Jervaulx Abbey to , near Introduction Map This beautiful walk starts and ends at the fascinating ruins of Jervaulx Abbey. It takes you through stunning parkland, OS Explorer 302: over lush pasture fields and through the historic village of Thornton Steward. You’ll pass the impressive Danby Hall Northallerton and Thirsk and cross the over two historic bridges. Distance/Time 7 miles (11.25km) 3-4 hours 3 Walk route Starting Point P Parking Jervaulx Abbey car park (SE 169857).

Terrain A moderate walk across mainly flat 4 pasture and parkland with several stiles. 3 Useful Information The Abbey is open all year round during daylight hours. There is an honesty box at the Abbey entrance.

2 LEYBURN 5.5 MILES Refreshments: available from Jervaulx Abbey tea rooms at the start/end of the walk and the Coverbridge Inn en route. P 1 Please remember to follow the Country Code. Close gates, keep dogs on leads and don’t litter or pick wild flowers.

MASHAM 5 MILES

For more free guides of walking and cycling routes in Nidderdale AONB, visit our website at nidderdaleaonb.org.uk The Route Features of interest 1. From the car park cross the road follow the track past Manor Farm and Jervaulx Abbey cowkeeper, joiner, Joiner’s shop, carefully and go through the gates down through a wood to St Oswald This is one of the very few privately sexton, shopkeeper, boot maker, heading towards the Abbey. Pick up a Church. Go through the gate at the owned Cistercian Abbeys open to the miller, blacksmith, schoolmistress track heading right through the park. end of the car park and walk along public. The Abbey and Jervaulx estate and gardener. St Oswald’s Church Follow the track all the way through the edge of the field keeping the was bought by its present owners, is reputed to be one of the oldest the park, over the cattle grid, and to fence to your right. After two fields the Burdon family, in 1971. Founded in . Its doorway is the road. At the road turn left. You will go through a gate with a small stream in 1156 by Cistercian Monks who had Norman and is embellished with a be on the road for approximately ½ just beyond it. Follow the line of the arrived from France following the war memorial from the 1st World mile. wall but this time, keep it to your left. Norman Conquest, this enchanting War. However, as a result of an Just past a small plantation on your Abbey eventually became one of archaeological dig in 1966, human 2. Shortly after crossing the river look left go through a gate. Beyond the the busiest and wealthiest religious remains date the church site back to for a footpath on the left. Once into gate follow the same wall but keep it houses. It takes its name from the as early as 680 AD. T the open field follow the way markers. on your right. At the end of the field medieval word for valley, and the (Take care - the gateways can be a bit go through the gate and bear left. You River Ure or Yorre, ‘Jur’. This beautiful boggy!) Cross this field and the next will join a track which runs in front of site is now carefully managed with field before turning right and heading Danby Hall and takes you past Danby conservation in mind and it is noted up to Woodhouse. Follow the way Mill and onto the road. for more than 180 species of wild markers, which take you to the left flowers and shrubs growing amidst of the buildings and turn sharp left at 4. Join the road turning left. At the its ruins. It is a place of great beauty, the gate that goes into the farmyard. T-junction turn left over the bridge. tranquillity and history and is a Head northwest along the edge of a When you reach the Coverbridge Inn wonderful site to visit. The Abbey is field keeping the hedge to your left. turn left and over another bridge. Just open all year round during daylight Keep following the line of the hedge beyond the bridge join a path on the hours. There is an honesty box at the until you pass a small plantation on left heading downstream to Jervaulx Abbey entrance. More info at www. your left. Continue past the plantation Abbey. The path brings you onto the jervaulxabbey.com and follow the edge of the field until road, where turning left will bring you you reach a stile. Cross the stile head back to the car park. Thornton Steward across the field, go through two more The walk takes you past this quiet gates in quick succession in front village which can be traced back to of the houses and you’ll pick up a 1041 in a pre-Conquest Saxon Land track bringing you up to a road in the Charter. In 1890 it is recorded as middle of the village. being a small parish lying on the north bank of the river Ure comprising 3. Joining the road turn left following of a township of its own name and it through the village. At the end of the hamlet of Danby. At that time the village go through a gate and the village had a postmistress, a