Yorkshire Walks

Crossing Cowhouse Beck

The grass track branching to the right

After crossing the footbridge over Cowhouse Beck we took the right fork, continuing on the gravel track uphill to a gate where the track forked three ways. Taking the leftmost fork we reached, within about 150 metres, a grass track branching to the right which led us through East Moor Wood.

Carpe Diem (seize the day!); discounting the conflicting weather forecasts for the day we trusted the blue sky and set out for lower Bransdale, parking opposite the public phone box just beyond the crossing of Cowhouse Beck, map ref. SE609903 on the Helmsley-Bransdale road. We walked back down the road about 150 metres and turned right on to a track at the "Public Footpath" sign.

The left of three forks beyond the gate at map ref. SE606906

Track through East Moor Wood

Continuing straight ahead at map ref. SE600912 to by-pass Snaper House

Farm track towards Potter House

However just before we reached the farm gate of Potter House we made a sharp right turn towards a steel gate at the far corner of the field. In fact there is a waymark by the previous gate but it faces the opposite direction and is easily missed.

About 1km further, we continued straight ahead where a track dropped down on the left. Our grassy track soon emerged from the wood and after a while at SE598916 we turned left over a stile to pass to the North of Snaper House. The track led through 2 gates and a further gateway before it turned left towards Potter House.

Making for the stile towards Snaper House

Heading for a steel gate at the far corner of the field

Heading for the corner of the forest at map ref. SE595919

At this small cairn we carried straight over onto a narrow grass path

Here at a small cairn we carried straight over on to a narrow grass path and soon found a stream running on the right. After passing through a small gate we dropped down to pick our way across Bogmire Gill to a farm gate.

After the steel gate the track gradually curved round to the right and at SE595920, where it turns left, we left it for a short path on the right leading to the corner of the forest. From here the forest track was straight, crossing over another forest track until it reached yet another.

Straight track through East Moor Wood

Dropping down to cross Bogmire Gill to a farm gate at map ref. SE602922

Grass path heading for Old Kiln Farm

We circumnavigated the farm via a couple of farm gates, the first of wood, the second of steel from which the route led downhill to a gravel track.

After passing through the gate we kept to the right of a wall on a grass path which ran uphill to Old Kiln Farm.

Old Kiln Farm

Walking around Old Kiln Farm through a wooden gate before turning left to the steel gate

The route led downhill to a gravel track

On reaching the road at SE 606926 we turned left and walked north until we reached a track on the right at SE608930.

At SE605925 we continued on to a narrow path, not much wider than a sheep track.

The track on the right at map ref. SE608930

Cinderhill Wath ford over the Bonfield Gill

Pond in a disused gravel pit at SE618934

Then there was a steady climb up to a pond in a disused pit at SE618934.

This track took us past three pastures on the left and down to the Cinderhill Wath ford over the Bonfield Gill.

Looking back at the three pastures

The track to the right, initially running due South from map ref. SE618933

Branching right on to a grassy track

At the Hanging Stones we immediately branched right on to a more grassy track that gradually curved right, passing 'sprunts' (small outcrops on the left of the path where it follows a depression). Quite suddenly our surroundings merged from moor into farmland

At that point there is a crossing of tracks and we took the track to the right, initially running due South. This track became stony in parts and muddy in others where vehicles had produced ruts. About 1km later we passed three "Hanging Stones" on the right.

The three "Hanging Stones" at map ref. SE623922

Track heading towards Birk Nab Farm

Track running downhill to Bonfield Gill

The stile led us on to a path that became a track running downhill to a ford over Bonfield Gill.

After passing through a couple of farm gates, we arrived at Birk Nab farm. Immediately beyond the farm we crossed a stile on the right.

Stile on the right beyond Birk Nab Farm

The ford over Bonfield Gill

Wall on the left of the track from Bonfield Gill to Lund Farm

We passed over a couple of stiles on our way towards Lund Farm. Alongside the farm we had to disconnect, and then reconnect, two electric fences that were confining some horses.

We immediately passed through a wooden gate on the left as waymarked and followed the wall on our left.

Electric fences beside Lund Farm

Making for the road via a gate with a plantation on our right

This had been a most enjoyable walk with perfect weather and much less mud underfoot than on a nearby walk only three weeks ago; Spring has arrived! - Ray Brown

On leaving the second house at Lund Farm we followed a waymark directing us towards a gate with a plantation on our right. Staying on the left of the woodland we reached a small gate and then a tiny chapel before coming out at the road and our car.

The tiny chapel by the road at the end of our walk