£2.95 THE MOORS MESSAGE North York Moors National Park ESK VALLEY TREAD GENTLY – despite The North York Moors National Park surviving all sorts of weather, the moors, their plants and animals are is one of the most beautiful parts of WALK fragile and sensitive. England and Wales. As the largest FENCES & WALLS – keep some More than a stroll but less than a trek, animals in and some out, use stiles expanse of open heather moorland or gates (and shut them). Regional Routes are an easy and enjoyable in the country, it is a treasured ALK way to explore the countryside. They are landscape which deserves all the designed for a short walking holiday care the nation can give it. W and are ideal for a long weekend. FIRE – uncontrolled fires can devastate miles of moorland which The Esk Valley Walk follows the River Esk may never fully recover. Don’t start fires or drop cigarettes or matches. from its source high on the LITTER – is dangerous as well as North York Moors to the coast at Whitby. unsightly – take it home. The 35 mile route takes you through a DOGS – running loose can ALLEY harm sheep and ground-nesting variety of countryside from open birds. On moorland, please keep V moorland to riverside pastures. your dog on a lead or to heel at all times. Dogs must be kept on rights of way on most Open Ordnance Survey Explorer Maps OL 26 and OL 27 Access moorland in the North SK cover the North York Moors National Park. York Moors; please follow signs at access information points. E North York Moors National Park Authority The maps in this guide are reproduced from The Old Vicarage the Ordnance Survey Explorer Map Series Bondgate with the permission of the Controller of Helmsley Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. SAFETY – weather conditions York © Crown Copyright can change quickly, are you YO62 5BP A REGIONAL ROUTE fully equipped? First published by the North York Moors National Park Authority 1992 including Ordnance Revised 1997 and 2008 FOOTPATHS – are for feet. E S K © North York Moors National Park Authority Survey Maps K L Bicycles may be ridden on bridleways. V A A L W Motorcycles and other vehicles www.visitthemoors.co.uk LEY ISBN 978-1-904622-19-2 should stick to roads. 014002 ROADS AND PATHS HEIGHTS AND NATURAL FEATURES not necessarily rights of way KEY TO THE MAP Whitby Whitby Abbey Esk Valley Walk The Moors Centre, Danby RAILWAYS VEGETATION ❉ Ruswarp River Esk A171 ❉Danby A171 ❉ Railway Castleton ❉ Lealholm Bell Heather PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY River Esk Sleights ❉ ‘A’ Road Egton ❉ Bridge ACCESS LAND Glaisdale ❉ A169 GLAISDALE ❉ Grosmont OTHER PUBLIC ACCESS MOOR Scrub Access land boundary and tint Access land in wooded area Access information point Portrayal of access land on this map is intended as a guide to land which is normally available for access on foot, for example access WESTERDALE MOOR YOUR ROUTE land created under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, EGTON HIGH GENERAL FEATURES and land managed by the National Trust, Forestry Commission and DANBY HIGH MOOR FYLINGDALES Woodland Trust. Access for other activities may also exist. Some Salmon MOOR restrictions will apply; some land will be excluded from open access MOOR rights. The depiction of rights of access does not imply or express any warranty as to its accuracy or completeness. Observe local signs and follow the Countryside Code. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway BOUNDARIES National Park Castleton High Blakely Esklets Dibble Bridge Danby Danby Beacon Lealholm Arncliffe Woods Egton Bridge Grosmont Farm Sleights Whitby Feet Metres TOURIST AND LEISURE INFORMATION 1200 366 1000 305 800 244 600 183 400 122 200 61 0 0 16 18 19 1 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 11 12 13 14 17 21 22 23 24 26 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 National Park Information Point 5 miles 10 miles 15 miles 20 miles 25 miles 30 miles 35 miles INTRODUCTION The River Esk starts high up on the Moors at the head of journey to Whitby where it flows into Westerdale. Its source is not a clear bubbling spring but a series of the North Sea. The route is marked trickling becks, Esklets, which meet as they flow down to the by a special waymark with a leaping valley. The river then wends its way east for 25 miles to join the salmon; yellow arrows mean a footpath sea at Whitby. and blue denote a bridleway. For walkers, the Esk Valley offers an attractive variety of scenery GETTING TO THE START and landscape. In some parts the valley is wide and open with the The walk starts at Castleton