Cleveland Way: Osmotherley to Carlton Bank

Directions

This leg starts off at the village green in Osmotherley at SE456972, directly opposite the church.

Turn right and start following a road called North End uphill to the north. After a quarter of a mile turn left up Rueberry Lane. This heads uphill; ignore a track leading up to the right towards Lady's Chapel at the top of the climb and instead continue along the main track as it curves to the right to reach Chapel Wood Farm. It passes to the right of the farm to reach a clapper gate beside a field gate. Go through this and follow a hedge on the left northwards. At the end of the first field go through a clapper gate beside a field gate and continue on towards some trees ahead. A second clapper gate beside a field gate leads into the woods.

The path forks once through the clapper gate; take the right-hand branch. At this point it joins the Coast-to-coast path, which will be followed as far as Bloworth Crossing. The path climbs steeply through the trees; eventually the gradient slackens and the path climbs gradually, with a wall a short way away to the right. It goes through a pedestrian gate to reach a track that leads into a BT microwave relay station on the left. On the other side the path continues between the wall to the right and a fence guarding the dishes on the left; at the end of the complex the path goes through another pedestrian gate to emerge back into the woodland.

Continue following the wall on the right as the path heads through the trees and descends slightly to reach a pedestrian gate. Go through this and then turn left for a few yards to reach a second gate. On the other side of this follow an obvious path that heads east-northeastwards across Scarth Wood Moor. As the track curves to the right after two-thirds of a mile, turn left down a footpath that soon joins a wall on the left. The path and wall heads steeply downhill before levelling out and plunging downhill once more. It soon reaches a road at NZ473003.

Turn left to follow this road downhill for a short distance until it reaches a cattle grid. Go through a clapper gate beside the grid and then immediately turn right up a good path that enters some woodland. This path leads through the trees; after about a hundred yards it meets a track; turn left to follow this track through the trees. Under half a mile after leaving the road, a path leaves the track to the left; join this and follow it as it heads downhill to reach some steps. Eventually the gradient slackens out and it meets a track coming in from the right at NZ481008.

Turn left down this track for a few yards towards a field gate; just before the gate turn right down another path. This soon curves to the left and becomes slightly better quality as it enters the trees. It undulates as it head southwestwards through the trees; when it forks after two-thirds of a mile take the left-hand branch that heads down for five yards to reach a clapper gate. Go through this to enter a field. Head on across the field to reach a pedestrian gate beside a field gate. On the other side of the gate, descend down a stony track to reach a ford over the Sugdale Beck; there is a footbridge on the right. On the other side of the stream head up to join a minor road. Turn left along this road and follow it as it climbs, curving to the left to pass a farm at Hollin Hill and then right to end at a T-junction in Huthwaite Green at NZ492007.

Cross the road and turn right for a few yards, before turning left to go through a bridleway gate next to a field gate. This leads to a good path that runs between trees. It soon goes through another bridleway gate to enter a field, and curves to the left to head in a more northerly direction, with a tree-covered slope off to the right and a field on the left. The gradient steepens until the path curves to the right to reach a third bridleway gate that leads into the trees.

The path heads steeply uphill to the east through the trees, zigzagging along steps. It crosses a track and continues uphill for a short distance to reach a bridleway gate that leads out of the woodland. On the other side the path curves slightly to the left and continues to climb steeply. It reaches a summit on Round Hill before dropping slightly, then climbing up Faceby Bank. The path slowly curves to the left to take a more north-northeasterly heading, sometimes running along flagstones. The gradient slackens as it approaches the trig pillar on Carlton Bank; from here it descends steeply along a gravel path and stone steps over the steepest sections. Go through a clapper gate to reach a track; cross the track and continue straight on along flagstones to reach Raisdale Road at NZ523029.

Cross the road and go through a pedestrian gate in a fence to reach a grassy path. This heads northeastwards; it joins a grassy track that skirts a car park and Lord Stone's Cafe on the right at NZ524030.

Places of interest

Transport

Osmotherley has the best public transport connections available since Helmsley; it has many services running towards Romanby (Northallerton, which has a train station) and Stokesley.

Sadly the Lord Stones car park on Raisdale Road is not served by public transport. The village of Carlton in Cleveland, a mile and a half to the northwest, does have infrequent services to Romanby and Leeming.

For more public transport information, see the Travelline website.

Map information

Landranger (1:50,000)						Outdoor Leisure (1:25,000)
Landranger 99 (Northallerton & Ripon, Pateley Bridge & Leyburn)	and	Landranger 100 (Malton & Pickering, Helmsley & Easingwold)	and	Landranger 93 (Middlesbrough, Darlington & Hartlepool)	or	Outdoor Leisure 26 (North York Moors - Western Area)