Seven of the best walks in the North York Moors

Have you tried any of these circular trails in the eastern area of the North York Moors National Park? They are all between 9 and 11 miles long and will take 4-5 hours to complete. The walks include visits to some of the region’s most beautiful places such as Robin Hood’s Bay, Ravenscar, Sleights, Falling Foss, Glaisdale, Grosmont, Mallyan Spout and Egton Bridge.

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One Ordnance Survey map covers these excellent North York Moors routes

The best map to use 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.

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Walk 1 – Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar

South from Robin Hood’s Bay all the way to Ravenscar via the Cleveland Way coastal path. Back to Robin Hood’s Bay using the straightforward Cinder Track dismantled railway line. A 9-mile walk along the Yorkshire Coast.

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Walk 2 – Sleights and Falling Foss

South from the car park at the top of Blue Bank to High Quebec Farm. Further south across Sleights Moor, then south-east into the woodland of Newton House Plantation. Across to John Bond’s Sheep House, before heading north alongside May Beck to the Falling Foss waterfall. Through more woods to Littlebeck, and finally west out of the valley and north back to the starting point. A 10-mile walk in the North York Moors.

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Walk 3 – Glaisdale and Yew Grange

South-west along Glaisdale Rigg to Hart Leap, then down into the Glaisdale valley via Highdale Farm. Around the head of the valley on a minor road, passing Yew Grange, Mountain Ash Farm and Nab End. At Low Gill Beck Farm, it’s south into woodland then north-east to meet a minor road (Smith’s Lane) which crosses Egton Grange. Finally north to the Glaisdale village railway station, and west back to the starting point. A 10-mile walk in the North York Moors.

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Walk 4 – Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar Beach

West from Robin Hood’s Bay to the village of Fylingthorpe then south by way of the Cinder Track to Ravenscar. A visit to Ravenscar beach via the steps leading from the golf course. North-west along the Cleveland Way to Stoupe Beck Sands, followed by a beach walk to Boggle Hole. Back to Robin Hood’s Bay, again using the Cleveland Way. A 10-mile walk along the Yorkshire Coast.

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Walk 5 – Grosmont and Mallyan Spout

East along Front Street from the car park in Grosmont and south through Doctors Wood to reach a track which leads to Dale End. Further south to Morton Close, briefly east along a minor road, then south to Goathland railway station via Hawthorn Hill Farm and Mill Scar. South-east to reach another minor road which crosses both Eller Beck and the railway line, followed by a U-turn and a north-westerly bridleway walk for about ¾ mile, before heading west to the Mallyan Spout Hotel in Goathland. After a visit to the Mallyan Spout Waterfall, north through woodland and across the countryside to Beck Hole, and finally back to the starting point by way of the straightforward Goathland to Grosmont Rail Trail. An 11-mile walk in the North York Moors.

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Walk 6 – Egton Bridge and Darnholm

East from Egton Bridge to Grosmont alongside the River Esk, then further east to meet the footpath at Lowther’s Crag. South across moorland past Arundel Hill all the way to Goathland railway station. West into the village, then north-west along minor roads to Beck Hole. North to Grosmont via the Rail Trail footpath, and back to Egton Bridge on the same River Esk track used earlier. An 11-mile walk in the North York Moors.

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Walk 7 – Sinnington and Cropton Forest

North from Sinnington to Appleton-le-Moors, then east via Hamley Lane to the River Seven. Further north on minor roads, tracks and paths to Spiers House in Cropton Forest and east to meet Sutherland Road. South through the forest and on to Cropton passing Sycamore Farm, returning to Sinnington by way of Bull Ing Lane and Wiley Flat Lane. An 11-mile walk in Northern England.