Yorkshire

The proud inhabitants of Yorkshire once defended their beloved county from their arch enemies the Lancastrians, during the Wars of the Roses. It's borders finally succumbed to the vagaries of modern bureaucracy, having been dissected in the name of progress. A sizable part, North Yorkshire, remains a county of that name; the rest has become either Unitary or Metropolitan Authorities. In the interests of common sense we will consider here the historic Ridings of Yorkshire. None of this, of course, affects the reality of Yorkshire's magnificent natural landscape, or it's unquestionable claim to contain some of the finest walking countryside in England. We have yet to meet the rambler who has tired of walking in Yorkshire.

The gems of the region are the National Parks, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, with their very different but equally beautiful scenery; but Yorkshire's abundant beauty has even more to offer in the lovely peaceful Wolds north of the Humber and in the Howardian Hills and Nidderdale, two additional Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Even all these fabulous areas do not exhaust the possibilities of great walks as the numerous guide books listed below illustrate so well. For example the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast offers breathtaking walks along high cliffs cut by bays and wooded 'wykes' and crowned by dramatic headlands.

The North York Moors National Park contains the largest continuous expanse of open heather moorland in England. These wild and remote moors have a wild drama of their own and are home to precious wildlife such as curlew and merlin. The Park comes to an abrupt end at high cliffs on the east coast, interspersed with wide sweeping bays and with attractive fishing villages such as Robin Hood's Bay and Staithes huddled against the cliffs. Two long distance paths immerse the walker in the glories of the Moors. The Cleveland Way National Trail follows the northern perimeter across heather moorland and continues down the Heritage coast; the Lyke Wake Walk defiantly crosses the highest open moorland from Osmotherley to Ravenscar. But there are numerous circular day walks in which you can explore and savour the moors, all of which are included in the guides listed.
The delightful, rolling Hambleton Hills, on the edge of the North York Moors, provide excellent walking country and hold many surprises: the imposing medieval remains of Rievaulx Abbey and Helmsley Castle; picturesque villages like Coxwold and Kilburn; landmarks such as the White Horse of Kilburn, Sutton Bank and Lake Gormire; and surrounding all are miles of open moorland just waiting to be explored.The Cleveland Hills, with their rugged, swarthy appearance, stretch from Teeside in the north, through the Guisborough Moors, to the imposing Cleveland Escarpment, and beyond to the foot of the Hambletons. The area includes the picturesque villages of Great Ayton and Osmotherley; hidden valleys like Bilsdale and Scugdale; and landmarks such as Roseberry Topping.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park covers a unique area of limestone which features dramatic cliffs and gorges, the famous limestone pavements and a landscape of pastoral valleys patterned with dry-stone walls, barns and stone built villages. There are numerous attractive streams and waterfalls and, typical of limestone hills, the streams often vanish into labyrinths of caves, channels and shafts that honeycomb the rock. On the fells, millstone grit often overlies the limestone, giving a bleaker, heather-covered aspect to the Park. In late spring and autumn the fells are a blaze of colour with curlew, snipe, redshank and buzzards soaring overhead. The lush green meadows of the dales, with their wild flowers and the clear bright water of the quieter rivers, provides an inviting contrast to the drama of the fells. Nidderdale is the smallest of the Yorkshire Dales, between Grassington in the west and Ripon to the east; Harrogate is at its south-west corner and Middleham is the northerly point. Within this compact area there are 55 glorious miles of unspoilt paradise. Lying just outside the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale is a peaceful place to visit, and the upper Dale is designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Wolds, sweeping in an arc from the Humber Bridge to Bridlington on the coast, provide a scaled down landscape full of beauty and with a peaceful backwater atmosphere. There are no towns of any real size within the Wolds and walking here can be a relaxing tranquil experience in good weather. The strength of the Wolds lies in the underlying chalk, for from this bedrock stems its gentleness and boundless charm. Severe contrasts are rare in this peaceful landscape, where the great appeal is the subtleness of the harmonies. Between the Wolds and the North York Moors lies the Vale of Pickering and the market towns of Malton, Helmsley and Pickering. Just north west of Helmsley in the wooded Rye Valley stand the splendid ruins of Rievaulx Abbey; the setting and graceful architecture give a sense of grandeur to this religious site and it provides the focus for a number of enjoyable walks including a route from Helmsley.

