6 Rosedale Abbey
Pickering, Y018 8RA
North Yorkshire, UK
This is a nice walk which starts-off at the The Lion Inn car park on Blakey Ridge (OS Grid Reference 679 997). The Lion is just a short drive by car up and out of Rosedale Abbey and onto Blakey Ridge.
Set off along the drystone wall towards a standing stone set on a mound on Blakey Howe (or Cockpit Hill) just a few yards north of the Lion Inn.
Cockpit Hill was originally a burial mound of the Neolithic beaker people - but the hollow in the ground is where cock-fights took place in Georgian times (and maybe more recently than that too!).
As you reach the corner of the stone wall, bear to the left (west) and follow the moor path downhill to the disused railway line.
Turn right and follow the railway line for a couple of miles.
The line marks the route of the Rosedale Mines Railway which ran from Blakey Junction, via Bloworth Crossing, to Ingleby Incline and eventually on to the steelworks in Teeside.
The disused railway line meanders along the upland contours of Farndale and you'll be enjoying superb views of Farndale and Rudland Rigg beyond.
At OS Grid Reference 654 007 you'll need to leave the railway line and join a track heading to the north and into Westerdale.
There are spectacular views across the top of the North York Moors.
Further on, you'll come to a gate and you'll start to get a closer view of Esklets Crag and Westerdale Moor.
Walking downhill towards the bottom of Westerdale, you'll soon enough see the small becks which converge to form the source of the River Esk.
Crossing the tiny stream and you'll arrive at a pair of gateposts with the ruins of Esklets Farm in its isolated position just beyond (at OS Grid Reference 656 017).
From Esklets the track continues along, then down towards the young river.
It is very boggy in this section so carefully negotiate the area before you cross the river over a small wooden footbridge.
The path then heads off along the western side of Westerdale, and is fairly easy to follow with the river down to your left-hand side.
Once you leave moorland, you'll cross over two fields before crossing back over the young Esk at another ford and with a small wooden foot bridge (at OS Grid Reference 652 036).
The path follows parallel with the river (now to your right-hand side).
You'll soon pass Wood End Farm (on your left) and then cross a series of fields.
In this section, the path is fairly indistinguishable at times, but keep heading roughly north towards the field stiles ahead, which are marked with a yellow arrow.
At New House Farm (at OS Grid Reference 652 047) you'll join the rough road and follow it for the next mile towards
Hawthorn House Farm and then Stocking House Farm.
There are lovely views to the South-east over the village of Westerdale.
From Stocking House Farm, you now walk uphill before joining the surfaced road which you'll need to follow
until it reaches a road junction at OS Grid Reference 657 072.
Turn right here and walk-on for a couple of hundred yards before turning left off the road at a footpath sign (at OS Grid Reference 657 070) and back on to the moor.
Continue along the moor path past Dale View and then walk parallel with the drystone wall.
Dibble Bridge Farm is ahead and you'll soon enough start to descend from the moor down a steep bankside to another wooden footbridge across the Esk River.
Follow the path and you'll soon come to the first stone bridge to span the River Esk which is the ancient double-arched Dibble Bridge.
From Dibble Bridge, follow the surfaced road uphill to the first road junction and turn left.
Follow the paved road downhill towards Castleton cricket field which you'll pass on your right.
Castleton village stands on a ridge to your right - up and above the lovely little cricket ground.
End the walk just past the Castleton 'New Bridge' (built in 1873) over the Esk and in the Eskdale Public House for a well earned pint!
Rosella Cottage is a luxury self-catering, get-away-from-it-all holiday home in Rosedale Abbey; focussed on the holiday needs of active couples wanting a break from routine. We have a cosy lounge, a king-size bed in a large bedroom with vaulted-ceiling, and a lovely en-suite. We've got a village-centre location and we're easy walking distance to the village shop, cafes, and village pubs with great restaurants. Built in 1850 but completely refurbished in 2013, Rosella offers luxury in the heart of the North York Moors. To view availability and for bookings, just click here.
10 Rose & Crown Yard
Off Flower Gate, Whitby
North Yorkshire, Y021 3BE