Distance Covered: 3 miles Time to complete walk: 1 hour and 15 minutes
Safety Tips: A very safe walk with no issues
A gentle ramble through the countryside around the town of Helmsley. A walk with no climbing which is through fields and on paths near the river. However the walk could be incorporated with a visit to Helmsley Castle which is a great detour after or before the walk. There are also many brilliant places to eat in Helmsley itself. Helmsley also has a Bird of Prey centre and Walled Gardens to visit as well.
The Helmsley Walk
Getting There
Travelling from Middlesbrough, follow the A19 south to Thirsk. Follow the road from Thrisk which is the A170 up Sutton Bank. Follow the A170 signposted to Scarborough which will eventually pass through Helmsley. Park at the long stay car park which is a left turning and well signposted.
Map of the Helmsley Walk
The Walk
Exit the car park from the end furthest from the entrance, which will pass the entrance to Helmsley Castle. You can go and visit the castle either at the beginning or the end of the walk- its a must see though if you haven't been before.
Castle Entrance
Pass the entrance to the castle and follow a walled path. Turn left and looking behind you there's a great view of the castle.
Helmsley Castle
Follow the short path noting some good places to eat on your right, in fact Helmsley has a number of cafes so there's plenty to choose from. At a T junction turn right onto a road with a stream flowing down on its left side. Follow this road round to a main road.
Road with stream on left side
Cross the road which can be busy, carefully. Turn right and then left into Rygate.
Turn left into Rygate
Look for a right turning into Sawmill Lane at an Ebor Way footpath sign.
Left into Sawmill lane
Walk through an industrial estate then turn right at an Ebor Way sign.
Follow the path past a timber yard
Walk beside the timber yard and into a field. Follow the path and then cross to the right onto another path which is beside the river. Follow the path which will cross a few small footbridges.
Footbridge
Follow the path over a stile and pass a water treatment works. Keep following the path until you come to a gate where the line of trees thins out.
Gon through gate
You will see ahead of you the river bends. Look to the left for a place to follow the rivers bend. Keep following the river until you come to a narrow gap near a power-line pole.
River bend
Bear left to a small gate and go through more gates to pass underneath an old railway bridge.
Bear left at the gate
Railway bridge
Turn immediately left and follow the path which now passes through fields.
Keep following the path through another gate and you will eventually be opposite the water treatment works. Instead of going through the gate turn right and eventually you will come to another gate. Go through the gate and through another gate onto a path. Follow this round to the junction you came to before the timber yard. Follow the path back into Helmsley.
You are now spoiled for choice to either visit the castle, bird of prey centre or the walled gardens, or for refreshments and food in the many cafes and pub in the town.
Views of Helmsley Castle
Helmsley Castle
Helmsley Castle remained in the possession of the de Roos family until 1478 when Edmund de Roos sold it to Richard, Duke of Gloucester who later became Richard III. Richard did nothing to the castle, staying instead at Middleham Castle. After Richard III's death at the Battle of Bosworth, Helmsley Castle was restored to Edmund de Roos by Henry VII.
Edmund died childless in 1508 and the castle passed to his cousin Sir George Manners of Etal on whose death in 1513 his son Thomas inherited it. He was created Earl of Rutland in 1525. On his death in 1543, Thomas was succeeded by his son, Henry, but it was under the rule of his grandson Edward, that the castle was altered next. He had the old hall converted into a Tudor mansion, converted the 13th-century chapel into a kitchen linked to the old hall by a covered gallery, and knocked the new hall down. The south barbican was converted into a more comfortable residence at this time. A letter of April 1578 describes the slow progress of the mason's work, and that timber was available for a gallery in the attic of the mansion. On Edward's death in 1587 his brother John Manners inherited the castle, followed by John's son Roger, and then Roger's younger brother Francis. On the death of Francis in 1632 the castle passed to George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham through his marriage to Katherine, Francis' daughter.
During the English Civil War, the castle was besieged by Sir Thomas Fairfax in 1644. Sir Jordan Crosland held it for the king for three months before surrendering. Parliament ordered the castle to be slighted and much of the walls, gates and part of the east tower were destroyed. However the mansion was spared. The castle had by this time been inherited by George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham who married Mary, daughter of Thomas Fairfax in 1657.
After his death in 1687 the castle was sold to Charles Duncombe, a banker and politician who was knighted in 1699 and became Lord Mayor of London in 1708. His sister Mary's husband, Thomas Brown, inherited the castle on Charles's death in 1711. Thomas changed his name to Duncombe. He hired John Vanbrugh to build a country house at Duncombe Park overlooking the castle and left the castle to decay. Although it is still owned by the Feversham family of Duncombe Park, the castle is now in the care of English Heritage.
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