The Grey Panthers

8.1 miles

Explorer Map OLS26, - North York Moors (Western Area)

The outward leg of this walk follows Wandels Lane to St. Hilda's Church. From the church the route continues mostly along a lane, but with some of the route across farm land. This involves crossing a wall stile.
The half-way point in the walk is Botton Village, a Camphill Community. The workshops of this Community may be visited, and products bought from their shops.
There are benches by the Community Centre at the heart of the village which we were very glad to use for our picnic lunch.
The return leg of the walk heads Northwards along the Western side of Danby Dale. From the farm of Honey Bee Nest farm tracks and farm footpaths eventually take you up to Castleton Rigg.
However, at all parts of the walk there are some superb views, which well repay the effort of the journey.

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!!

The walk starts from the street in Castleton that leads on to Wandels Lane (NZ689 080). There is very limited parking in Castleton, so please respect the local residents.
Head down Wandels Lane until you come to the footpath that takes you to St. Hilda's Church.
A gate in the churchyard takes you to a footpath that heads Southwards through woodland and then over fields to Gate Way Lane. (The footpath South of St. Hilda's follows an ancient trod.)
Walk down Gate Way lane to the entrance to East Cliff Farm, then follow the field footpath to Botton Farm and Falcon Farm.
From falcon Farm head Westwards to the Botton Village Community Centre.
From the Community Centre take the lane South to dale Head and Honey Bee Farm.
From Honey Bee farm follow the Esk Valley Walk (an easy to follow track) to West Green Farm.
From here take the footpath to Crag House Farm, and continue Northwards until you emerge at Castleton Rigg.
Now head into Castleton and your start point.