Walking in North Yorkshire

Hasty Bank, Cold Moor and Upper Bilsdale

8 miles Fine and still

We parked at the top of Clay Bank and crossed the road to climb Hasty Bank, but instead of following the Cleveland Way to the top, we branched left on a small track that wound its way upwards to reach the Old Quarry, shown on the map below.

Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills

The reason for this diversion was that we wanted to pay our respects to 'The Lady of Bilsdale', described by Tom Scott Burns as 'the enigmatic face of a lady carved on a rock wall who gazes eternally down into Bilsdale'. This ancient stone face was carved into the side of the Old Quarry, perhaps by one of the workers. The track led us around Hasty Bank and we came to the quarry on our right and walked over to admire the Lady and share her view of Bilsdale.

Looking back to Clay Bank as we climb Hasty Bank

We take a small track climbing to the left...

... which leads us to Old Quarry

... and The Lady of Bilsdale

The Lady's view of Bilsdale and Clive

Old Quarry

Leaving the Lady we walked across the moor top to reach The Wainstones, where we picked our way carefully through the rocks before descending into Garfitts Gap and climbing onto Cold Moor. TSB says that the name Wainstones is believed to derive from the Saxon 'wanian' - to howl, and that the naming of the stones means 'stones of lamentation'. Fortunately there was no wind to howl through them in today's still weather

Swathes of bluebells in the fields below

We follow the track through bilberry bushes...

... to reach The Wainstones

The Wainstones

TSB mentions his favourite graffitti found on The Wainstones is 'RO WOOING TD 1712' but we have yet to come across it.

The Wainstones from Garfitts Gap

Lambs on Cold Moor

We walked along the summit of Cold Moor (1318') for 2.5 miles with a fine view as far as the Pennines over to the west and Roseberry Topping and Easby Moor to the east. Eventually we took a clear fork to the left, taking us gently down to the village of Chop Gate. This track is known as Cold Moor Lane and we passed through a gate where our path became a hollow lane. TSB says that it is possible that this passageway was established by prehistoric man and has continued in use throughout history to the present day.

Approaching the summit of Cold Moor

Looking down at Seave Green, the red pan tile roof of Bilsdale Hall at 9 o'clock

Leaving Cold Moor

Cold Moor Lane

The ancient hollow lane to Chop Gate

The usually muddy path was quite passable after the recent dry spell and we were delighted to find it full of wild flowers. We soon reached Chop Gate where we emerged at the old Wesleyan Chapel which is almost hidden between houses. The reason for the strange location of the chapel is that the landowner, Lord Feversham, was C of E and totally against a non-conformist church being established in the dale. However a local shop keeper sold the Methodists this plot of land and the chapel was built in 1858. TSB reports that it contains an interesting harmonium (pump organ) but its doors were firmly locked today and a 'For Sale' notice indicates that sadly there is going to be a change of use for the building.

Weather vane at Chop Gate

The rear of the chapel

The front of the chapel


War memorial at Chop Gate

TSB says that the name Chop Gate is thought to be derived from the old Scandinavian term kaup meaning pedlar and with a number of pannier tracks converging on the village it must have been like a market place in times gone by.

We turned left into the B1257 and walked along to Seave Green whose name is thought to derive from its owner in 1301, Nicholas del Seves. Here we crossed the road to the tarmac track to Bilsdale Hall. On the left we passed Chisel Hill Mill which ceased operation in 1930 and later became a recording studio that was used by Chris Rea in the 1980s. The studio's name became the subject of one of his songs, Chisel Hill, which some people mistakenly think refers to Roseberry Topping.

Continuing along the lane we came to Bilsdale Hall where a moss covered wall opposite the hall provided a soft seat for our coffee stop. As we broke open the scones an alsatian dog made its way towards us from the hall, getting ever nearer until it finally stopped and stared. We promised it that its good behaviour would be rewarded with a biscuit when we left.

Chisel Hill

A pas de loup

We went through a gate next to the hall at a footpath sign and followed the alternative dotted path on the map above, steeply uphill, to reach Urra Moor. After pausing to admire the view and regain our breath we turned left and followed the ridge, with a succession of sweeping views of Bilsdale below us. As well as being on the ridge of the moor we also noticed we were walking alongside the remains of an earthworks. This earthworks stretches for 2.5 miles and its origin is forgotten, perhaps defensive, or it may have been an animal enclosure. It was known as Cliff Dyke and a couple of centuries ago as Cromwell's Lines.

Walking towards Urra Moor

Fine displays of bluebells

Climbing to Urra Moor

Looking back to Bilsdale Hall and Seave Green

The moor gate and the earthworks beyond

An old stone storage shed

Looking down from the earthworks

TSB mentions two witches who inhabited Bilsdale's moors, Peg Humphreys and her companion Alice Wood, who was said to take the form of a cat or hare.

We followed the earthworks and eventually came to a little valley where we crossed a stream known as Maiden Spring, at 1300'.

Hasty Bank from the earthworks

Maiden Spring

Descending to cross Maiden Spring

Leaving the beck we continued to follow the earthworks until we rejoined the Cleveland Way track on Carr Ridge. We turned left and walked steeply down to Haggs Gate where we rejoined the main road for a few yards taking us back to Clay Bank Car Park and our car.