This North York Moors walk takes you into the wild open moorland of this National Park. The route is mostly along well defined tracks and paths but do choose fine weather to enjoy the view.
Calculated time: 5h45[?] 
Distance : 10.11mi
Vertical gain : 1276ft
Vertical drop : 1276ft
Highest point : 1483ft
Lowest point : 518ft 
Difficulty : Average
Back to starting point : Yes
Walking
Area : North York Moors 
Location : Bilsdale Midcable
Starting point : N 54.38645° / W 1.14082° (D)Park at the Village Hall (grid ref. SE559994). Cross the B1257, follow it to the right and take the stile just after the driveway into Esp House. The path crosses the field and continues over another couple of stiles as it makes its way between the back of Esp House and Hagg Wood. Follow the path across the fields, generally along the line of the fences, towards Seave Green. As you come into the village pass two houses on your left and shortly after the second pick up the track around a third and continue down towards Bilsdale Beck.
(1)Turn right up the road towards Bilsdale Hall and St Hilda's Church. When the road goes around to the left towards the church take the bridleway off to the right. Bend round to the left at the side of the Hall, pass the path going downhill on your right and continue on through the gate into open country. Pass an old stone barn and through a gate in the wall as you keep ascending on the bridleway up to Medd Crag.
(2)The path loops around to get to the top and you come out at bridleway signs that will indicate the well defined moors track that heads off to the north east away from a stone mounted plaque that tells you that you are on the Nawton Tower Estate. Carry on for a mile and a quarter until you get to the Cleveland Way just before the Round Hill trig point. All of the tracks are well defined, crushed stone moors tracks and although they tend not to be signed they are easy to find.
(3)Take the next unsigned path on the right which is just over half a mile after Round Hill at the top of Cockayne Head. This path leads southwards towards the start of the Bransdale valley. At the next junction of 5 tracks take the one on the right that leads down to the rocks near the Hodge Beck. Follow the track as it crosses the beck then turns south along the side of Black Hill. If you keep on going to the Stump Cross at grid ref. SE617982 there are views into Bransdale - although you cannot see all the way into it.
(4)Head back on the track slightly to the left that heads northwest then west across Slape Wath Moor. You get views into the valleys of the Tarn Hole and Tripsdale Becks crossing the latter as the track weaves its way down then up the side of the beck valley.
(5)At the top of Nab End Moor turn right on the track towards the sign that indicates the path down to William Beck Farm. From the top you can see the farm and Chop Gate beyond it. Pass through the farmyard and take the farm road back towards Chop Gate. In the last field before the road angle off right towards the stile where it all began then cross the road back to the village hall parking.(A)
Waypoints :
D/A : mi 0 - alt. 522ft - Chop Gate village hall
1 : mi 0.83 - alt. 551ft - Turn right up road
2 : mi 1.79 - alt. 1115ft - Medd Crag
3 : mi 3.8 - alt. 1444ft - Take righthand path
4 : mi 6.47 - alt. 1355ft - Stump Cross
5 : mi 8.27 - alt. 850ft - Tripsdale Beck
D/A : mi 10.11 - alt. 522ft - Chop Gate village hall
This walk covers the moors between Bilsdale and the top of Bransdale. There is one fairly steep climb towards the start of the walk then the majority of the rest of the walk is on well defined moors tracks. While there are views into the valleys the main experience is to be reminded how large an expanse of moorland there is once you have climbed up from the North Yorks Moors valleys and get into the remote uplands.
Park at the Village Hall (grid ref. SE559994) where an all day ticket costs £1.00. The fee goes to the upkeep of the hall and toilets area available here too. In my two visits there have never actually been any parking tickets so it can be more of an honesty payment rather than a parking charge.
Visorando and this author cannot be held responsible in the case of accidents or problems occuring on this walk.
7.38mi
+1224ft
-1224ft
4h30
Average
Starting point in Bilsdale Midcable - North Yorkshire A circular walk passing through farmland, onto the open moors and up to the ridge with the dramatic Wainstones. Return via the peaceful hamlet of Urra, passing the farm at Bilsdale Hall. Good refreshments in the Buck in at Chop Gate.
11.53mi
+2087ft
-2087ft
7h05
Average
Starting point in Carlton (North Yorkshire)-1 - North Yorkshire A nice 11 mile walk starting and finishing at the Lord Stones Cafe at the top of Carlton Bank, where there is good parking. It takes in the three North facing hills and the climb to Round Hill. The route returns down past Bilsdale Hall to Seave Green. From here it passes through rolling pastures to a short section on Raisdale Road before taking a lovely path through woods and over the moors back to the start.
In total it is 11.66 miles and covers 2262ft of ascent and descent.
8.33mi
+1142ft
-1168ft
4h50
Average
Starting point in Hawnby - North Yorkshire This North York Moors route explores the moors to the north of the village of Hawnby and mainly uses moorland tracks. The walk makes a circuit of Hawnby, Bilsdale West and Wetherhouse Moors and gives views into upper Ryedale, Bilsdale and Ladhill Gill.
6.5mi
+732ft
-732ft
3h40
Easy
Starting point in Osmotherley - North Yorkshire A circular walk around and over Black Hambleton and the end of Arden Moor; described here in a clockwise direction but just as good in reverse. There is a mixture of open moorland crossed via broad tracks and upland pasture crossed by narrow paths through the heather.
10.13mi
+876ft
-876ft
5h25
Average
Starting point in Bransdale - North Yorkshire This North York Moors circular walk's main focus is to enjoy the views from Rudland Rigg. This is a quiet part of this National Park and you can almost be guaranteed solitude.
9.78mi
+1129ft
-1122ft
5h30
Average
Starting point in Kildale - North Yorkshire A lovey walk, starting through farmland and then a steady climb up the old railway incline to Ingleby Moor. Back along the top of Ingleby and Battersby Moors and back down to the start. (9.78 miles with 340 metres of ascent.)
6.27mi
+1155ft
-1079ft
3h55
Average
Starting point in Great Ayton - North Yorkshire This circular walk from Great Ayton takes in the summit of Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook's Monument. Both of these features are worth exploring with the added bonus of some fine views across the countryside.
9.55mi
+495ft
-499ft
4h50
Average
Starting point in Helmsley - North Yorkshire This North York Moors walk around Rievaulx Moor is easy to follow and gives periodic views into the lower valleys below the Rievaulx Bank. There are some muddy stretches after heavy rain.
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The GPS track and description are the property of the author.
