Walking in North Yorkshire

Shallow Dale and Ampleforth Country

9 miles Cloudy and dry

We turned off the B1257 south of Helmsley and drove into Ampleforth where there is plenty of roadside parking.

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

Primitive Methodist Chapel in Ampleforth High Street

Looking down the High Street

Tom Scott Burns says that Ampleforth is mentioned in the Domesday Book and means 'ford where the sorrel grows.'

We followed the road west out of the village and took the second turning on the right, into Westwood Lane. The road passes a working sawmill then soon becomes a narrow lane which is very pretty and pleasant to walk along, as we enter Shallow Dale. This is a very quiet dale and there is now little trace of the Quaker settlement that TSB says was once scattered along the valley, growing flax in terraces and spinning it into yarn. There are heaps of stone where their cottages once stood.

Clive checks - yes it is a real saw blade!

Westwood Lane

Following pheasants as Westwood Lane becomes more of a track

We saw no cars or people and enjoyed the autumn colours as we strolled along Westwood Lane, which gradually becomes less of a lane and more of a track.

A long gentle climb brought us to the head of the valley where the path continues past High Woods Farm and then returns alongside Low Wood plantation before entering Burtis Wood.

High Woods Farm

Westwood Lane has now become a farm track serving High Woods Farm

We reach the head of the valley

To continue straight ahead would take us on the strangely named Royalty Slack footpath but we turn back to return along the other side of the valley.

We enter fields before the farm

Weather vane at High Woods Farm

We walked through fields before entering the wood. The path is indicated by occasional blotches of yellow paint on trees and eventually we began descending, sometimes steeply, back towards Carr Lane.

Leaving the wood we walked through three fields parallel with the road and in the last of these met a horse who came over to see Clive. Perhaps the horse had heard that Clive always has some Jakeman's Throat and Chest Lozenges in his pocket, as it would not let him alone and we were glad to leave the field behind!

Approaching Burtis Wood

Cattle were curious but placid as we passed by

Entering dense Burtis Wood

Follow the yellow paint marks

We emerge from the wood and Clive points out our path

Crossing Burtis Beck

Look out Clive!

Shoo horse!

We were now leaving Shallow Dale and about to cross Carr Lane and begin a circular walk, this time southwards of Ampleforth.

We crossed the road and followed a way-marked path across fields to reach a pond, which TSB describes as delightful but which no longer deserves that moniker. Here we turned sharp left and walked back up to the field boundary where we found a sheltered spot to sit and enjoy our coffee and scones.

Turn right off the road....

... and join a wide green track

Newstead Barn

Coffee stop

Setting off once more we crossed a couple of fields then located a hedgerow stile where we entered a lane which soon joined the Colley Broach road. These little lanes and roads seem devoid of traffic and are very pleasant to walk along.

"Just needs some TLC.." Entering Old Pilfit Farm

Winter feed at Old Pilfit

The dismantled railway bed

We passed Old Pilfit Farm and crossed the dismantled railway line before climbing past Low Lion's and then High Lion's lodges, to turn left onto North Moor Lane.

We turned left off North Moor Lane onto a forestry track to walk through trees across Gilling Moor. Eventually we reached Higher Fish Ponds where we swung left to sweep past the ponds to reach Lower Fish Pond. This Lower Fish Pond is far larger and is a tranquil and pretty spot.

Looking back towards Ampleforth from North Moor Lane

Leaving North Moor Lane

Higher fish ponds

Lower fish pond

A tranquil spot

Just past Lower Fish Pond the route turns north to cross a sheep field. There are new gates on the field and no way marks on this side of the field but a stile and way marks at the far side.

No way marks but go through the gate

Ampleforth College

We crossed the old embankment of the long disused Malton to Coxwold railway once more. TSB explains that a special train used to convey students from London to Ampleforth College at the start of each term until the line was closed in 1964.

There was a fine view of Ampleforth Abbey and College to our right as we joined and then followed Mill Lane back to Ampleforth.

Amplforth appears in the distance

On arriving in Ampleforth we were disappointed to find both pubs closed and this necessitated a short drive to Helmsley where we visited the bijou bar at Helmsley Breweries to discuss the day's walk.

This is only the second time we have done this walk and we have mixed feelings about it. It's a very pretty route along little walked paths but there are few features of note and it is best done with a close eye to the map or GPS. (GPS track available on request)