Hawnby Hill and Moor

Start : Moorgate parking. Grid ref. SE 539 916

(S/E) From the car park follow the stone track heading North. The track leads easily across the moor with the Bilsdale transmitters in the distance. You will arrive at an obvious bifurcation in the path.

(1) Take the right-hand track which curves around to the right and descends, passing a ruined building on the right, to a ford and a line of wooden shooting butts. Cross the ford and keep to the obvious stony track as it curves right and heads South-South-East. The path ascends and curves East-South-East to a gate in the fell wall.

(2) Go through the gate and follow the track/path with a wall on the right, pass some old spoil heaps on the left and arrive at the junction with the farm road (Wethercote Farm).

(3) Turn right (South-Esat) onto the road and follow it with a wall on the left. The road descends, passing a small wooded section on the left (ignore the footpath signpost on the right as the wood ends) to a junction where there are footpath signposts and a faded oval sign on the right for Low Ewe Cote farm.

(4) Turn right (South-West) and leave the road to follow another track up to Low Ewe Cote farm. Walk through the farm and turn right after the last barn. You will see a gate ahead of you with an arrow (footpath marker). Follow the track through the gate, it then curves to the right to pass through a second gate (faded footpath arrow). After the second gate ignore the track and take a feint path with the stone wall on your left and ascend gently to another gate in the fell wall.

(5) Ahead of you is the open moor and a shallow gully. The path is narrow and leads through the heather to the left of the gully. Once you are on the path it is ok to follow. It dips into and climbs out of a hollow but after that, it ascends gently over the moor. Look out for a fallen wood marker post beside the path.

(6) At the fallen wooden post the path splits. straight on is less obvious, you want to take the more obvious but still narrow path on the left which heads in the direction of the lower edge of Easterside Hill. This path will lead you to a gate in the wall.

(7) Go through the gate. There is a track which veers down and away from the fence line. Follow this track, it will curve around to a gate. (Alternatively follow a feint path 3-4 meters from the fence line to the same gate). Go through the gate and follow the path towards High Banniscue farm. Just before the gates to the farm look out for a gate and footpath marker on the left, next to a tree.

(8) Go through the gate on the left and up to pass through a second gate. Now follow the track around the back of the farm buildings (High Banniscue) and pick up the main farm track, which heads south. Follow the farm track with fields on the right and a wood on the left to a junction with the Hawnby Road.

(9) Please take care on this next section as the road is narrow and steep; walk in a single file. Turn right (West) and walk in single file down the steep road to the ford and footbridge. Cross the footbridge and then walk up the steep road to a turning on the right (small parking place for cars). Ignore this and take the road on the left that curves past some buildings and into Hawnby, where The Owl (country inn) offers refreshments.

(10) Before you reach The Owl the roads splits (left and straight ahead). At this point, there is a wooden finger post on the left next to the black and white finger posts for the road directions. On your right is a lovely wooden shelter, the footpath ascends the steps immediately in front of the wooden shelter. It looks like it is heading into someone's garden but stick with it.

The path ascends to pass between the end of the terrace and another building on the right. It passes a ruined building and goes through a gate. The path now splits. Look on your left for a wooden marker post in the field with woods beyond.

Turn left, walk up the field to the post and then you will see a stile and marker post on the boundary with the woods. Cross the stile and walk through the woods. Cross a further two stiles before the path ascends more steeply through bracken, passing through a wooden gate. The path starts to ease off and the ground opens up as you leave the woods and bracken below you. It leads up to a stone cairn and bench, then it descends into a dip before ascending again to the top of Hawnby Hill. (Note there is a small limestone crag on the left below the cairn and bench, take with young children and dogs)

(11) Enjoy the excellent views from the summit, you will be able to see where you have walked today. Then descend, steeply at first, following a narrow path to cross a wider path, always heading North and back to the parking at Moorgate. (S/E)

Start : Moorgate parking. Grid ref. SE 539 916

Parking : Park at Moorgate, where there is enough parking for about 10 well-parked cars. Grid ref. SE 539 916
The walk is described from the parking at Moorgate as there is more parking here. There is also some limited parking in Hawnby so you could park in the village and start/end the walk from there. This gives you the advantage of scoping out the route from the top of Hawnby Hill and finishing at the Owl. If you do this try to use the parking bays near the junction off to Osmotherley, please do not double park or obstruct the narrow roads through the village. There are plenty of signs asking people not to park, please comply with those instructions.

Note: This walk has easy walking on stony tracks and quiet farm roads. There is also the section between points (5) and (8) where the narrow path crosses the open moor and then farmland. This can be wet after rain. Make sure you have assessed the weather and that you take the right footwear. In dry conditions then approach shoes will be fine for this walk but when it is wet you may want to wear something more waterproof.

Facilities: The Owl in Hawnby is a charming country inn and it serves refreshments plus food. A nice place to stop off for a cup of tea before the final ascent over Hawnby Hill.
There are no places for shelter on this walk other than the wooden shelter in Hawnby and The Owl.

A pleasant and varied walk, taking in good tracks over the moors. There is both moorland and farmland secenery and great views from the top of Hawnby Hill.