Here we give you some idea of the plentiful options open to walkers in the Slingsby area. You can now explore a different corner of the area each month with Geoff’s Walk of the Month.
Walks are currently available to download in Microsoft Word document (.doc) and Adobe Reader (.pdf) file formats ( files generally under 250 KB). From October 2020 onwards Geoff’s walks will be available in the PDF format only.
Also check out more of Geoff’s walks on the Slingsby Local Walks page.
Most computers will open PDF documents automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader
[If need be, you can use our Village Plan to orientate yourself in Slingsby.]
Walk for November 2023 | Oulston and Husthwaite. A quiet 5 mile walk with good views. pdf
Walk for October 2023 | Bulmer, Mowthorpe, Brandrith. A pleasant and interesting short walk. pdf
Walk for September 2023 | Ampleforth Moor and Studford Ring. A strenuous walk combining paths and tracks through peaceful woodland with some panoramic views. pdf
Walk for August 2023 | Coulton Circular Walk. pdf
Walk for July 2023 | Coneysthorpe and Castle Howard Monuments. A compact walk around the perimeter, without paying. pdf
Walk for June 2023 | Welburn, High and Low Gaterley, Castle Howard’s monuments. A walk that offers real tranquillity and some excellent views. The route is quite hilly with one steep ascent out of Crambeck, and can be very boggy in parts. There is something of interest most of the way including some familiar Castle Howard landmarks in the latter part of the walk. pdf
Walk for May 2023 | Butterwick. A peaceful walk through flat countryside by the River Rye with lots of wild birds. pdf
Walk for April 2023 | Kirkbymoorside, Ravenswick From the bustle of Kirkbymoorside you are soon n open country. You pass the site of the former Ravenswick Hall, now replaced by an impressive new development which includes the largest Stately Home to be built in Yorkshire during the last 200 years. You’ll find ancient woodland, awash with wild garlic in Spring, and get a glimpse of a fragment of the old castle. pdf
Walk for March 2023 | Sinnington and and Appleton-le-Moors. Two lovely villages, peaceful woodland and open farmland are all included in this walk which is shaped for much of its length by its proximity to the River Seven. There are some strenuous upward stretches, and in all but the driest weather there will be muddy sections so don’t try this walk in trainers. pdf
Walk for February 2023 | Swinton, Broughton, Hildenley Wood. Undulating countryside, lovely views, peaceful bridleways, ancient paths through deciduous woodland. pdf
Walk for January 2023 | Coneysthorpe, Centenary Way, Park Farm, Bog Hall. This route passes through some of the finest parts of the Castle Howard Estate and the views, especially over the Vale of Pickering, are tremendous. pdf
Walk for December 2022 | Around Airyholme. A very pleasant walk for winter, for the most part through peaceful countryside, although the final section is unavoidably beside the road. The central section can be rather boggy so be sure to wear sturdy footwear. pdf
Walk for November 2022 | Ampleforth Circular Walk. Explore the valley between the southern end of the North York Moors and the Howardian Hills. Fine views but quite demanding in places. pdf
Walk for October 2022 | Terrington and Ganthorpe. A walk with a bit of everything. Great views, peaceful woodland, mixed farmland and a stroll through Terrington’s near neighbour, the hamlet of Ganthorpe. pdf
Walk for September 2022 | Circular walk from Kirkbymoorside. An easy walk that takes you to peace and quiet rapidly. pdf
Walk for August 2022 | Yearsley, Peel Wood, Foss Walk, Oulston Reservoir. A walk passing through some of the area’s quietest and most undiscovered hills and valleys, with panoramic views. Best done in summer. pdf
Walk for May 2022 | Whitwell-on-the-Hill, Welburn Hag, and the Monument. This walks starts at a lovely village, flirts briefly with the A64 before become increasingly peaceful, with a choice of two different endings. pdf
Walk for April 2022 | Upper Farndale – the bit without the daffodils! Escape the crowds and daffodils on a 7 mile walk around the tranquil upper valley. pdf
Walk for March 2022 | Wombleton and Nawton. A short but reasonably energetic circular walk, best done in drier conditions. pdf
Walk for January 2022 | Nunnington, River Rye, Stonegrave. This short winter walk explores the countryside to the west of Nunnington and includes a visit to Stonegrave with its ancient Minster. The pull uphill out of Stonegrave is quite steep but the effort is rewarded with views over the fields to Hovingham and beyond. pdf
Walk for December 2021 | Nunnington, Caulklass Bank, Ness, River Rye. This route takes us to the top of Caulklass Bank, a spur of the Hambleton Hills. The exceptional views on both sides of the ridge are best appreciated during the gradual descent to the River Rye. The final stage is a pleasant stroll along the banks of the river. The climb to the top is quite long but fairly gentle after leaving the village; almost as demanding is negotiating the many stiles along the riverside. Try and pick a clear day for this walk, as the views are excellent. pdf
Walk for November 2021 | Easthorpe, Castle Howard Estate, Appleton-le-Street. This walk provides scenic views over the Vale of Pickering in its early stages. After a brief visit to Appleton-le-Street the route climbs gently back into the Castle Howard Estate and passes beside and through extensive woodland. There are a couple of boggy sections and one fairly steep downhill path so good walking boots are recommended. pdf
Walk for October 2021 | Bulmer, Mowthorpe, Brandrith. A pleasant and relatively easy short walk with only one uphill stretch. The views are good and there is the added interest of some popular fishing ponds at the lowest point of the walk. The start and finish of the route includes walking virtually the length of Bulmer, a beautiful village perched on a hilltop. pdf
