England - North York Moors - Rievaulx Ramble

Walk Summary

A long walk that starts on a high moorland forestry track leading to a short section of road walking. Descends along the pleasant Ash Dale into Helmsley. Follows the Cleveland Way to Riveaulx Abbey. Leads through fields along a picturesque valley. Ascends through woodland back to the start.

Date: 25/10/2021

Length: 15.4 miles

Height Gain: 393 m

Terrain: Fields, boggy paths, lightly used roads, national trail, farm tracks

Navigation: Good. Potentially difficult in woodland at Newgate Bank and crossing fields in Rye Dale

Start: Car Park at Newgate Bank on the B1257

Route: Newgate Bank Car Park, Rievaulx Moor, Ash Dale, Helmsley, Rievaulx Abbey, Rye Dale

Map: OL26 North York Moors Western Area

Weather: Cloudy morning; showery afternoon

Walkers: Nun

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Rievaux Abbey

Captain's Log

Car Park Trouble

I reached Helmsley car park around 07:45 after a very early start. Unfortunately all three machines appeared to be blocked off for accepting cards and coins. A quick review of the map and I decided to drive further north, along the B1257 to the forestry car park at Newgate Bank. This turned out to be fortuitous since this car park was free and due to the timings of the walk, I'd reach the highlight of the walk, Rievaulx Abbey around midday (I would have arrived too early for its opening on my original plan).

Rievaulx Moor

A viewing platform has been built at Newgate Bank to look northwards over the moors. The forestry company has planted trees in front of the platform giving a blocked view. There is a vague track that leads from the car park, through the woodland and on to the substantial forestry track that follows the top of Rievaulx Moor. I chose this track during planning since, due to its elevation, I thought it would offer great views northwards over the moors. Similar to the car park viewing platform, the forestry company have planted trees on the moor's slopes and so the only view you get is inwards into the featureless and flat moor. There is a pathway that runs parallel to the route at the bottom of the slope; there may be better views from this, but it is a slim chance. After an hour I passed the lonely trig and a little further on a road is crossed and the forest encloses you from the moor side too.

Rievaulx Moor Trig

Ash Dale

Leaving the forest I turned right on to a road and after thirty minutes of road walking I approached Carlton. Just before I entered the village a farm track on the right was followed. This leads to the start of Ash Dale. The top of the Dale looks almost man-made, you could possibly mistake it for a disused railway cutting. Descending southwards towards Hemsley the sides steepen and the track widens, the slopes covered with trees. Flying above the canopy I saw what I took for a buzzard, but in closer inspection turned out to be a red kite. Eventually a fingerpost points towards Helmsley and a path across fields lead you to the town itself.

Helmsley Cleveland Way Monument

Cleveland Way Monument

A short walk through the town brought me back to the scene of my car park frustrations earlier this morning. A fingerpost indicates the footpath to Rievaulx Abbey. At the start of the footpath a monument has been placed as the start line for the Cleveland Way. This is a 109 mile national trail that skirts the North Yorkshire moors between Helmsley and Filey on the coast. Cleveland Wayers share the same footpath as those taking the pilgrimage from Helmsley to Rievaux Abbey. The footpath runs alongside fields and through woodlands. Eventually you reach the road that delivers you to Rievaulx Bridge. Cleveland Wayers continue over the bridge, although I guess most will make a temporary diversion right along the road to Rievaulx Abbey. A few grey wagtails flew up and down the River Rye that runs under the bridge. I followed the road ,alongside the river, towards the abbey.

Rievaulx Abbey

Rievaulx Abbey is a wonderfully situated Cistercian abbey (founded in 1132). As I approached, I was impressed by the sheer size of the place. The site is managed by English Heritage. The face on the right was pretty much like mine when the English Heritage greeter broke the news that it would cost me £11.10 to enter the site. Those poor souls who had used the car park had to pay up and additional £5. I coughed up the dues and walked towards the hallowed building. As I approached a horrendous black cloud followed behind me and I was only able to take a few photos before the inevitable rain storm started. At this point everybody seemed to congregate in the tiny museum for shelter, creating a Covid hotzone. By the time the rain stopped, it was time to continue my walk and so I only had about ten minutes walking amongst the ruins for my £11.10.

Item in the Rievaulx Abbey museum

Rye Dale Valley

Rye Dale

The route now follows the valley northwards, crossing to the west of the river at Bow Bridge. The footpath, although fairly well defined, was quite boggy after the rain. The path eventually meets with a road/track and goes past Tylas Farm to Barnclose Farm. At Barnclose Farm, a vague path goes upwards up the valley via fields and stiles. At one point I did follow the vague path to a fence with no stile. A farmer turned up on an ATV and shouted where I would find the stile. The path roughly follows the line of trees further uphill. The field hopping leads to a farm track (near a small quarry), that leads downhill to the road. The area has opened up at this point and there are some picturesque views across and up the valley. After reaching a road, I turned right and crossed the bridge over the River Rye. A path to the left then zigzags up the hillside through woodland to the B1257 and the car park at Newgate Bank. As I approached the car park, two red kites soared above me. Perfect.

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