	Guide Books: [For further information or to purchase]
	South Yorkshire Walks by: Martin Smith. In between the high, wild moors of the west and the low-lying peatlands of the east, there is a great diversity: gritstone cliffs, delightful wooded valleys, limestone scenery and a wealth of industrial archeology. A perfect background for some excellent walks. This book contains 30 such walks, varying from 3 to 11 miles, across the length and breadth of South Yorkshire; an area which includes the four urban centres of Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield together with part of the Peak District National Park. This book is an ideal introduction to South Yorkshire, with many snippets of local history and folklore. Places to visit along the way are recommended, and wherever you go, you're sure of a warm Yorkshire welcome!
	Walking in the Wolds by: Charlie Emett. The Yorkshire Wolds are little known to outsiders and yet the whole of the Wolds is ideal walking country, a cornucopia of hidden delights. The hills are gentle, the dales tranquil, picturesque villages and attractive farmsteads abound, and there is a freshness about this uncluttered, open, sometimes windswept land that cheers, uplifts and makes you feel good just to be there. Most of the 38 walks presented here are circular and collectively total 353 miles. Each is complete within itself and has much to offer; but when used as a link in a captivating chain that weaves over wold and dale, joining spectacular coastal scenery to the gentle, rolling, inland chalk downs, the whole evolves into something extra special.
	Walking the Howgills by: Mary Welsh. There are over 200 miles of walks in and around the glorious Howgill Fells contained within these pages, and Mary's text is enhanced by the delightful illustrations of local artist Christine Isherwood. There are 32 routes in this comprehensive guidebook with a selection to suit weather, inclination, time and energy. All of the routes have been very recently planned and walked, so you can be sure that the directions are reliable. The walks have great variety, taking you into delightful villages, over gentle pastures, along startling white limestone terraces and over the rounded fells which have been likened to sleeping elephants.
	Vale of York and the Yorkshire Wolds Walks by: Brian Conduit. 28 routes with OS Explorer mapping. Locations are: Danes Dyke and Sewerby; Hedon; Wharram Percy; Boroughbridge and Aldborough; Lotherton Hall and Aberford; Humber estuary; Kirkham Priory and the River Derwent; Tockwith and the River Nidd; Millington Dale; North Cliff and Filey Brigg; Ripon and the rivers Skell and Ure; Howden Marsh and the River Ouse; Welburn and Castle Howard; Newbald Wold; Flamborough Head; Watton and Kilnwick; Fridaythorpe and Huggate; Harpham, Burton Agnes and Kilham; Sheriff Hutton and Mowthorpe Hill; Hunmanby, Muston and Stockingdale; Londesborough Park and Goodmanham; Tadcaster and Healaugh; Hornsea Mere and the Rail Trail; Nether Poppleton; Welton Dale and Brantingham Wold; Beverley; Pocklington Canal and Allerthorpe Common; Thixendale and Kirby Underdale.
	Hambleton Hills Walker's Guide by: Tom Scott Burns. 20 circular walks from 5 to 12 miles with detailed route instructions. Locations include: Arden Great Moor; Kepwick and Cowesby; Kepwick and Limekiln House; Hawnby, Easterside Hill and Shaken Bridge; Coombe Hill and Hawnby; Caydale from Murton; Kirby Knowle and Boltby; Windygill Ridge from Boltby; Rievaulx Abbey and Caydale; Old Byland and Scawton; Gormire Lake and Whitestone Cliff; Kilburn White Horse; Bagby and Sutton; Cockerdale and Byland Abbey; Coxwold and Beacon Banks; Shallow Dale and Ampleforth; Helmsley and Sproxton; Slingsby Castle and Hovingham; Stonegrave and Nunnington.
	Cleveland Hills Walker's Guide by: Tom Scott Burns. 20 circular walks from 5 to 12 miles, each with detailed route instructions. Locations include: Eston Hills; Newton-under-Roseberry; Gribdale Gate; Birk Brow and Commondale; Great Ayton; Kildale and Baysdale; Ingleby Greenhow and Rosedale railway; Burton Howe and Bank Foot; Bilsdale and Clay Bank; Hasty Bank and upper Bilsdale; Tripsdale and Brandale water mill; Raisdale from Chop Gate; Cringle Moor and Clough; Scugdale and Carlton Bank; Swainby and Whorlton Castle; Osmotherley; Nether and Over Silton; Ladhill Gill and Bumper Castle; Hazel Head and Arnsgill.
