SHEPHERDS ROUND
This 40 mile walk starts and finishes at the Sheepwash car park 1 mile north of Osmotherley. It is
firmer going and more suited to large parties than the Lyke Wake Walk, but is if anything more
strenuous, involving 5,000 ft. of climbing. If you start walking early morning then the route should
be undertaken in a clockwise direction thus avoiding farms and villages at unsocial hours - and to
hit pubs during opening hours. The following outline describes the route but it is not meant to be a
definitive guide. It is strongly recommended that you invest in a copy of N. Y. Moors O. S. 1"
Tourist Map before setting out.
SECTION 1 : SHEEPWASH TO CLAY BANK (10 miles)
This section is relatively easy to follow. From Sheepwash head north along the road to the cattle
grid at Scarth. Here turn right and follow the footpath signposted Lyke Wake Walk / Cleveland
Way. This footpath is followed all the way to Clay Bank via Huthwaite, the glider station on
Carlton, Cold Moor and Cringle Moor to Clay Bank. The car park at Clay Bank makes a suitable
support point. There is a refreshment hut in Clay Bank car park open at weekends and most days
during the summer.
SECTION 2 : CLAY BANK TO FANGDALE BECK (12 miles)
Continue along the L.W. route up the steep climb to the top of Urra Moor ( the highest point on
the North Yorkshire Moors at 1492' ) and along to Blowath Crossing ( the point where the
L.W.W. and the Cleveland Way go their separate ways ). Turn south down Rudland Rigg. After
just over a mile you reach the Cammon stone, one of the many Celtic stones on the moors. Just
over half a mile further on a footpath comes up on the left from Spout House in Farndale and off to
the right is the stump of Cockan Cross. A footpath does slant off to the S.W. from here through
the heather, keeping above the forestry, into Bransdale, but 500 yards further on is a much better
bridle path. This goes down to the road in Bransdale a few yards north of Cow Syke Farm.
From here it is quicker and easier to turn right and go round the head of Bransdale by the dale
road past Cockayne. In just under 2 miles the road rises steeply to the moor top again at the 1200'
contour. A signpost marks the bridle path to Bilsdale but this is the one that goes back over to
William Beck. Go on for 500 yards. A cart track comes up on the left from Low South House in
Bransdale, and just opposite a less well - marked track goes off to your right going west at first
then S.W. across 'Botany Bay' to the ruined house in Bonfield Gill (1 mile). Keep to the left of the
boggy area making straight for the intake wall corner and down the north side of the wall. Keep to
the intake wall until you cross a jeep track then pick the best route through the heather , S.W. at
first but as you near Basin Howe turn more west and keep it on you left. Presently (1¼ miles from
High House) you hit a line of shooting butts. From the northern end of these a good but narrow
path goes west. You are making for Bilsdale mast but keep to the heather and don't be tempted to
go down the slope to your right. Presently you will see the intake wall and fence of High Crossets.
Head straight across the heather to the gate.
From the intake gate the path goes down two or three fields aiming to the north of High Crossets
Farm, and coming out onto a stoned road. This goes round the farm buildings to the north and will
shortly bring you onto the main Bilsdale road just opposite the Fangdale Beck turning. ( The Sun in
at Spout House is ¾ mile south of here. If it is the right time of day the detour is well worth it.
There is also a good shop in the Post Office in Fangdale Beck village.)
SECTION 3 : FANGDALE BECK TO HAWNBY (8 miles)
Keep to the left (south) of Fangdale Beck village past the shop following the road to left to Malkin
Bower Farm. From the farm a good track turns right up onto the moor again past an old quarry.
From the moor gate above the quarry tracks go right and left. Follow the track to the right until
you meet a jeep track running N/S along Bilsdale West Moor ridge. Cross this, heading west and
you will strike the S.E. corner of the old Wether House intakes. From here an indistinct track runs
more or less down the Wether House beck a little south of west to the intakes and ruined house of
Honey Hill. From Honey Hill a good track is soon picked up which heads S.W. for Moor Gate on
the Osmotherly - Hawnby road. An easy 1½ miles takes you into Hawnby and its welcoming
hotel, and if the beer and the hospitality is half as good as last time I was there I seriously
recommend you stay for a short while, or longer, and partake of a little light refreshment.
SECTION 4 :HAWNBY TO SHEEPWASH (10 miles)
From Hawnby take the road for Kepwick past New Hall. This is a beautiful area of steep
limestone valleys. There are many alternative paths but at this stage it is best to stick to the rough
lane which climbs up to Kepwick Bank Top on the old Hambleton Drove Road. This takes you
north past the ruins of Limekiln House ( an Inn until about 1890 ) and over Black Hambleton
(once the haunt of an extraordinary but kindly old witch Abigail Craister ). Below Black
Hambleton you join the metalled Hawnby - Osmotherley road for a mile past Chequers ( another
Inn that you will find difficult to forget ; this one does sell light refreshment but has no license for
anything stronger ) and then the Drove Road takes you back to the Sheepwash - a final easy six
miles from Limekiln House.
A fuller description of this section can be found in the section on theCleveland Way.
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