13 August 2003
Hole-of-Horcum, Levisham circuit
North York Moors
Map:OS Explorer OL27 Map of North York Moors Eastern area at 1:25000

This morning we drove to the car park at the Hole-of-Horcum on the Pickering to Whitby road. We arrived there at about 10.00am. The weather was fine and sunny with a pleasant warm breeze. The National Park volunteer rangers were setting up their information caravan in the car park as we set off across the road and down the steep bank on a narrow path, through the oak woods into the bottom of the Hole-of-Horcum bowl at map ref. SE 850938. We continued across to the main path and through the gate at map ref. SE 845934 and followed the path down the valley to Dundale Griff at map ref. SE 838917 From here we took the path up the valley side through the woods to the road at the edge of Levisham village at map ref. SE 832902. We walked up the village street and at the fork in front of the pub we took the right hand road out to Dundale Pond at map ref. SE 828918. On the way out of the village we saw a large hers of Old English Longhorn cattle. This is one of the breeds supported by the Rare Breeds Survival Trust so it seemed quite unusual to see such a large herd. From Dundale Pond we took the path in a direct line to Skelton Tower at map ref. SE 819928. The heather was in full bloom and its scent filled the air. It was a goreous day. We sat on the edge overlooking Newtondale for a drink, just soaking up the view. Once we reached Skelton Tower there was a view up Newtondale and we watched a steam train come down the line in the valley bottom and then another came up the line a few minutes later. There is a passing place at Levisham Station just down the line. We followed the edge of the cliff up the valley to map ref. SE 844949 with lovely views along Newtondale all the way. The main path is a few hundred yards away from the cliff and yu cannot see into the valley so I think its well worth the small extra distance to follow the cliff edge. We could see the Fylingdales installation in the distance and the Saltergate Inn over on the main road. We followed the path across the moor and climbed up to the stile at map ref. SE 848940 and the walked back to the car park around the rim of the Hole-of-Horcum just below the road. The whole route had been about 12 km and had taken us four and a half hours including several stops to look at the views and to watch the trains which strangely today did not give off any white steam even when climbing the incline up the valley. I suppose it must have been something to do with the hot weather?

Levisham village with the pub at the top of the street

Path through the oak woods into the Hole-of-Horcum Old English Longhorn Bull and cows near Levisham

Lunch break by the stream in Dundale Griff Heather in full bloom on the moor above Newtondale