10.8 miles (11.7 actually walked)

Outdoor Leisure Maps No OL26, - North York Moors Western Area

Although the walk's title is "Low Level Circular" there is quite a bit of climbing and descending on this walk. Some of the climbs / descents are over rough pasture, adding to the difficulty.
The biggest problem that we encountered was difficulty in navigation.
For the most part there are plenty of waymarks and fingerposts, but at several critical spots the 1 : 25000 OS Map needed to be studied VERY carefully, and even then it was easy to take a wrong turning.
By taking wrong turnings, we added 1 mile to the intended length of the walk.
The views on the walk are highly rewarding, and the scenery if enjoyable. But be prepared for some quite difficult terrain, - especially after wet weather, and navigational problems,

For a Memory Map overlay of the walk described, please select the above link.
(Overlay made with Version 5 of Memory Map)

Some new mapping software is now available which you may want to try, - QUO mapping. You can download the software for free from the link below, complete with demonstration maps. Having installed QUO, you can import and export Memory Map overlays. Thus YOU DON'T NEED Memory Map to use any of the overlays provided on the Grey Panthers web site, - just use QUO!!

Start from the car park by the Village Hall at Chop Gate (SE55888 99321).
Take the track that heads South Westwards out of the car park, climbing towards Cock Howe. At about the 200 metre mark, take the footpath Southwards towards Orterley Farms.
Continue of the footpath to Low Crookleith Farm. Past this farm, turn left on the track and after about 100 yards cross the beck by the small bridge.
Now heads across the field towards High Crookleith Farm, passing through the field gate to the left of the farm.
Follow the track to Beacon Guest Farm (you need to check field boundaries on your map South of High Crookleith Farm).
At Beacon Guest Farm the OS Map shows the track passing through the farm buildings. However, we found that the footpath went to one side of the farm buildings, and we had to pass though a gap in a barbed wire fence in order to continue.
From Beacon Guest Farm take the track (to the right of the fence line) to Stable Holme farm. Past this farm turn right and follow the farm road to Coniser Farm.
From here continue South Eastwards past Stone House Farm to Fangdale Beck.
From Fangdale Beck take the road to Malkin Bower Farm and continue to Helm House Farm.
Here take the farm road Eastward to the B1257 (Helmsley - Stokesley road). Head Northwards along this road (CARE : TRAFFIC) to the Sun Inn.
Head through the farmyard at the Sun Inn and follow waymarks to Hollin Bower Farm.
Past Hollin Bower Farm a track leads you to a field of rough pasture. DO NOT enter this field but follow the field wall on your right of this pasture. Continue on the footpath to Low and High Crossett Farms as indicated by the waymarks.
Past High Crossett Farm you need to pay careful attention to the 1 : 25000 OS Map in order to continue North Eastwards to Low Bracken Hill farm.
From here take the track Northwards past several farms until you come to the bridge over the Ledge Beck where the track turns sharply Westwards.
Walk uphill over the rough pasture and the walled lane towards Hill End Farm.
Before Hill End Farm you again need to pay careful attention to the 1 : 25000 OS Map in order to continue North Westwards towards Cam House.
From Cam House continue Northwards to High and Low Ellermere Farms and onwards to return to Chop Gate.