The Grey Panthers
1 October 2008, - Coxwold & Ampleforth


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11.2 miles.
Explorer Maps OL26, - North York Moors (Western Area) & Explorer Map 300 (Howardian Hills)

A pleasant walk that takes in the two villages of Coxwold and Ampleforth, passing by Bylands Abbey.
The first part of the walk makes extensive use of field footpaths, and in parts requires the walker to check the field patterns on the map.
There are also many stiles to cross on the first part of the walk.
The second part of the walk involves a short stretch of a field footpath, with the bulk of the route using the Colley Broach Road, - a narrow farm track.
There were some quite muddy sections on the route, especially one stretch South of Ampleforth where the footpath shares a track that is used by cows in getting from one field to another.
The gradients are all fairly gentle on the walk, and there are some superb views to be had on a sunny day.


Memory Map
For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 4 of Memory Map)


Park in the village car park in Coxwold, SE53628 77805.
Head West up the main street in Coxwold. Past Shandy Hall (on your right) a footpath sign takes you initially almost due North across a field. Turn left at the hedgeline, and at the next gap in the hedgeline, take the footpath almost due North again. At the enxt field, turn right and follow the hedgeline for the next two fields until you come to a gate leading to some overgrown land. Here take the marked footpath to South of Cam's Head Farm, then head almost due East to Bylands Abbey.
Passing the Abbey ruins on the road, there is a footpath reached by a stile in a gap in the hedge.
Follow this marked footpath in a Southerly direction until you come to some ruins at SE553 782. Here turn left to follow the marked footpath to Wass Grange Farm, and from there to the road at Carr Lane.
Walk Eastwards along the road (CARE, traffic) into Ampleforth.
There is a footpath heading South at SE579 786 which you may care to take. Alternatively, continue along Ampleforth's main street until you come to the street that leads South past St. Hilda's Church. The Church is well worth a visit.
At the bottom of the above street, where there is a sharp right hand bend, continue South along the footpath (passing playing fields on your left).
Follow the footpath all the way to the farm track found just before the fish ponds.
Here, turn right to Redcar House Farm.
To the right of the farm, a field footpath takes you Westwards to the minor road at SE577 764. This field footpath was quite uneven and muddy at the time of use.
When you reachthe minor road, you can either continue straight ahead along the Colley Braich Road, - a farm track that leads all the way back to Coxwold.
Alternatively, head Northwards along the minor road to Thorpe Hall Open Farm, where vintage farm machinery can be viewed, to then take the footpath to rejoin the Colley Broach Road.




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