North York Moors Walk: Explore Whisper Dales and Broxa Forest

Enjoy Low Dales and High Dales on a North York Moors Walk From Hackness

Begin your North York Moors walk in the charming village of Hackness, located about six miles west of Scarborough. Roadside parking is available near the village school, with a convenient spot opposite the school, close to the road bridge that spans Lowdales Beck. Once parked, cross the bridge and turn right onto a quiet tarmac lane, signposted for Low Dales and High Dales. The lane meanders through peaceful countryside, with the Hackness and Scarborough Tennis Club on your right. Traffic is rare, making this an enjoyable and tranquil start to your walk.

Continue along the lane for approximately a mile until you reach a wooden footbridge on your right. This section of the road is prone to flooding, so if conditions are dry, proceed along the tarmac to Lowdales Farm. If the road is submerged, take the public footpath running parallel to the right-hand side of the road, following the edge of a farmer’s field. Upon reaching Lowdales Farm, the lane bends left, but your route continues straight ahead, following the signpost for Whisperdales. Pass the farm on your right, cross two wooden footbridges, and walk past Lowdales Cottage on your left. Beyond this point, the path opens into the beautiful, grassy valley of Low Dales.

Follow the northern route along the bridleway through Low Dales for about three-quarters of a mile, keeping Whisperdales Beck on your left. As you continue, the valley gradually transitions into Whisper Dales, another scenic highlight of your North York Moors walk. The bridleway draws closer to the beck before leading you north for another half-mile, following the blue bridleway markers. Walk past Whisper Hill Farm on your left, then begin your ascent into Broxa Forest as the track leaves the open valley behind. The climb is gradual, and after about half a mile, the path begins to level out.

At the T-junction near the top, turn left just before reaching the main road. If you fancy a break, you can cross the road to a car park viewpoint, where a bench offers a stunning panorama over Harwood Dale. Otherwise, continue west along the broad forest track for about a mile until you reach Ward Hill. Here, the main track veers left, but your route continues straight ahead, passing through a barrier onto a wide grassy track. Be cautious not to take the steep bridleway descending Ward Hill, as it leads in the wrong direction.

After another two-thirds of a mile, the track bends left at Barns Cliff End, where you’ll be rewarded with spectacular views—one of the true highlights of this North York Moors walk. Continue south for another third of a mile until the track narrows slightly. Watch for a woodland track on your left, which leads back into Broxa Forest. Follow this track for about a quarter of a mile, arriving at a crossroads. Here, turn right, then almost immediately turn left onto a narrow footpath that winds through the woods.

As you walk, you’ll notice a steep-sided valley on your left. When the path forks, take the left-hand branch, which descends into High Dales. Pass through a gate and emerge into open countryside. Follow the path downhill alongside a fence, joining a stony track near Highdales Farm, which will be on your right. The route continues south through the valley, eventually merging with a tarmac lane near the farm at Newgate Gills, which sits on your left.

Stay on this quiet country lane for just over two-thirds of a mile, bringing you back to Lowdales Farm, where you passed earlier in the walk. From here, retrace your steps along the familiar road for just over a mile, making your way back to Hackness, where your North York Moors walk concludes.

North York Moors Walk: Distance, Duration, Statistics

Recommended Ordnance Survey Map

The best map to use on this walk is the Ordnance Survey map of the North York Moors Eastern Area, reference OS Explorer OL27, scale 1:25,000. It clearly displays footpaths, rights of way, open access land and vegetation on the ground, making it ideal for walking, running and hiking. The map can be purchased from Amazon in either a standard, paper version or a weatherproof, laminated version, as shown below.

About Hackness

Nestled within the scenic North York Moors National Park, Hackness is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire. Over the years, its population has seen a steady rise, increasing from 125 residents in the 2001 UK Census to 221 in the 2011 Census.

Historical and Architectural Heritage

Hackness has deep historical roots, dating back to the early 8th century when the Venerable Bede recorded it as the site of a double monastery or nunnery. Today, one of its most prominent landmarks is St Peter’s Church, a Grade I listed building with origins tracing back to the 11th century.

Within the church grounds lie fragments of the Hackness Cross, which is believed to date from the late 8th or early 9th century. These remnants include sections of a Latin prayer dedicated to Saint Æthelburh, along with a partially eroded inscription thought to be written in runes.

Another significant historic feature of the village is Hackness Hall, an elegant country house surrounded by landscaped gardens. Commissioned in the 1790s by Sir Richard Van den Bempde-Johnstone, who inherited the estate through his mother, the hall has been a defining presence in the village. A grand entrance was added in 1810, and after suffering fire damage in 1910, the house was restored under the supervision of renowned architect Walter Brierley.

Hackness Local Governance

Hackness is part of the Hackness & Harwood Dale Group Parish Council, which administers six neighbouring parishes: Broxa-cum-Troutsdale, Darncombe-cum-Langdale End, Hackness, Harwood Dale, Silpho, and Suffield-cum-Everley. From 1974 until 2023, the village fell within the jurisdiction of Scarborough District.

Recreation and Community Life

The village is home to a well-established tennis club, which boasts three grass courts and two hard courts. Located along the road to Lowdales and Highdales, the club has been an integral part of the community for decades, celebrating its 90th anniversary in 2013.

Notable Figures from Hackness

Hackness has been home to several distinguished individuals throughout history. Among them is Saint Hilda of Whitby (c. 614–680), an influential religious figure and abbess who passed away in Hackness. Another notable religious figure associated with the village is Begu, a nun who lived in the monastery during the 7th century and was later venerated as a saint.

