Hawnby Moor and Hill

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, then through a wooden gate and down 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) Do not go through the gate, but instead turn right and follow the green track across the moor to a wall and wooden gate which is marked with a blue circle for Aelred' Trail. Go through the gate and continue along the green track, which veers away from the wall and descends. Another track joins on the right, but keep straight on, pass through another gate and walk to a place where a track crosses your track.

(3) Turn left and walk uphill to a ruined building. At the wall in front of the ruin, turn right and follow the path which will cross a pasture and descend to a small wooden gate marked with the blue Aelred's Trail circle. Go through the gate. The path is narrow at first and a little overgrown with young Alder saplings, but it soon widens and eventually becomes a track just before the ruins of Low Banniscue and Little Banniscue farms. After Little Banniscue ignore the path on the right, which descends to a stream and woodland, as it is overgrown. Instead, keep along the main track to the road.

(4) 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.

(5) From the Owl turn right and walk to the carved wooden shelter. The footpath ascends the steps immediately after 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. Turn left, walk diagonally up the field towards the woods. You will see a stile and marker post on the boundary with the woods. Cross the stile and walk through the woods; 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 care with young children and dogs.

(6) 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. Approach type shoes are adequate, but you might want to wear boots after rain or in the autumn and winter.

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 scenery and great views from the top of Hawnby Hill.