Lilla Cross ~ Medium Walk

Distance: 8 miles   Time to complete walk: 3.5 hours

Safety Tips: Take a walking stick as the forest path and the moor can be muddy after rain. Use your stick to test the firmness of the path on the moor as it can be marshy after a heavy downpour. Remember sunscreen for protection from the sun on the moor.

A vigorous walk following a stream through a forest and onto the moors. Your destination is an ancient cross called the Lilla Cross which was built to commemorate one of King Edwins counsellors who was killed as he stepped in front a poison dagger thrown in an attempt to kill the king. On finishing the walk there is an opportunity to visit Whitby or the Falling Foss tea garden. See the Falling Foss walk for details of the tea garden.

 

The Lilla Cross walk

 

Getting There

 

Follow the A171 road to Whitby and go past Whitby and look for the B146 turning which is a right turn and then when on this road take a very sharp left to be on the May Beck Farm Road- follow this road down until you reach a car park which is the starting point for the walk.

 

 

Map of the Lilla Cross walk

The Walk

From the car park walk up the approach opposite until it bends and look for a signpost to the left.

 

Look for a signpost to the left

 

Descend down the path crossing over a bridge and continue on the path which is beside the stream. (You are at marker 1 on the map)

 

 

Follow the path

 

 

Continue along the grassy track and through a kissing gate, beside the stream until it swings away from the stream and carries on into the forest.

 

 

Go through the kissing gate

 

 

 

Continue on into the forest

When you reach a forest road turn right and follow it to a junction and then continue to the track to the right.

Turn right and join the forest track

 

At the junction continue on the track to the right

 



After about 400m on the forest track look for a track to the left (you are at marker 2 on the map)

 

 

Track to the left

 

Follow the path on the moor

 

Follow the moorland path and you will soon pass the remains of York Cross. 

 

 

York Cross remains

 

Follow the path forward to a waymarked post or take a short cut to the left. Which ever way you choose you will come to a main moorland path. Join the path and continue on it to the left.

 

 

 

Follow the moorland path to the left

 





Continue on the moorland path using your walking stick to make sure the path is solid. Prepare to get muddy boots if there has been rain! Keep the fence to your right. (you are at marker 3 on the map)

 

Soon you will join a track at a T junction. To get to Lilla Cross, turn right and go through the gate.

 

 

Go through the gate to your right

 

Follow the waymarked path to the left and then look for the path to your right which you can see will lead directly to the Lilla Cross (you are at marker 4 on the map)

 

 

 

Follow the waymarked signpost

 

Take the path to Lilla Cross

 

 

Visit the cross which originates from the 7th century.

 

 

Lilla Cross

 

 

Retrace your steps and go back through the gate and follow the track back to the forest. (you are at marker 6 on the map)

 

 

Follow the track back to the forest

 

 

When you come to a junction turn right onto the track 

 

Turn right at the junction

 

 

This is the same track you started the walk on. (You are at marker 7 on the map) Look out for a signpost to the left and rejoin the path you came on which joins the stream.

 

 

 

Turn left at the signpost



 

 

Cross the bridge and turn right onto the track to return to the car park.

 

Lilla Cross

 

The site of Lilla Cross once formed the boundaries of four Medieval parishes as well as the junction of two trackways and the limits of an estate belonging to Whitby Abbey in the 11th century - it still forms part of a modern political boundary today. Long before this of course the Bronze Age inhabitants of the North Yorkshire Moors area built a round barrow here that formed part of their own territorial boundary that included Flat Howes, Pen Howes, Breckon Howe, Sil Howe, Flass Brow, Robbed Howe, Foster Howes, Ann Howe, Louven Howe, Lilla Howe, High Woof Howe and Low Woof Howe. These barrow run in a roughly northwest-southeast direction from Black Brow close to the High Bride Stones down to near the head of the valley of Stockland Beck about seven miles away in what is now the Langdale Forest. The barrow of Lilla Howe itself was constructed of earth and stone and measures about 20 metres in diameter and stands over a metre tall although it has been quite badly damaged over the years - the photograph above shows a track cutting across the southern edge, there is also one to the north. The site has fine views with Goathland Moor to the west, Sneaton High Moor to the north, Fylingdales Moor to the east and Langdale Forest to the south.
The cross takes its name from an 8th century Saxon nobleman who died saving the king's life although the style of the carving is thought to date it to the 10th century, it is interesting to note that excavations of the barrow have uncovered Anglo Saxon and Viking grave goods.
Just a few paces to the northeast of Lilla Howe at SE88929871 is another smaller barrow that is easily overlooked, it measures around 13 metres in diameter but is only about half a metre high and badly overgrown.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 



 



 



Rievaulx Abbey ~ Easy Walk

 

Distance: 2.5 miles   Time to complete walk: 1.5 hours

Safety Tips: Take a walking stick if walking after heavy rain. Be prepared for a steady climb in the middle of the walk. Take money for the car park which is £4.00 however you get half price entry to the Abbey if you keep your parking ticket stub.

