Walks in Swainby
From easy city strolls to challenging trails, discover the best of Swainby on foot.
Walk: High Moors over Osmotherley
Head on to the moors above Osmotherley for an excellent walk with extensive views. Return along the Cleveland Way on the escarpment overlooking the Vale of York. The Route what3words reference point: ///finer.stubborn.losses Start Point: Osmotherley, Hambleton, North Yorkshire Finish Point: Osmotherley, Hambleton, North Yorkshire Distance: 10 Miles GPX Route Map osmotherleymoorlandwalkDownload Walk Description Leave Osmotherley to the south and climb steadily up to the moors. The path passes the reservoirs of Jenny Brewster, hidden in some attractive woodland. Cross the moors for 3 miles, the main feature being a shooting hut which is a good spot to enjoy your picnic! On arrival at the edge of the moors the path turns west and follows a good track in the forest. Cross a moorland road at Scarth Nick and continue along the Cleveland Way before arriving back at Osmotherley.
Walk: Cod Beck Reservoir
An easy walk around the Cod Beck Reservoir, just inside the North Yorks Moors, near Osmotherley. The Route What3Words for Start Point: ///photo.perused.painting Start Point: Small car park at the north edge of the reservoir, DL6 3AL Finish Point: DL6 3AL Distance: 2 Miles GPX Route Map walkshirecodbeckreservoirDownload Walk Description Make your way to the smaller car park, which is south of the main car park and closer to the reservoir’s boundary fence. From this car park, look for the path which runs alongside the road, and head towards the green gate. Go through the gate and follow the path in front of you for the whole length of the reservoir. The end of the reservoir, turn left onto the embankment and walk across. At the other end of the embankment, turn left in front of the wood to follow the path alongside the reservoir back round, with the water on your left. Just before the end of the reservoir, the path enters a woodland and bends to the left down towards a bridge. Cross the bridge and head through the green gate straight in front of you. Follow the path back to the small car park.
Walk: Lyke Wake Walk
The Lyke Wake Walk is a challenging long-distance path in North Yorkshire, England, spanning approximately 40 miles (64 km) across the North York Moors National Park. The route traditionally begins near Osmotherley on the western edge of the moors and ends at the coastal town of Ravenscar on the eastern side. The Route what3words for start point: ///tilting.gladiator.march Start Point: Quarry Ln, Osmotherley, Northallerton DL6 3AL Finish Point: Ravenscar Distance: 40 miles GPX Route Map lykewakewalkDownload Walk Description The trail, established in 1955 by local farmer Bill Cowley, is named after the "Lyke Wake Dirge," a 14th-century funeral song. The dirge reflects on the soul's journey from Earth to the afterlife, a metaphor fitting for the traverse across the stark, expansive moorland. The walk is marked by diverse terrains, starting with the rolling hills near Osmotherley. It then ascends to the high, flat moorland plateau, characterized by peat bogs and heather expanses, offering panoramic views across the moors. The path crosses several forested areas and passes near or through notable landmarks such as the Wainstones, a distinctive rock formation, and the Lion Inn on Blakey Ridge, one of the highest public houses in England. As walkers approach the eastern edge of the moors, the terrain descends through more wooded areas before reaching the dramatic cliffs above Ravenscar, looking out over the North Sea. The route is renowned not only for its natural beauty but also for its historical and archaeological significance, featuring ancient standing stones and burial mounds. Completing the Lyke Wake Walk within 24 hours is a popular challenge among hikers, often undertaken as part of a group. Those who accomplish this feat are humorously referred to as "Dirgers" in homage to the walk’s funereal namesake.