which can be reached by train on the Moors rising clearly on either side, in others it narrows into a steep Esk Valley Line which runs between Middlesbrough and Whitby. As wooded gorge. On the walk you can enjoy woods, farmland and the train stops at eight villages along the Esk Valley Walk, it may also riverside pastures. be a welcome relief if you change your plans or overstretch yourself. The name, Esk, stems from a Celtic word Isca meaning water or stream A service bus and Moorsbus, the and the valley is rich in historical National Park’s own bus network, remains from prehistoric also run through Castleton and earthworks to medieval packhorse timetables are available. bridges. Yorkshire’s only salmon river, the Esk has been a popular WHAT YOU NEED fisherman’s haunt for centuries. Fishing near Lealholm Wear strong shoes or boots as Look carefully and you may see some of the paths may be muddy. It is important to be dressed trout and grayling as well as salmon. If you are tempted to fish, Take an extra layer and a for all weathers however, remember that you need a permit and a licence - these waterproof - however sunny it is are usually available locally or you can contact a local angling club or when you start out, the weather changes quickly and on the Moors the Environment Agency. it is often cooler. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE WALK The Moors National Park Centre The whole route is about 35 miles long, starting at Castleton and Tel: 01439 772737. ending in Whitby. For details of the distances and heights see the inside cover. From Castleton you walk on to the Moors and to the source of the River Esk at Esklets. You then follow the river on its CASTLETON KEY TO MAPS From the station turn right along the road. Cross the Esk and turn ON INSIDE right. After the right-hand bend turn left up the footpath at the corner of the drystone wall. At the top of the hill turn right up the road. Turn BACK COVER left before the junction at the first footpath sign (the entrance to Didderhowe). Walk straight down the track to the farm. At the farmhouse carry on down left of the house and go through the gate. Walk straight across the field to the gate opposite. Carry straight on down by the hedge for two fields. Go through the gate by the beck and bear right parallel to the beck. Follow the waymarked route through a series of fields and gates eventually to arrive at the road. Go through the gate and straight on along the road leading to West Green Farm and Plum Tree Farm. Sheep farming is the main type of farming in the National Park © Crown Copyright. North York Moors National Park Authority. Licence No. 100021930 2008 DANBY DALE Honey Bee Nest Farm is part of Botton Village, a special community for adults with special needs. Run according to the principles of the Camphill Movement, the community is largely self- sufficient and products ranging from wholemeal bread to toys are sold in Botton and nearby villages. Danby Dale At Plum Tree Farm carry straight on passing West Cliff Farm and Blackmires along the public footpath. At the road go straight on through the farmyard of Stormy Hall. Pass through a series of gates then around the field-edge and over the wall-stile. Go through the next series of fields towards Nook House Farm. Just before the farmhouse the path leaves the fields to join a road. Walk along the road in front of the farmhouse and through the gate. Follow it to the next farm (Honey Bee Nest Farm). Go through the farmyard and turn right through the gate. Head straight up the daleside. At the top of the field turn left to join the path across the moorland. Follow it to the road and turn left. Take the first left following the public bridleway. © Crown Copyright. North York Moors National Park Authority. Licence No. 100021930 2008 ROSEDALE HEAD The North York Moors have a remarkable number of moorland crosses and standing stones. Most date from the Middle Ages when they marked boundaries or routes across the Moors. Over 30 are named and at the road you pass White Cross, also known as Fat Betty. Last century Rosedale had a flourishing ironstone industry. White Cross Over to the left the line on the hillside marks the route of the railway which was built in 1861 to transport the iron ore from Rosedale to Durham. It was dismantled in 1929. Further along the daleside is a row of arched kilns where the ironstone was roasted to remove impurities and make it lighter for transportation. Looking at this peaceful valley today it is hard to imagine that it was such a hive of industry and had a population of nearly 3,000 people.