Walks in Old Byland
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Old Byland on foot.
Walk: Hawnby, Dale Town Common and Hawnby Hill
Hawnby, Gower Dale, Dale Town Common, Arden Hall and Hawnby Hill. The Route what3words for start point: ///donates.trustees.stowing Start / Finish Point: Hawnby, Ryedale Distance: 6.5 Miles GPX Route Map hawnby-dale-town-common-hawnby-hillDownload Walk Description Hawnby lies hidden amongst the hills of upper Ryedale, a cluster of red pantile roofs built at the top and also the foot of a steep hill. This walk heads up Sunny Bank, high above Gower Dale, to reach Dale Town Common. There are fine views from Sunny Bank across the deep wooded side-valleys of Rye Dale with the heather moorland of the central moors stretching away into the distance. The distinctive hills that shelter Hawnby (including Hawnby Hill) form part of the Tabular Hills, an extensive range of predominantly limestone hills dissected by deep valleys that run along the southern boundary of the North York Moors. Sunny bank boasts a number of Bronze Age burial mounds as well as a defensive ditch known as Cross Dyke that runs alongside the wall just beyond High Buildings. To the north of Dale Town Common, our route heads down into the deep wooded valley of Thorodale, where you will find Arden Hall. This beautifully proportioned three-storey building dates from the 17th Century, although it stands on the site of a 12th Century Benedictine nunnery. It was never a prosperous nunnery with limited lands farmed directly from Arden, unlike neighbouring Rievaulx Abbey whose extensive lands were controlled through a system of granges. After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the nunnery’s lands came into the ownership of the Tancred family until 1897 when it was bought by the 6th Earl of Mexborough. Beyond Arden Hall, our route heads down to the River Rye, which is set in a beautiful valley cloaked in primeval oak woodland. These oak woods once covered much of the North York Moors before people began to clear the forests for agriculture. Fortunately the steep slopes have prevented total clearance and these trees now stand as some of the last surviving examples of ancient woodland in the North York Moors.
Walk: Gormire Lake and Garbutt Wood
A great walk with a stunning view from the top of Sutton Bank, near Thirsk, walking part way along the epic Cleveland Way. The Route What3Words for Start point: ///bonus.tree.incorrect Start Point: Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Sutton Bank, Thirsk, YO7 2EH Finish Point: Sutton Bank National Park Centre, Sutton Bank, Thirsk, YO7 2EH Distance: 4 Miles GPX Route Map walkshiregormirelakeandgarbuttwoodDownload Walk Description With the Sutton Bank National Park Centre in front of you, head to the right side of the building and follow the path to the first crossroads of paths. Turn right here to bring you to the road. Cross over and take the path straight ahead of you. Then turn left at the next junction and follow this windy path to meet the Cleveland Way National Trail. Turn right and follow the Cleveland Way, ignoring all paths off, all the way along the top edge of Sutton Brow. The path enters a wood, turns steadily right, and then turns sharp right - this is now the Garbutt Wood Nature Reserve. When it emerges from the wood, the path passes a gallop on the right and then turns sharply right. Just after the right turn is a wonderful view of the area - and then look for a sign for Thirlby Bank on the left. Take this bridleway all the way down the side of the hill inside the wood, around two hairpin turns. Just as you reach the edge of the wood, take the second turn on the left, and then veer to the left at the fork - to reach Gormire Lake, a Site of Special Scientific Interest. The lake is a natural lowland lake that lies at the foot of Whitestone Cliff. It has has no inflow or major outflow of water. It is thought to be fed by an underground spring and drained by a limestone channel - the water finds a way out through the base of the cliff face to the east of the lake. Gormire Lake is the fourth largest of the natural lakes in Yorkshire (the other three being Hornsea Mere, Malham Tarn and Semerwater). There are several legends attached to the lake, including a knight, Sir Harry Scriven, riding a white mare belonging to the Abbot of Rievaulx Abbey into the lake after being startled by the devil. Turn to the right, and follow the edge of the lake all the way around, to almost meet up with the way you came in, but instead, take the footpath to the right to walk through Garbutt Wood to re-join the Cleveland Way. Turn right and follow the Cleveland Way, crossing the access road for the National Park Centre and heading to the left to return to the car park. For accommodation and meal reservations, see the Thirsk pages.