	Harrogate and the Wharfe Valley by: Valerie Yewdall. The rolling countryside between the Nidd and the Wharfe boasts an enviable position at the heart of Yorkshire's broad acres. This handy pocket guide contains 20 country walks. Discover the natural wonders of Almscliff Crag, Plompton Rocks, the rivers Nidd and Wharfe and the floral delights of Harrogate. Walk through history at the castles of Knaresborough and Spofforth and sample the splendour of Harewood House. The full 20 walk locations are: Harrogate; Beckwithshaw; Pannal; Beckwith; Knox; Follifoot; Coneythorpe; Norwood; Kirkby Overblow; Spofforth; Knaresborough; Goldsborough; Spacey Houses; Harewood; Eccup; Linton; Arthington; Sicklinghall; North Rigton; Pool in Wharfedale.
	Calderdale by: Paul Hannon. 25 walks concisely described. Facinating Hebden Bridge is the ideal base for exploring Hardcastle Crags, Ripponden, Stoodley Pike and Heptonstall. Discover woodland walks, wild moorland, gritstone crags, and historic routes such as the canal towpaths and packhorse trails. Locations are: Above Hebdon and Colden Waters; Walsden Moor; Midgley Moor; Freeholds Top; Norland Moor; Rishworth Moor; Bride Stones; Blake Dean and Walshaw Dean; Reddyshore Scout; Crimsworth Dean and Limer's Gate; Upper Ryburn; Jumble Hole Clough; Stoodley Pike from Cragg Vale; Gorple Moors; Stoodley Pike from Lumbutts; Luddenden Dean; Robinwood; Cragg Vale; Black Hameldon; Blackstone Edge; Black Brook; Edge End Moor; Manshead Hill; Ovenden Moor.
	Southern Pennines by: Paul Hannon. 22 walks, lead from gritstone villages to rolling moors and canal towpaths. From Hollingworth Lake to Marsden Moor, discover hidden hamlets, scenic reservoirs, deep cloughs and wide vistas. Explore the Holme, Colne and Tame Valleys, Blackstone Edge; from Dobcross and Diggle to Wessenden and Scammonden. The walk locations are: Rochdale Canal; Blackstone Edge; Hollingworth Lake; White Hill; Denshaw skyline; Castleshaw Fort and Millstone Edge; Diggle; Dobcross and Delph; Binn Green; Greenfield; Dove Stone Rocks; Birchen Clough and Raven Stones; Marsden Clough; Upper Holme Valley; Holme Valley; Meltham Moor; Wessenden; Standedge Classic; Buckstones; Slaithwaite Moor; Merry Dale; Scammonden Water.
	Bronte Country by: Paul Hannon. The extensive region of hill country between the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District is the richly varied heritage area known as the South Pennines. This guide describes 22 walks allowing you to discover the true spirit of the Bronte Country at Top Withins and Haworth Moor, Ponden Clough and the Worth Valley. Explore the delightful countryside around the gritstone villages of Lothersdale, Cowling, Harden, Wycoller, Oxenthorpe and Stanbury. Other walk locations include Druid's Alter and St. Ives; Goit Stock Wood and Harden Moor; Nab Hill; Watersheddles; Newsholme Dean; Brow Moor; Kelbrook Moor; Boulsworth Hill; Weets Hill; Ramshaw; Elslack Moor; Pinhaw Beacon; Earl Crag; Sutton Clough; Cononley lead mine; River Aire.
	Historic Walks in North Yorkshire by: Jim Rubery. 20 walks, from 4.5 to 12 miles in length, which take in a variety of scenery, including open moorland, hillside, gentle dales and coastal cliffs. The guide is in full colour throughout, and each route is accompanied by Ordnance Survey mapping. The walk locations are: Bolton Abbey; Aldborough Roman town and the Devil's Arrows; Skipton Castle; Whitby Abbey; Ripon and Fountains Abbey; Bolton Castle; Nunnington Hall; Scarborough Castle; North York Moors railway and Pickering Castle; Ripley Castle; City of York; Richmond Castle and Easby Abbey; Mount Grace Priory; Jervaulx Abbey; Crackpot Hall; Beningbrough Hall; Castle Howard; Rosedale Abbey; Middleham Castle; Kirkham Priory.
