gate that opens
into Leake Lane.
Here turn left, and after afew yards take the signposted footpath
in a North Eastrely direction to Longlands Farm and Over Silton.
As footpath waymarks are noticeable by their absence on this section,
check your route against the 1 : 25,000 map with respect to field
patterns.
In Over Silton, head Eastwards along the road and then take the field
footpath to St. Mary's Church.
Turn South at the Church and follow the field footpath to Nether Silton.
Cross the main strete in Nether Silton, and take the field footpath
South to Kepwick. Again, footpath waymarks are noticeable by their
absence on this section, so check your route against the 1 : 25,000
map with respect to field patterns.
In Keepwick, head West to visit the little chapel.
Alternatively, continue straight ahead (almost due South) to take
the bridleway to Cowesby.
Head West along the road in Cowesby and then turn right up the road
(Peasland Lane). At the T-junction turn left and continue along the
road to Mill Farm.
Past Mill Farm there is a lane on your right with a bridleway to Carley's
Farm. Continue West to Leake Lane.
Continue Westwards along Leake Lane until you come to where the footpath
had first joined it. Now retrace toyr steps to St. Mary's Church,
Leake.