The Grey Panthers

A section of the Swale Way that covers flat agricultural land between Helperby and Thrisk.
Although the ground is flat and there are no gradients, there is a significant amount of road walking. On some stretches of road there was quite a bit of traffic which rather took the edge off things.
We also found that in a couple of sections the footpath was not waymarked or signposted, and was heavily overgrown, - the section by Sowerby Parks Farm especially so.
The village of Helperby, together with Sowerby and Thirsk, are well worth exploring and make this an enjoyable walk.

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 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 Helperby village (SE42923 82280).
Head North along the road to Cundall until you come to Thornton Bridge. This road can be surprisingly busy, so care is needed.
At Thornton Bridge, a footpath on the right (before you cross the River Swale) takes you to Fawdington Road Lane, - a quiet road that leads to Fawdington Farm.
Continue Northwards on the farm track to Mount Bridge (a small crossing of the Crakehill Beck), turn right on the farm lane, then almost immediately turn left to continue Northwards on a footpath to Dalton.
When you reach Dalton, turn right to meet the main road.
You may want to continue in an Eastwards direction to visit St. John's Church.
IN Dalton, continue Northwards to Willow Bridge Lane. Pass under the main East Coast railway line and continue along the road to pass a pig farm at Westholme.
The footpath Northwards to Sowerby Parks crosses a wheat field and is NOT marked.
After crossing a small stream, the unmarked / unsigned footpath follows a fence line and then hedge line with the fence / hedge on the left.
With the hedge on the left, and a field of maize on the right, the footpath is VERY overgrown and somewhat hidden.
At the end of the field of maize, the footpath turns right on a clear broad path, which then becomes the farm track to Sowerby Parks / Ivy Cottage.
The remaining route to Sowerby and Thirsk is quite clear.