Lady Margaret Hoby (1571–1633), who held the title of lady of the manor, is renowned for keeping the earliest known diary written by a woman in the English language. Spanning the years 1599 to 1605, her writings provide valuable insight into daily life and religious devotion in the Elizabethan era. Her husband, Sir Thomas Posthumous Hoby (1566–1640), inherited the estate through marriage and is believed by some scholars to have inspired the character of Malvolio in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

The 19th-century sculptor Matthew Noble (1818–1876) was also linked to Hackness. Noble, celebrated for his numerous public monuments, created a bust of geologist William Smith, who was employed at Hackness Hall.

Another notable resident was Arthur Irvin (1848–1945), who combined his passions for sport and faith. As both a cricketer and a clergyman, he left a lasting mark in both fields.

North York Moors Walk: My Photos

Our North York Moors walk begins in the village of Hackness. Shortly after setting off, we follow a quiet country lane towards Low Dales. To our right, in the valley below, we spot Hackness and Scarborough Tennis Club, framed by Loffeyhead Wood. It’s a frosty morning, but the sun is shining, and the forecast looks promising.

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We continue along the country lane through the Lowdales Beck valley. Although we are walking on the road, traffic is virtually nonexistent, making for a peaceful and pleasant start to our North York Moors walk.

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Just before reaching Lowdales Farm, we encounter a flooded section of road. I have seen this happen before on previous visits, but it’s not a problem. A public footpath runs alongside the right-hand side of the road, allowing us to bypass the water by following the edge of the adjacent field until we reach Lowdales Farm.

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Our route follows the public footpath, keeping to the hedge line as we make our way towards Lowdales Farm.

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At the end of the footpath, we cross a stile or pass through a gate to rejoin the road. Of course, when the road isn’t flooded, this detour isn’t necessary.

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Back on the road, we continue past Lowdales Farm, following the bridleway signposted for Whisperdales.

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Beyond Lowdales Farm, we cross a couple of wooden footbridges. This part of the route is particularly scenic, adding to the charm of our North York Moors walk.

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We press on through Low Dales, heading towards Whisper Dales. Our route continues along the bridleway, which follows the left-hand side of a distinctive, tree-covered hill in the distance.

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This marks the transition from Low Dales into Whisper Dales. It’s a stunning stretch, with the bridleway crossing a wide expanse of grassy meadowland. The route roughly follows Whisperdales Beck on our left. Although the air is still crisp, the sunshine makes for a thoroughly enjoyable walk.

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The bridleway continues towards Whisper Dales along a firm, well-defined farmland track. Blue bridleway waymarkers guide us along this section.

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After passing through the beautiful valley of Whisper Dales, we begin a steady climb along a track leading uphill through Broxa Forest.

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Some of the trees along our path display an unusual phenomenon known as Witch’s Broom. This occurs when a dense cluster of twigs and branches sprouts from a single point, creating a broom-like appearance. Various factors can trigger this growth anomaly, including fungal, viral, or bacterial infections. In some cases, insects or mites are responsible, while in others, it results from physical damage. Although it isn’t always harmful, Witch’s Broom can stunt a tree’s growth and weaken its structure.

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At the northern end of Broxa Forest, we follow a track westward along the top of a bank. Initially, trees partially obscure our view to the north, but the landscape is still impressive. Below us, we catch glimpses of Harwood Dale.

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From this vantage point, we enjoy excellent views towards the north-west. Below, Murk Head Farm in Harwood Dale is visible, with Fylingdales Moor stretching far into the distance.

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As we continue along the track above the slopes, the views become even clearer, with no trees blocking our sightline. Another breathtaking perspective opens up, looking down towards Murk Head Farm in Harwood Dale.

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Further along, we approach Barns Cliff End. The distant sound of motorcycles reaches our ears, and we realise we are looking down at Lownorth Park—a dedicated motorcycle trials area managed by the Scarborough and District Motor Club.

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We continue following this remarkable track towards Barns Cliff End, another highlight of our North York Moors walk.

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From Barns Cliff End, we take in a fantastic view westwards towards Langdale Rigg End. A path runs along the crest of that hill, and it looks like it could form part of a great route for a future walk.

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Turning the corner at Barns Cliff End, we follow the track south before branching off onto a picturesque woodland footpath through Broxa Forest.

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The woodland path runs along the edge of a steep-sided valley, marked on the map as Oak Rigg Gill. When the path splits, we take the left-hand fork, descending towards High Dales.

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We continue south through High Dales, eventually following a country lane back to Lowdales Farm. Here, I believe Highdales Beck and Whisperdales Beck merge, creating a watercourse with nowhere to go—hence why the road floods. After a short distance, the water leaves the road again, forming Lowdales Beck. At least, that’s how it appears when studying the Ordnance Survey map.

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As we pass Lowdales Farm once more, the farmhouse is bathed in sunlight, making for a picture-perfect scene.

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From Lowdales Farm, we retrace our steps along the country lane, returning to the village of Hackness.

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We conclude our North York Moors walk with a short wander around Hackness. Nestled within the North York Moors National Park, the village is home to the historic St Peter’s Church and Hackness Church of England Primary School. St Peter’s Church, a Grade I listed building, dates back to a nunnery founded by St Hilda of Whitby in 680 AD. The church features architectural elements from the 11th century and houses the Anglo-Saxon Hackness Cross, dating from the late 8th or early 9th century. Nearby, Hackness Church of England Primary School serves children aged 4 to 11, fostering a Christian ethos. It is part of the Hackness and Wykeham Church of England Schools Federation, which is dedicated to providing high-quality education in a nurturing environment.

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