Distance: 5 miles Time to complete walk: 3 hours
Safety Tips: On lesser known walks like this one the path can be overgrown. Take a walking stick and be prepared for it. A good portion of the walk is on a road. Be aware of traffic. Some of the walk goes through horse paddocks. Horses can take fright at unexpected movements so move slowly. Use your GPS for a short part of the walk that doesn't have a clear path. Always return to the last stile or gate if you feel you have ventured off the route and look for the correct way forward.
A hidden castle is at the start and the end of the walk at the sleepy village of Sheriff Hutton. Lots of walking through cornfields and then minor roads and farms. A walk with no climbs that can be ended at the very inviting pub The Highwayman for a meal and refreshments.
The Sheriff Hutton Walk
Getting There
From Middlesbrough join the A19 southbound. Join the A19 slip road to York which is Thirsk Road. Drive through Easingwold. At Stillington take a right turn off which is the B1363. Shortly after look for a left turn which is Moxby Lane. Stay on this road for a while until you come to a left turn off. Take this road to Sheriff Hutton. Park on the roadside on a right hand turn near the pub "The Highwayman".
Sheriff Hutton Map
The Walk
Start the walk by retracing your steps and turn right at "The Highwayman" pub. Cross the road and look for a signpost to the left signed "Centenary Way, Ebor Way". Follow this to the left between houses.
Take the path to the left
Follow the path through a kissing gate.
Go through the kissing gate
The castle is now in view. Look for another kissing gate to the right and follow the path around the remains of the castle and through another kissing gate onto a path.
Go through the kissing gate
Remains of the castle
Go through trees and then at a gate follow the path ahead.
Join the path straight ahead
Go through another kissing gate and right through another.
Go through a kissing gate and right through another
Keep to the path with a wire fence to your left through the field.
Go through the field keeping the wire fence to your left
After the next gate go straight ahead through the next field. The path will be evident through the cornfield.
Go through the gate onto the next field
Follow the track through the cornfield
Look behind for a photo opportunity of the castle. At the end of the field bear right to a wooden and metal gate which lead onto a track.
Go through the gate onto another track
Turn right onto the track and head towards a stile.
Turn right onto the track
Go through the gate
Cross the track ahead and head out through the cornfield on another well worn track.
Follow the track through the cornfield
Keeping to the left of the telegraph pole go over a stile.
Go over the stile
Head straight on until you come to a footbridge.
Cross over the footbridge
Go through a stile and turn left and look for a metal gate ahead.
Turn left and look for a metal gate
Go through the metal gate and ahead
Follow the hedge until it bends to the right and look out for an obscure gate in the hedge to the left (you are at point 1 on the map)
Look out for a gate in the hedge to your left
Go through the gate and through another onto a field with thistles in it.
The path is hard to make out here but you need to head diagonally across the field between two humps and to the left of the pylon in the distance. Look for a boarded bridge over the stream.
Head diagonally to the left of the pylon in the distance
Go over the board bridge
In the field beyond head towards a stile in the middle of the fence which has a waymark on it.
Go over the stile and follow the direction of the waymark
Bend to the right and head for two metal gates which will take you onto the road ahead.
Go through two metal gates
Turn left and head down the road, taking extra care by keeping well to the side of the road. Look for a junction ahead and a sign to Bulmer on the left. (you are at point 2 on the map)
Head for the junction
Take the left turning to Bulmer
Follow the road past the tree lined entrance to Thornton Grange Farm and turn left onto the road to Lodge Farm.
Go past the tree lined entrance
Turn left onto the road to Lodge Farm
You will shortly arrive at point 3 on the map
Take the second turning on the road towards the farm. Go through two waymarked gates.
Take the second turning to the right
Go through two waymarked gates
The path ahead may be overgrown however head through it using your walking stick and keep the pond to the right. Eventually you will come to a gate onto a field.
Keep to the right of the pond
Use your walking stick to get through the path
Head through the cornfield on the defined track. Head towards the farm in the distance.
Follow the track through the cornfield
Head towards a gate in the crossing hedge ahead.
Head for the gate in the hedge
Continue through the next field towards the farm.
Head on towards the farm
Go through another gate. The field ahead may be used as an enclosed horse paddock. Carry on towards a circular wooded farm utility and turn left onto the grassy track. (you are at point 4 on the map)
Go through the gate
Follow the track to a stile ahead. You will be able to see the castle in the distance.
Go over the stile
Continue through fields in the direction of the castle over a stile and a footbridge.
Head on the path towards the castle
Again in the next field take the track through the cornfield.
Take the well worn path through the cornfield
At the end of this field at the top, turn right and follow the edge of the hedge until you come to an enclosed path on your left.
Look for an enclosed path on your left
Follow this path that will take you to a churchyard.
Follow the path to the graveyard
Church
Out of the churchyard follow the road ahead keeping to the path on the right. (You are at point 4 on the map) This will take you back to the Highway Man pub and where you parked your car.
Sheriff Hutton and Castle
Sheriff Hutton is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies about ten miles north by north-east of York.
The village is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book as Hotun in the Bulford hundred. Before the Norman invasion the manor was split between several land owners. Those named included Ligulf, Northmann, Thorkil, Thorsten and Thorulf. Afterwards some of the land was retained by the Crown and others given to Count Robert of Mortain who installed Sir Nigel Fossard as lord of the manor.Soon after this, the land was in the possession of the Bulmer family. Bertram de Bulmer built the first castle in the village during the reign of King Stephen. After the civil war between Stephen and Matilda, the castle and manor were seized by the Crown before being held for the king by the Mauley family. The manor eventually came into the possession of the Nevill family in the 14th century until 1480, when they were surrendered to the Crown. Various grants of land were made up to the 17th century when possession is recorded as belonging to Sir Thomas Ingram. The Ingram family, by way of various marriages, maintained lordship until 1904, when it passed to Hon. Edward Frederick Lindley Wood.
The extant remains of the stone Castle at the western end of the village were built by John, Lord Neville in the late fourteenth century. It fell into disrepair during the reign of King James I.It is a Grade II Listed Building.
The Nevill Castle was used by Richard III to house his nephew Edward, Earl of Warwick and his niece, Elizabeth of York.
