9.93 miles.

Explorer Maps OL26, - North York Moors (West Area)

A linear walk that is within easy reach of Teesside, and is suitable for any time of the year.
In Summer tim the walk would be a delight, with the walk beside the River Leven between Great Ayton and Stokesley a highlight. But even in Winter time there is much to enjoy.
Navigation is straightforward, and apart from a modest climb up to the woodland above Kildale (and a modest descent) there are no particular difficulties in the route.

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!!

The start of the walk is from Kildale Station (NZ60475 09544), where there is a small car park with a toilet block.
Head up the road from the station towards Kildale, and take the first left turn down a farm road (that leads to Bankside Farm).
Almost oposite Bankside Farm is a signposted Bridleway, which takes you through Mill Bank Wood.
On leaving the woodland, continue along the footpath with the field wall on your left until you come to a signpost to a footpath that leads down the hill to Borough Green Farm.
Continue on the footpath, then farm road to Low Easby.
Immediately after crossing the River Leven (on the road bridge), take the footpath on your right. Follow this footpath (clearly waymarked along the route) to Great Ayton.
In Great Ayton, head West along the road through the village, cross the main road, and continue Westwards on Yarm Lane.
Fairly soon after passing the last lot of houses in Yarm Lane, there is a field footpath that bheads South Westwards to basically follow the River Leven.
When you come to the Flood Diversion Channel, turn sharp left. Cross the main road, and continue until you come to a minor road.
Cross this road and continue Westwards for about 200 yards (crossing an industrial estate roadway en route). On your left, slightly hidden down a bank is a waymarked footpath. Follow the waymarks on this footpath as you meander round the boutskirts of the industrial estate.
Eventually you emerge on the road between Kirby and Stokesley. Turn right and continue into Stokesley itself.