another footbridge, or culvert bridge, over Pickering Beck and follow the clear farm access road of Farwath Road up across a wooded slope. It emerges at a junction of farm access roads where a right turn leads past Howlgate Farm and Howlgate Nab. Keep to the farm access road to pass East Brow House. Eventually a public footpath sign points left. Turn left and walk through a field and along a path leading to St John’s Church. Turn right to follow a road through Newton-on-Rawcliffe, where the Mucky Duck pub faces a duck pond.
The Mucky Duck pub and the little village duckpond at Newton-on-Rawcliffe
Follow the road to the top of the village and keep to a grassy track just to the right of a stone seat, as signposted for Cropton. Cross a rise at 190m (625ft) and drop down past a building, descending a steep hollow-way on a wooded slope. Watch for a stile on the right, cross it and head off to the right, descending very gradually across the slope into Newtondale, looking out for a gate. Go through the gate and veer left, looking into the valley to spot Levisham Railway Station, then take the path that leads off the grassy slope and steeply down a wooded slope, which can be muddy when wet. Cross a footbridge to return to the station.
NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY
This scenic railway runs between Pickering and Grosmont, a distance of 29km (18 miles), and is famous for its steam-hauled services, although when it first opened in 1836 the carriages were pulled by horses between Pickering and Whitby. George Stephenson engineered the line, but it had to be improved considerably by George Hudson before steam trains could use it. The line was closed in 1964, then reopened by dedicated railway enthusiasts, and is now an immensely popular tourist attraction. Scenes from the line have featured regularly in films and television, including the Heartbeat TV series and Harry Potter films.
WALK 6
Hutton-le-Hole, Lastingham, Cropton and Appleton-le-Moors
| Start/finish | Ryedale Folk Museum, Hutton-le-Hole, SE 705 900 |
| Distance | 15km (9½ miles) |
| Total ascent/descent | 260m (855ft) |
| Time | 5hrs |
| Terrain | Easy walking along low-level paths, tracks and roads, brushing moorland slopes first, then returning through fields later |
| Maps | OS Landranger 94 or 100; OS Explorers OL26 and 27 South |
| Refreshments | Pub and tearooms at Hutton-le-Hole, pubs at Lastingham, Cropton and Appleton-le-Moors |
| Transport | Summer weekend Moorsbus services to Hutton-le-Hole from Pickering and Danby; Monday, Wednesday and Saturday Ryecat buses serve Hutton-le-Hole, Lastingham, Cropton and Appleton-le-Moors from Pickering |
The three little villages of Hutton-le-Hole, Lastingham and Cropton sit where the Tabular Hills give way to the High Moors. True to form the Tabular Hills display a series of high nabs before the higher moors stretch their uniform heather slopes northwards. This walk links all three villages, then uses the course of the waymarked Tabular Hills Walk to take in a fourth village, Appleton-le-Moors, on the way back to Hutton-le-Hole. Each village has at least a pub offering food and drink, so this is an ideal walk for those who like to be pampered.
Leave the Ryedale Folk Museum in Hutton-le-Hole and walk down the road a short way to the village hall. Across the road from the hall is a public footpath sign beside a small gate. Follow this path across fields as marked, then cross a footbridge over Loskey Beck and follow a woodland path up through a gate, continuing along a grassy track to reach a road. Turn right along the road – but well before reaching a road junction, watch for a public footpath sign pointing left along a grassy track. Follow the track through a gate, noting that some stretches are wet and muddy, then swing right and continue alongside a fence. Cut across a grassy slope as marked, well above Camomile Farm. Drop down into a valley where the ground is wet enough to support bog myrtle. Climb up the other side to reach a clear track above the village of Lastingham, beside its Millennium Stone and a signpost.
The Millennium Stone above the village of Lastingham
The little village of Lastingham is huddled between the Tabular Hills and High Moors and can easily be explored by making a detour from the route. Of particular interest is St Mary’s Church, with its Norman crypt and Shrine of St Cedd, originally built in 1078 on the site of an ancient Celtic monastery. Food and drink are available from the Lastingham Grange Hotel and Blacksmith’s Arms.
Walk past the Millennium Stone and follow a track signposted for Hartoft. This quickly becomes a broad, grassy track running alongside a drystone wall. The track rises gently, then runs downhill, with moorland to the left and fields to the right, eventually fording Tranmire Beck. Head straight uphill to a corner of a wall and follow the wall onwards, using a narrow grassy path to reach a clear farm access road near High Askew. Turn right to walk down the road, which eventually reaches a road junction.
Turn left, as signposted, along a public footpath, pass through a gate in a hedge and continue down a field before turning right alongside the River Seven. Go through a gate on to a road and turn left across a bridge. Follow the road away from the river, up past Beckhouse Farm, then down to a junction. Turn right over another bridge and walk up the road towards Cropton. Either walk all the way up the road to reach the village and its pub, or omit the village and turn right along a clear track signposted as the Tabular Hills Walk.
CROPTON
A motte and bailey was built at Cropton in the 12th century, but it was in ruins by the end of the 14th century. St Gregory’s Church may have been built on a Norman chapel site, but while it retains its 12th-century font, the building is essentially a 19th-century restoration. The New Inn offers accommodation, food and drink and a campsite, as well as tours of its micro-brewery. Other lodgings are available around the village.
The Tabular Hills Walk follows a clear track, but when this track suddenly turns right, leave it by walking straight ahead to enjoy a fine, garlic-scented woodland path, passing through a number of gateways. Eventually, at a junction of paths turn right down to the River Seven and cross it using a footbridge. Rise to a small gate, then follow a farm access road uphill, away from Appleton Mill Farm and continue along Hamley Lane. Turn left at a road junction beside the stump of an old stone cross to approach Appleton-le-Moors. The route turns right just as it reaches the substantial Dweldapilton Hall on the outskirts of the village.
APPLETON-LE-MOORS
Appleton-le-Moors is a typical Yorkshire ‘croft and toft’ village. The crofts are the little cottages arranged on either side of the long main street; the tofts are the pieces of land extending from the back of each dwelling, where householders would grow their own vegetables. The imposing Dweldapilton Hall was built by a wealthy whaler, Dweldapilton being an earlier name for the village. The Moors Inn offers food, drink and accommodation.
Follow the track away from the hall, eventually reaching a prominent junction of tracks. Walk through a gate and approach a wood where you will see two gates ahead – be sure to go through the gate on the right into the wood. Turn right to