Walk for September 2021 | Coxwold, Byland Abbey, Oldstead. The target of this walk is the picturesque and photogenic ruins of Byland Abbey. Lots of stiles make the first half quite an obstacle course. The area of land just below Coxwold early on in the walk gets very boggy so take care if there has been a lot of rain. pdf
Walk for August 2021 | Above Beadlam and Nawton. This walk is almost entirely on quiet country lanes and through woodland. Despite its proximity to the North York Moors National Park it is without highlights and dramatic views but it is a very pleasant and peaceful route. Mainly on wide woodland tracks and on tarmaced single track roads it is walkable throughout the year. There is an option to shorten the walk to roughly half its length if the weather turns nasty. pdf
Walk for June 2021 | Coneysthorpe and Castle Howard’s Monuments. Castle Howard is just two miles south of Slingsby and is signposted at the crossroads at the top of the village. Park in the main car park, turning left at the obelisk. The route takes you on the most compact circuit of Castle Howard without actually paying and entering the grounds and has the added interest of the monuments en-route pdf
Walk for May 2021 | Helmsley and the River Rye. A pleasant easy walk downriver from the market town of Helmsley. The walk is on established footpaths and can be quite muddy but doing it in winter or spring avoids the often overgrown vegetation along the riverside in the first half of the walk. The views over the town from the higher latter stages are excellent. pdf
Walk for April 2021 | Hovingham, Moor House Farm, Hovingham Lodge, Mill Wood, Hovingham Park. The walk starts with a steady climb with good views to the north, before passing through stretches of woodland and farmland. The route back follows the line of the beck serving Hovingham, and the final stretch cuts through the impressive grounds of Hovingham Hall. Note; the car park is occupied by Hovingham Village Market on the first Saturday of every month. pdf.
Walk for February/March 2021 – with no change to the stay local message in the Government announcement of 22 February, we suggest you consider one of the local walks HERE.
Walk for January 2021 | Fryton Moor and Woods A short walk ideal for January when daylight is limited and weather can be unpredictable. There is only one small section which can be particularly wet and muddy but good waterproof footwear is recommended anyway. Part of the walk passes through acres of fields of pigs in pens – farming on a scale which is quite impressive. pdf
Walk for December 2020 | Kirkdale and Hodge Beck Around half of this walk is in woodland and although Kirkbymoorside is less than a mile away you escape the traffic to enjoy the best of the Ryedale countryside. There is one fairly steep uphill section and the return through Robin Hood’s Howl can be quite muddy so wear appropriate footwear. pdf
Walk for November 2020 | Kirkbymoorside, Ravenswick A walk that will surprise you with the amount of peaceful countryside and ancient woodland through which it passes despite its proximity to this busy market town. The walk takes you past the site of the former Ravenswick Hall, now replaced by an impressive new development which includes the largest Stately Home to be built in Yorkshire during the last 200 years. pdf
Walk for October 2020 | Kirkbymoorside and St Gregory’s Minster. A walk that starts in Kirkbymoorside town centre, makes its way through the outskirts then passes mostly through open countryside. The exception is in the vicinity of the historic St Gregory’s Minster where there is a chance to visit the Kirkdale Cave and the woodland bordering Hodge Beck. There are a number of stiles on the walk, in some cases without a gate alternative so bear this in mind. pdf
Walk for September 2020 | Scackleton, Dalby, Skewsby, City of Troy Turf Maze. This is a pleasant short walk with extensive views over the Vale of York and lots of small hills and valleys. Although it includes the tiny hamlets of Dalby and Skewsby it is quite possible you won’t see a soul en route. The City of Troy Turf maze adds interest, being a photo opportunity as well as a midpoint picnic spot. A plaque alongside tells its history. .doc |.pdf
Walk for August 2020 | Nunnington, Caulklass Bank, Ness, River Rye. This route takes us to the top of Caulklass Bank, a spur of the Hambleton Hills. The exceptional views on both sides of the ridge are best appreciated during the gradual descent to the River Rye. The final stage is a pleasant stroll along the banks of the river. The climb to the top is quite long but fairly gentle after leaving the village; almost as demanding is negotiating the many stiles along the riverside. Try and pick a clear day for this walk, as the views are excellent .doc |.pdf
Walk for July 2020 | Brandsby, Yearsley. There is some difficult terrain in sections of this walk, but comparatively recent improvements to waymarking and gates by the AONB authority have made it a thoroughly enjoyable experience. The constantly changing scenery provides interest throughout. .doc |.pdf
Walk for June 2020 | Coxwold, Husthwaite, Beacon Banks. Virtually from the outset, this walk provides some of the best scenery and views of any in the Howardian Hills. There is a long, steady climb to reach the highest point but it is well worth the effort. Try and choose a clear day. Along the way, you also pass through working farms and two very picturesque villages. There is a choice of routes to finish. .doc |.pdf
More walks and bike rides from locations in the Howardian Hills including Nunnington, Hovingham and Terrington can be downloaded from the howardianhills.org.uk website
The Visit Ryedale website also has some downloadable cycling routes HERE
Several walks centred on Ryedale market towns are also listed on the Visit Ryedale site and can be found HERE. They can be downloaded for free onto a mobile device, with GPS, maps and pictures.