Walk: Rievaulx Abbey, Cold Kirby and Old Byland
The magnificent ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, wooded valleys and historic churches. The Route what3words for start point: ///crescendo.finders.charging Start Point: Rievaulx Bank, Rievaulx, Helmsley, York YO62 5LB Finish Point: Rievaulx Abbey Distance: 9 Miles GPX Route Map rievaulxabbeyDownload Walk Description Rievaulx Abbey is an architectural masterpiece set in stone, with soaring pillars, walls and windows. The impressive ruins have a romantic setting in the wooded valley of Ryedale, from which the abbey is named. Its history stretches back to 1132 when twelve monks came from Clairvaux in France to establish the first Cistercian abbey in the North. They had been given 1,000 acres of waste land by Walter Espec of Helmsley Castle, which met their requirements exactly as theirs was an Order of poverty and simplicity. Their land holdings soon increased as Norman lords sought favour with the monks and, they hoped, a passage into Heaven. It was during the mid 12th Century that the abbey prospered and when most of the major building work took place, with Rievaulx becoming the largest monastic establishment in England with 140 choir monks and over 500 lay brothers. By the early 13th Century Rievaulx Abbey had acquired several thousand acres of land predominantly in the North York Moors but also across the North of England on which they developed sheep farming. The fortunes of the abbey turned for the worse during the 13th Century due to poor wool prices as well as debts accrued due to land purchases and construction work. This was compounded in the 14th Century when Scottish raids became more frequent. When the abbey was suppressed in 1538 on the orders of Henry VIII there were only 22 monks left. From Rievaulx Abbey, our route heads south to reach the historic Rievaulx Bridge, built in the 13th Century by the monks. The beautiful wooded valleys of Nettle Dale and Flassen Dale lead to the village of Cold Kirby. The layout of this linear village has changed little since medieval times with cottages and farms lining the single street. St Michael’s Church dates from the 12th Century, although almost completely rebuilt in 1841, and was originally ministered by the Order of Knights Templars. Not far from Old Byland stands Tylas Farm where the monks of Byland Abbey first settled in the early 12th Century, having fled their previous home at Calder (Cumbria) due to Scottish raids. However, this new home was not suitable as they could hear the bells of Rievaulx a few miles down the valley so after four years they moved to Oldstead and then finally settled at Byland Abbey, where they built their magnificent abbey. Book Rievaulx Abbey tickets The abbey itself is managed by English Heritage and tickets can be booked online here. Book tickets
Walk: Boltby Forest
Discover the enchanting Boltby Forest, a primarily coniferous woodland on the western edge of the North York Moors. This scenic area is a favourite among cyclists and walkers alike, offering a delightful escape into nature. Access the area easily from the Sneck Yate car park and enjoy all that this beautiful part of Yorkshire has to offer. Route Start Point: what3words for start point: ///bigger.stood.analogy Distance: 5 miles Start Location Name: Sneck Yate car park, Cleveland Rd, Thirsk YO7 2HP Finish Location: Sneck Yate car park OS Route Map & GPX File boltby-circular-through-forestDownload Description Starting at the Sneck Yate car park, head along the road to Boltby and turn right to pick up the Cleveland Way. Turn off at Low Paradise Farm to drop into Boltby. Turn right after the church up a road which turns into a track. Follow through Gurtof Wood to the edge of the plantation, then skirt around Whindygill Ridge to Gallow Hill and take right along the track to Steeple Cross. Amble down Hambleton Road to the car park.