A peaceful walk from Rievaulx Abbey, one of Yorkshires finest Abbeys. Throughout the walk you will be able to see the Abbey from different viewpoints. The Abbey is well worth a visit at the end of your walk and there is a coffee shop inside and also a museum. Moderate climbing in the middle of the walk, the walk is classed as easy due to its short length.

 

 

The Rievaulx Abbey walk

 

 

Getting There

 

 

From Middlesbrough, travel up Ormesby Bank and follow the A172 to Stokesley. Take the left turning on the roundabout before Stokesley, which will take you through Great Broughton which is the B125. Follow this scenic route until just before Helmsley. Look for a right turn down to the Abbey ignoring the sign to the terraces. Parking can be busy in peak periods. Parking is £4.00 for all day. Your parking fee will be refunded when you purchase a ticket to the Abbey which is £8.00 for adults. There is a coffee shop and toilets at the Abbey.

 

 

 

Map of the Rievaulx Abbey Walk

 

 

The Walk

 

 

From the car park, turn right and follow the road until you come to a gate to the left with a signpost for Bow Bridge next to it. The gate may be open, if not climb over the gate into a small paddock area with stables.

 

 

 

Gate signposted to Bow Bridge

 

Walk through the paddock ahead and over a waymarked gate into a field. 

 

 

Waymarked gate

   

Continue into another field through another waymarked gate.

 

 

Go through another waymarked gate

 

Soon you will join the River Rye. Go through the gate ahead beside the river a while and through a meadow.

 

 

 

 

Go through gate beside the river

 

Go through the gate and through the meadow

 

 

Bear right to a waymark to leave the meadow through a gate.

  

 

Gate to the right

 

 

Go through the gate and turn left onto a gravel path.

 

 

 

Turn left onto gravel track

 

Follow the track over Bow Bridge

 

 

 

Go over Bow Bridge

 

 

Keep on the gravel track and look for a signpost to Ashberry to the left.

 

 

Signpost to Ashberry to the left

 

 

Follow the direction of the signpost through a meadow over a stile and onto a field until you come to a gate to enter Ashberry Woods. (You are at marker 1 on the map)

 

 

Gate into Ashberry Woods

 

Follow the path, steadily climbing at the edge of the woods. Look for a perfect view of Rievaulx Abbey to your left through the trees.

 

 

 

Rievaulx Abbey through the woods

 

 

As you climb over the crest of the path, take the left fork of the path downwards and look for a seat to the right, handy for a pitstop and to take in the view!

 

 

Take the left fork on the path

 

 

Bench to the right to take in the view!

 

 

Descend the path until you come to Ashberry Farm. Go through the gate turn right and turn left and go over a bridge.

 

 

 

Go over the bridge  





 

Look for another turn off to the left signed to Rievaulx and follow this road back to the Abbey.(You are at marker 2 on the map). Now enjoy a visit to the Abbey. There is a museum in the grounds and brilliant facilities.



 

 

Turn left signed to Rievaulx

 

Follow the road back to the Abbey

 

 

Views of Rievaulx Abbey

 

 

 

Rievaulx Abbey

 

Rievaulx Abbey /riːˈvoʊ/ ree-VOH is a former Cistercian abbey in Rievaulx, near Helmsley in the North York Moors National Park, North Yorkshire, England. Headed by the Abbot of Rievaulx, it was one of the wealthiest abbeys in England until it was dissolved by Henry VIII of England in 1538. Its ruins are a tourist attraction, owned and maintained by English Heritage.

