Yorkshire Walks

Leaving the car park at Hob Hole at the start of our walk

Looking back to the ford at Hob Hole

Start of the path over Little Hograh Moor

One of several memorials on this part of the moor

After about 450m we came to a road junction where we turned right. We walked along this road for about 300m until we reached a footpath sign on the right hand side of the road. Here we turned right to follow a footpath across Little Hograh Moor and then Great Hograh Moor for around 2km to a pretty crossing of Great Hograh Beck at map ref. NZ635067.

This morning my wife and I met some friends at the little car parking area at Hob Hole in Baysdale, map ref. NZ651074. It's a popular picnicking spot next to Baysdale Beck. From the car park we turned onto the road to walk across the ford over the beck and follow the road up the steep hillside.

Heather moor by the road near Hob Hole

Crossing Great Hograh Moor

Crossing Great Hograh Moor

A handy bench at the crossing of Great Hograh Beck

Climbing up from the stream crossing to the moorland track

From the stream we climbed up the hillside for about 50m to join a wide stony grouse shooters' track climbing up the moor.

There was a bench seat here so we stopped for a short break in this very pleasant little place.

Pretty crossing of Great Hograh Beck at map ref. NZ635067

Grouse shooters' track over the moor

Gate into the plantation down to Thorntree House

Looking down to Thorntree House

Here the path turned left to follow the boundary of the plantation for about 200m to a gate at map ref. NZ626065. We turned right through the gate to follow a track down through the plantation to Thorntree House where there were several young people enjoying the sunshine in the yard.

After 500m there was a footpath off to the right. At this point we split up. Our friends are much fitter than we are and they continued along the track to go around the head of Baysdale and drop down to Baysdale Abbey farm. From there they would continued back to the car park on the same paths that we will use. We turned right to follow the footpath over the moor to the edge of a plantation.

Path along the boundary of the plantation

The track down to Thorntree House

Large ash tree by the track

Sheep grazing by the track

Leaving the farm access road to cross Baysdale Beck

Climbing up the hillside towards the moor

We walked up the valley side past some farm buildings part way up the hillside. After about 200m from the beck we reached a dry-stone wall at the top of the field. We sat on the grass here for our lunch with a very pleasant view up Baysdale. A very fit looking walker came by and asked if we had a Moors Bus timetable. He was planning to walk to Castleton and catch the Moors Bus at 4.00pm or was it 4.30pm? We were unable to help.

From Thorntree House we continued following the farm access track down the hillside to a track beside Baysdale Beck at map ref. NZ622070. At this track we turned right to walk along the track following the beck down stream for about 500m. Here we turned left off the track just before a farm building ahead. We went through a field gate and continued along a grassy track across a bridge over the beck.

Joining the farm access road next to Baysdale Beck

Crossing Baysdale Beck to climb up to the moor

Gate from the fields to the moorland path

Looking up Baysdale from our lunch spot

A short boggy part of the path

Old stone barn by the path

Ling heather in full bloom

By now the path had become a moorland track which continued out to a road junction at map ref. NZ650077. But it's a very pleasant walk back to the car park along Baysdale Beck so at this point we turned off the track, picking a place where the heather had been burnt off last year leaving just the short new growth to walk through.

After our lunch we walked through the pedestrian gate in the dry-stone wall and turned right to continue along the path following the wall. We had to push our way through tall bracken and for about 30m we had to pick our way through a boggy patch, although today the ground generally was particularly dry. From the pedestrian gate in the dry-stone wall we continued along the path for about 1.5km to around map ref. NZ642077.

Path along the wall side overgrown with bracken

Track along Baysdale

Heading down the moor from the track to Baysdale Beck

Wooded path by Baysdale Beck

Baysdale Beck near Hob Hole picnic site

We arrived at the car park a little before 2.00pm and drove about 5km to the village of Kildale where it was the annual village agricultural show.

We headed directly down the hillside until we reached a well walked footpath beside the beck. At the footpath we turned left to follow the beck downstream for about a kilometer back to the car park.

Wooded path by Baysdale Beck

Baysdale Beck near Hob Hole picnic site

Two texel tupps at Kildale show

Owl sculptures at Kildale show

Miniature traction engine at Kildale show

The catering tent was next to the band so that we could listen to the Northallerton Silver Band as we had our tea. It was all very pleasant with a lovely atmosphere in the late summer sunshine.

At the edge of the village there was a large car park in a field and we paid our entrance fee and had a good look around including a cup of tea and a scone.

Heavy horses at Kildale show

Carving another owl by chainsaw

Vintage tractor parade at Kildale show