A relatively 'easy' but lengthy North York Moors walk that takes in the railway and mining heritage of the Rosedale valley. The walk also provides some wonderful views of the valley and surrounding moors.
Calculated time: 5h45[?] 
Distance : 10.96mi
Vertical gain : 774ft
Vertical drop : 774ft
Highest point : 1220ft
Lowest point : 446ft 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : North York Moors 
Location : Farndale East
Starting point : N 54.38167° / W 0.94952° (D)This walk has that great combination of fantastic views, relatively easy walking and fascinating industrial history. Oh yes, and it starts near to the Lion Inn at Blakey on the C2C route. Park at Little Blakey (grid ref. SE684990) where the dismantled railway from Battersby Junction/incline crosses the Blakey Road. There are information boards here about the railway and the mine working heritage. After parking, take the path down to the old railway, turn right and follow the route all the way to Bank Top (grid ref. SE719951). There are great views into the Rosedale valley and over to the old mine buildings.
(1)After 3.75 miles, and just before the house at Bank Top, follow the track off towards the house then bear off left downhill across the open land towards the corner of a wall/pen and then more steeply downhill through bracken. Continue right along a wall and then turn right over a stile into the golf course. The path is signed to turn left around reception and out onto Daleside Road (grid ref. SE722954). Take the path directly across the road into Rosedale, coming out onto Gill Lane just before the bridge over the River Seven through a passageway alongside a house.
(2)Go left into the village and keep left at the junction in front of the Abbey Stores taking the road past the old school. Take either the first or second path either side of a house and go through to the campsite. Then follow the road and footpath which is signposted to Dunn Carr bridge. At the River Seven take the middle path over board steps, not crossing the river nor going uphill on the right. Follow the path across fields then left down a farm track and follow the River Seven again on your left until you get to another bridge. Once again do not cross the bridge but go off on a part-hidden stone path leading north-west across a field.
(3)The path crosses a couple of fields and eventually becomes a track leading out at Hill Houses on Alders Road. Cross over and take the track up past the farm. Then keep left until you pick up the old railway again, which runs along the edge of the valley. The path is easy to follow all the way back to Blakey and gives plenty of opportunities to admire the view and read the information boards at the old mine workings.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 1220ft - Little Blakey
1 : mi 3.78 - alt. 1007ft - Bank Top
2 : mi 4.5 - alt. 446ft - Rosedale
3 : mi 6.14 - alt. 699ft - Hill Houses
D/A : mi 10.96 - alt. 1220ft - Little Blakey
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
Global average : 4.67/5
Number of opinions : 1
Description quality : 4/5
Routemap quality : 5/5
Walk interest : 5/5
Global average : 4.67 / 5
Date of walk
: 06/09/20
Description quality
: Good
Routemap quality
: Very good
Walk interest
: Very good
The walks around Rosedale on the old ironstone railway are always good value for the views and interest.
I walked a slightly shorter variation on this route and in the reverse direction. Starting from the parking I headed north around the head of Rosedale, passing the kilns used to roast the ironstone, down to the row of houses at Hill Cottages (pt 3) and then down the track and across the fields. At the bottom of the fields I vary from the route by crossing the footbridge and taking the left hand path up through Low Thorgill Farm to the road. Turn right and follow the road for a short way to where it bends right. Go straight up the track to the parking for more houses (ignore the first path on the left) and take a second path up onto the moor. Follow the path with a wall on your right to a large rectangular stone. Here the path splits, I took the left hand path up the obvious ridge and depression which then bends to the left. At the top there is a heather covered spoil heap with a cairn on the top. Turn right an take a narrow sheep track through the heather up t the right of the spoil heap. The track becomes better as and brings you to the railway. Turn right and walk past Thorgill head and Sheriff's Pit and back to the parking. (The route could be made shorter again by taking the right hand path after the footbridge up through Thorgill and to Sheriff's Pit. The paths are all good and easy to navigate with an OS map)
If you want view my route it can be found here. https://ridewithgps.com/trips/55673035
Another alternative which takes in the excellent tea room at Dake Head Farm is here https://www.visorando.co.uk/walk-dale-he...
12.02mi
+991ft
-1004ft
6h25
Average
Starting point in Farndale East - North Yorkshire A North York Moors walk that offers miles of easy walking around Farndale. There is some uphill walking at the start but the rewards are some wonderful views.
11.77mi
+1106ft
-1099ft
6h20
Average
Starting point in Farndale West - North Yorkshire This lovely walk takes you on a tour of upper Farndale; a delightful and peaceful valley in the North York Moors. Starting at Low Mill it heads immediately uphill onto Blakey Ridge and follows the old iron ore railway towards the head of the dale, with great views, before descending into farmland and eventually taking the riverside path back to Low Mill. Where the walking is on the road these are quiet and traffic will be infrequent.
8.1mi
+751ft
-732ft
4h25
Easy
Starting point in Rosedale East Side - North Yorkshire A pleasant and interesting circular walk from Rosedale Abbey. Farmland, open moors and the remains of the old iron ore mine workings and railway. Lovely half way tea room at Dale Head Farm.
8.09mi
+768ft
-768ft
4h25
Average
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10.13mi
+876ft
-876ft
5h25
Average
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11.87mi
+1037ft
-1037ft
6h20
Average
Starting point in Egton - North Yorkshire This North York Moors route has the disdvantage that much of the walk follows quiet moorland roads. However the walks offers some beautiful views of Northdale, Rosedale, the Fryup Dales and Glaisdale.
9.45mi
+1050ft
-1024ft
5h15
Average
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5.25mi
+574ft
-571ft
2h55
Average
Starting point in Danby - North Yorkshire This walk takes about 3 hours including half an hour of stops. It goes over the old coal and ironstone mines of the late 19th Century and also passes through the Moors Centre which has a free exhibition on the Land of Iron. There is an outline of an old bell-pit at Clitherbecks, in front of the farmhouse. This is one of a series of circular routes from Stations shortly to be promoted on boards at Stations along the Esk Valley Line.
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