The Grey Panthers

A walk with virtually no gradients. The only moderate gradient is on the hill coming out of Oswaldkirk.
Much of the route uses field footpaths, which in wet weather could be very muddy. This will be especially so if the River Rye is in flood or has been in flood, when the walk is not recommended.
There are two sections which involve road walking, and the usual care needs to be taken here.
Otherwise, if the weather is fine this is a very enjoyable country walk, with plenty of views to be taken in.
The half-way point is the village of Oswaldkirk, where a visit to the church is recommended.

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 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 web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from long stay car park in Helmsley, - SE61089 83776 (fee payable).
Head Southwards towards the bridge over the River Rye, which is crossed by the main A170 road.
Take the street before the bridge, Ryegate, and continue to Sawmill Lane.
Head down this lane until you come to where the Ebor Way footpath is indicated by a finger post. Do not take this footpath, but instead take the footpath that is waymarked straight ahead.
Follow this footpath until it meets the old railway track, but at this point continue on the footpath to the left of the track rather than on the track itself.
When you come to the old railway bridge, turn left and follow the field footpath to the Helmsley - Harome road.
Continue of this road until you come to the bridge over a small beck. On your right is a field footpath which takes you to Mill Lane in Harome.
Head South down Mill Street and continue Southwards along Hall Lane, past Harome Sidings.
Follow the footpath after leaving the track until you come to a footbridge over the River Rye.
Cross the footbridge and follow the footpath to Lack Lane.
Continue along Lack Lane until you meet the road at Newton Gate. Follow the road until you meet the main B1257 road. Here turn right and continue until you see the footpath to Oswaldkirk.
Head down into Oswaldkirk.
From Oswaldkirk, head up the bank to meet the B1257 road. (Walking up this bank needs care, due to traffic, and you may care to use nearby footpaths to take you away from the traffic.)
From the B1257, head North along the clearly marked Ebor Way.
Follow the Ebor Way all the way back to Helmsley. The Ebor Way is well marked, and providing you follow the marks and check your map every now and again the return is very straightforward.