Newtondale Trail Route

Newtondale is situated in the eastern half of the North York Moors National Park and is within easy reach of Middlesborough, YorK and Leeds and the popular coastal resorts of Whitby and Scarborough. The Dale heads northward from Pickering and our walk follows mostly at a high level to finish at Grosmont. The terrain is good underfoot and includes forestry track, and moorland paths with a minimal amount of road walking. Scenery throughout is magnificent within an area rich in both flora and fauna. Perhaps the best time of year to walk the Newtondale Trail is late Spring or Autumn. The Trail links together all stations on the North York Moors Railway which is used as the ideal method of returning to your starting point. The railway link also enables families or parties of younger walkers to complete the Newtondale Trail in sections.

Primary Features

Route Description

Refer to the O.S. Tourist map of the N.Y. Moors or equivalent map sheets. From Pickering station follow minor , road to cross railway at Newbridge and turn right along tarmac track to Park gate. Turn left at gate beyond house to ascend bank side on green track and follow through to Blansby Park top farm. Pass through farm gates and head NNE across grass field to gate in far corner and continue on track alongside cultivated fields to derelict building. Maintaining original bearing cross fence and pass to R of building and cross field to enter plantation via gate in far corner. Continue on forest track for 300 yds. and TURN RIGHT at junction of tracks for further 200 yds. Then TURN RIGHT again to leave track at slight bend and follow indistinct path downhill to Farwath. Cross Pickering beck (footbridge) and railway and TURN LEFT through handgate to follow intermittent path through fields and woodland adjacent to railway for 11/2 miles. At handgate (Waymark) in boundary fence, follow good track uphill through plantation onto level grass track leading to the Levisham road. Follow road downhill to L bend (station 1/2 mile) then continue directly ahead on wide level grass track to Skelton Tower. Turn right at tower and contour around edge of moor on narrow path to Yew Tree Scar above Talbot wood. Keeping to RIGHT of stream TURN LEFT off the moor top and descend steeply on good path (stiles) into Newtondale.

In the dale bottom cross stream (footbridge) and TURN LEFT (sign) to follow path alongside stream and through the railway underpass into the Newtondale halt (Trains for Pickering and Grosmont).

Directly opposite the railway TURN LEFT along forest track for 200 yds. and locate and TURN RIGHT on path (not clear) to climb steeply to upper track then TURN LEFT through wood to emerge at sharp bend of the main forest drive. Continue ahead on drive and TURN RIGHT at second firebreak then TURN LEFT along adjoining firebreak (wide) through plantation to gate in boundary fence. TURN RIGHT alongside fence to pass derelict building at Waddle Green and out onto open moorland. Keeping to the moor top cross section of rough heather (no path) to join and follow good path (Cairns) from Simon Howe triangulation pillar over two Howes rigg down to the roadside near the Mallyan Spout Hotel in Goathland (station 1 mile). TURN LEFT down path (sign) to RIGHT of Hotel and descend to West Beck. Mallyan Spout is nearby on the LEFT (off route) but the trail (TURN RIGHT) follows a well walked beckside footpath (signs, stiles) through to Grosmont station.

Grid References

These are the grid references I used in my GPS, feel free to use them

It should not be necessary to remind an experienced walker of the need to wear or carry at all times clothing and equipment suitable for the task in hand. In mist and poor wether conditions on these moors are a very desperate place especially for the unprepared

Trains

A scheduled service runs between Pickering and Grosmont from Easter until the end of October.

Click here for timetable.

Footnote

This walk was developed by local members of the Long Distance Walkers Assiciation working in conjunction with the North York Moors National Park.

Please help safeguard future walks by keeping to rights of way and following the Country Code.

While every effert to have the correct description, the walk description is meant as a guide line only and should be treated as such..