	Teesdale by: Paul Hannon. 22 walks leading you into every corner of this facinating district. From the gateway of Barnard Castle, discover the beautiful Tees flowing by flower-rich meadows beneath wild moors. Seek out the waterfalls of High Force and Cauldron Snout, and breath history at Bowes Castle and Egglestone Abbey. Many wild and colourful moorland encounters are interwoven with the riverbanks and woodland. Locations are: God's Bridge; Barningham Moor; Staindrop; Brignall Banks; Egglestone Abbey; Goldsborough; Lower Tees; Deepdale; Cotherstone; Currack Rigg; Romaldkirk; Lunedale; Hudeshope Beck; Cauldren Snout; Herdship Fell; Coldberry Mines; High Force; Cronkley Fell; Langdon Beck; Great Stony Hill.
	Country Walks in Mirfield, Emley, Thornhill and Denby Dale by: Douglas Cossar and John Lieberg. 17 circular rambles ranging from 4 to 7.5 miles. Locations are: Crossley, Norristhorpe and Northorpe; Roberttown and Hartshead; By Boyfe Hall to Upper Hopton and Dransfield Hill; Lady Wood and Whitley Wood; Liley Hall, Black Dick's Tower, Whitley Lower and Ouzelwell Hall; Kirkheaton, Lepton and Hall Wood; Whitley and Briestfield; Around Grange Moor; Flockton, New Hall and Middlestown; Thornhill Edge and Dimpledale; Calder and Hebble Navigation to Thornhill Edge; Emley and Flockton; Emley to Bretton Park; Around Emley Moor; Denby Dale, Skelmanthorpe and Bagden Park; Denby Dale to Birk House and Upper Cumberworth; Denby Dale to Gunthwaite and Bird's Edge.
	Ramblers' Leeds East by: Douglas Cossar. 25 mostly circular rambles ranging in length from 3.5 to 11.5 miles Locations are: Harewood circular; River Wharfe, Kearby, Woodhall Bridge and Carthick Wood; Eccup reservoir circuit; Bardsley, Hetchell Crags and Thorner; Roundhay Park, Shadwell and Scarcroft; Barwick in Elmet and Saw Wood; Garforth circuit; Barwick in Elmet to Parlington Park; Kippax to Micklefield and Ledsham; Lotherton Hall from Aberford; Bramham Park and Hazelwood Castle; Swillington and Little Preston; Temple Newsam; The Aire and Calder Navigation; Woodlesford and Methley; Around Rothwell; Middleton Park; Collingham Moor; East of Wetherby; Boston Spa; Ledston and Newton Ings; Temple Newsam to Skelton Lake.
	Ramblers' Bradford by: Douglas Cossar. 20 circular rambles ranging in length from 2 to 10 miles. Locations are: Ponden Hall, Ponden Kirk and the Bronte Falls; Dean Beck and Keighley Moor; Silsden to Windgate Nick and the Doubler Stones; Silsden Moor; The Swastika Stone, Addingham Moorside and the Dales Way; Austby and Middleton Woods; Burley in Wharfedale to Burley Moor; Over Rombald's Moor to Dick Hudson's; East and West Moreton, Sunny Dale and Micklethwaite; Around Baildon Moor; Druid's Altar, Harden and Marley; Harden Moor and the Worth Way; Oxenhope; Thornton Moor; Wilsden to Hewenden and Wood Nook; Chellow Dean; Northcliffe Woods and Heaton Woods; Thornton to Mountain; Horton Bank, Clayton and Little Moor; Royds Hall and Judy Woods.
	Battlefield Walks in Yorkshire by: David Clark. History comes to life with these 23 circular walks around sites of famous battles and sieges. Yorkshire contains more important battlefields than any other county, encompassing over one thousand years of English history. Armed with this book, you can visit sites that range from the Battle of Heathfield in 633, through the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War, to military locations from the Second World War. The walks range from an easy town stroll to a more challenging 10 mile ramble. Each walk contains a stimulating account of relevant historical events, together with up-to-date information on access and facilities.
	York Walks by: Richard Peace. A classic collection of five highly memorable walks around the internationally famous city of York. Easy going and largely traffic free, they explore major tourist attractions and many lesser known features. Each could take an hour or a day, depending on how many stops are made. An enthusiastic approach traces York's development over the centuries, from military garrison to thriving modern city, with each walk drawing on a different, fascinating theme. The walk titles are: Digging down to the Past - Romans, Saxons and Vikings; Abbeys, Churches and Saints; From Norman Knights to Civil War - the City Walls; Georgian and Victorian Elegance; River, Rail and Trade.
