Yorkshire Walks

We crossed the main road (B6451) and followed the path round the gate (it's chained shut) into the woods. The Forestry Commission are developing mountain biking trails through these woods so there are more paths than appear on the map.

This morning I met an old work colleague, that's a former work colleague, although he is getting on a bit - a year older than me. We had agreed to meet at 10.30am in the Forestry Commission car park on Norwood Edge, map ref. SE 210509.

Path through Stainburn Forest near the start of our walk

Path through Stainburn Forest near the start of our walk

The striking outline of Menwith Hill

Looking up the Washburn Valley from the road at map ref. SE 209517

We continued on this path for almost 2km to the corner of the wood at map ref. SE 226522. From there we followed the path across the fields to the rocky outcrop known as Little Alms Cliff at map ref. SE 232523 (its big brother Almscliff Crag is about 5km away to the south east).

We kept to our left on a path up the hill to join a forestry track which brought us back to the main road at map ref. SE 208515. We walked along the roadside verge for about 250m to map ref. SE 209517. Here we turned off the road onto a path along the edge of the woods.

Little Alms Cliff

Little Alms Cliff

Menwith Hill base from the fields at Little Alms Cliff

Path through Stainburn Forest back towards the car park

Path through Stainburn Forest back towards the car park

We climbed onto the rocks to admire the view before heading for the woods again at map ref. SE 228519. The stile into the woods is a bit wonky but we climbed over safely and followed the public footpath through the woods to the Hunter's Stones at map ref. SE 220517. These are a series of large boulders lying around in a clearing in the woods.

The Hunter's Stones in Stainburn Forest

From the Hunter's Stones we followed the public footpath for just over 1km back to the main road opposite the car park. The whole route had been about 6km and had taken us about 2 hours to walk. We drove to a nearby pub for lunch and enjoyed a very good roast beef sandwich.