Rievaulx Abbey was founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey as a mission for the colonisation of the north of England and Scotland. It was the first Cistercian abbey in the north. With time it became one of the great Cistercian abbeys of Yorkshire, second only to Fountains Abbey in fame.
Its remote location was ideal for the Cistercians, whose desire was to follow a strict life of prayer and self-sufficiency with little contact with the outside world. The patron, Walter Espec, settled another Cistercian community, founding Wardon Abbey in Bedfordshire on unprofitable wasteland on one of his inherited estates.
The abbey lies in a wooded dale by the River Rye, sheltered by hills. The monks diverted part of the river several yards to the west in order to have enough flat land to build on. They altered the river's course twice more during the 12th century. The old course is visible in the abbey's grounds. This is an illustration of the technical ingenuity of the monks, who over time built up a profitable business mining lead and iron, rearing sheep and selling wool to buyers from all over Europe. Rievaulx Abbey became one of the greatest and wealthiest in England, with 140 monks and many more lay brothers. It received grants of land totalling 6,000 acres (24 km²) and established daughter houses in England and Scotland.
By the end of the 13th century the abbey had incurred debts on its building projects and lost revenue due to an epidemic of sheep scab (psoroptic mange). The ill fortune was compounded by raiders from Scotland in the early 14th century. The great reduction in population caused by the Black Death in the mid-14th century made it difficult to recruit new lay brothers for manual labour. As a result, the abbey was forced to lease much of its land. By 1381 there were only fourteen choir monks, three lay brothers and the abbot left at Rievaulx, and some buildings were reduced in size.
By the 15th century the Cistercian practices of strict observance according to Saint Benedict's rule had been abandoned in favour of a more comfortable lifestyle. The monks were permitted to eat meat, and more private living accommodation was created for them, and the abbot had a substantial private household.

 

 



 

Fewston Reservoir ~ Easy Walk

Distance: 3.75 miles   Time to complete walk: 2 hours

Safety Tips:  A very safe walk. Dogs should be kept on a lead. Be aware there are two reservoirs beside each other and this walk is around Fewston Reservoir.

A nice and simple walk around the periphery of Fewston Reservoir. A great introduction to walking and ideal if located in the Harrogate area or visiting Harrogate for the day. Great for bird watchers and dog owners, the walk can be completed all year round.  

 

The Fewston Reservoir walk

Getting There

From Middlesbrough take the A19 south to meet the A1 southbound. Look out for Junction 47 and take this turn off from the A1 to Harrogate which is the A59. Go through Harrogate and follow the A59 signed to Skipton. There are a number of turn offs for Fewston and these can be very narrow roads. All the turn offs are on the left off the A59. Follow the road until you reach Swinsty Moor & Fewston Reservoir Car Park. The car park has toilet facilities and is the start of the walk.

 

 

Map of the Fewston Reservoir Walk

 

 

The Walk 

 

From the car park turn right and follow the road that crosses the dam. Follow the road until you come to the house at the end.

 

 

  

Follow the road to the right of the house and look for some steps immediately to the left and climb to the top.

 

 

Climb the steps

 

Turn left at the top and ignore the gate to the left as this path is for anglers and not walkers. Follow the path into the trees but keeping close to the reservoir.

 

 

Follow the path into the trees

Follow this path for about a mile,(you will pass marker 1 on the map) keeping to the left at a fork to keep you close to the reservoirs edge. Towards the end of the path you will eventually converge onto the A59 briefly.

 

View of the reservoir

 

Stay to the left at a fork in the path

 

 

Go up some steps onto a path beside the A59 and turn left to cross a bridge. Go down some steps to a small car park and then turn left again.

 

 

Follow the path next to the A59

 

Descend the steps to the car park

 

Follow the path to the left which swings around the bay of the reservoir. (you will pass marker 2 on the map) Keep an eye out for birdlife here,  I spotted finches and a robin.

 

 

 

Views of the reservoir

 

 

Look out for birdlife

 

 

 

 

Follow the path

 

Keep to the path and follow it round the reservoir. (You will pass by marker 3 on the map) Continue over a bridge and as you come back to the end of the reservoir, look for a sign and a path to the right. Follow this path to the road and the car park again.

 

 

Follow the path to the right back to the car park

 

Car park

 

 

Fewston Reservoir

 

 

Fewston Reservoir is located in the Washburn valley north of Otley and west of Harrogate in Yorkshire, England. It was built in 1879. The capacity is about 3.5 million cubic metres. It can be found from the A59 road.
The overflow from the reservoir feeds directly into the adjoining Swinsty Reservoir. Formerly, this overflow was encircled by a metal walkway from which floodboards could be lowered, but this has since been removed.
The reservoir was built by the Leeds Waterworks Company under the management of Robert Brooks. Consultants were Thomas Hawksley of Westminster and Edward Filliter of Leeds. Work began in 1874 and was completed in 1879.
Early in the work, Fewston Mill was demolished, as was West House Mill at Blubberhouses, with the stone going to build a wall around the reservoir.Much of the machinery, including the locomotives for the narrow gauge railway, came from the construction of neighbouring Swinsty Reservoir.