	Walks around Grassington by: Richard Musgrave. The walks in this guide touch a number of well-known locations, but surprisingly lead the inquisitive rambler to some less familiar parts of the Grassington area. Villages visited form an impressive line up: Grassington, Burnsall, Appletreewick, Hebden, Threshfield, Thorpe, Yarnbury, Conistone, Kilnsey and the exquisite Linton in Craven. The walks take in the lead mining relics of Grassington Moor, spectacular waterfalls, Norman churches, many green lanes and colourful meadows (in season), the dried up riverbeds at Trollers Gill and Conistone Dib, and a 'secret' valley. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet.
	Walks around Settle and Malham by: Richard Musgrave. Both these centres are encompassed with spectacular limestone scenery. Additionally, both locations offer easily accessible, natural attractions, many of which are visited during the walks in this guide. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet. If you are visiting the area this guide will help you get the most from your stay in this lovely locality, with routes that enable you to discover and enjoy it's many attractions and explore some of its hidden corners. Each walk is fully described with a supporting easy to follow map, and the text also covers points of interest along the way.
	Walks around Hawes by: Richard Musgrave. The western end of Wensleydale is encircled by a range of high, undulating fells. There's a lot to see in and around Hawes. There are also lots of neighbouring villages and many of these are visited during the walks included in this book. Places like Hardraw where England's highest single drop waterfall is found. Simonstone, Sedbusk, Bainbridge, Worton and Askrigg. All these together with wildflower sprinkled meadows, some containing paved paths, waterfalls, a Roman road and a 'haunted' lake, make for a perfect series of outings on foot. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet.
	Walks around Richmond by: Richard Musgrave. Richmond is a delightful market town set in lovely Swaledale in the Yorkshire Dales, and there are lots of wonderful locations nearby for the walker to explore. The ten walks included in this book cover the area between Richmond in the east and Reeth, ten miles west. Between these points places like Marske, Marrick and Grinton are included. Ravensworth and Gilling West, a little to the north of Richmond complete the starting locations. To get you started the first walk, only three miles long, is one of the most popular rambles in the area. Packed with interest and wonderful scenery and visiting Richmond Falls, Easby Abbey and St. Agatha's church with its famous 13th century frescoes. you can also explore some of Richmond's hidden corners.
	Walks around Helmsley by: Nick Channer. The picturesque market town of Helmsley acts as a natural gateway to the many and varied delights of the North York Moors. Its charming setting at the entrance to Ryedale makes it a popular choice for visitors. Apart from its famous ruined castle, one of Helmsley's greatest assets is its close proximity to some of the most spectacular walking country in the land. This book begins with two walks to the south-west of Helmsley, exploring the rolling, wooded country along the southern rim of the North York Moors. From Sutton Bank, where the third walk begins, the vastness of the fertile Vale of York stretches away under huge skies to the west. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet.
	Walks around Kirkbymoorside by: Nick Channer. Sheltering beneath heather-clad moorland, Kirkbymoorside is a quiet little town with a broad, cobble-edged main street climbing steadily between sturdy Georgian houses and lines of shop fronts. Above the town, between familiar windswept ridges, glorious green dales fan out to the north. A springtime stroll in Ferndale reveals drifts of golden daffodils as far as the eye can see, a magical sight to lift the spirits, while the two walks at Gillamoor and Fadmoor offer frequent glimpses of some of the National Park's most spectacular scenery. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet.
	Walks around Whitby by: Nick Channer. To the north and south of Whitby, the hills, moors and dales of the North York Moors National Park finally give way to the North Sea. Before they do, however, they offer the walker one last opportunity to savour the rare beauty of this regal land. Whitby is famous for its historic abbey, often lashed by violent storms and howling gales in winter. In summer, walkers seeking peaceful recreation can easily discover the wealth of facinating coastal and country walks right on the town's doorstep. Exploring the region's spectacular North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast on foot is a liberating experience. Here, the sights and sounds of the sea assult the senses, diverting the attention by laying bare its greatest riches.
	Walks around Pickering by: Nick Channer. Known as the Gateway to the Moors Pickering lies along the southern edge of the National Park, making it a popular base for walking. The first walk in this book takes you on a magical tour of Harwood Dale Forest, just a short drive from the North Yorkshire and Cleveland Heritage Coast. With ample tree cover, this route is perfect for a warm summer's day. Nearby is the village of Burniston, only a stone's throw from Scarborough and the starting point for a gentle country walk which explores underlating moorland and farmland straddling the National Park's eastern perimeter. This book is one of the Dalesman 'Walks Around' series of short guides, each written by a local expert and offering 10 carefully chosen local walks of under 6 miles, all staying below 1,500 feet.