The Grey Panthers

A very pleasant circular walk that starts from long-stay car park in Helmsley.
A field footpath from the outskirts of Helmsley takes one to Riccal Dale, where there is a gentle walk to the top end of the dale. From here, there is a steep climb out of the dale, before following farm tracks and footpaths to the head of Beck Dale.
There are three stiles to cross on these farm footpaths.
The footpath is Beck Dale is easy to follow (though drops fairly steeply at one point), and joins a track through the dale back into Helmsley.
On the day we walked this route, a shooting party was actively hunting pheasants in Beck Dale. Both Riccal Dale and Beck Dale are used for pheasant shoots, and it is possible that shooting parties may be encountered in the hunting season.

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!!

Park in the long-term car park in Helmsley (SE610 838), - fee payable.
Leave the car park and head for the B1257 main road, then turn right and make for the parish church.
Just before the church, head up Canons Garth Lane, then turn right into Carlton Lane. At the end of Carlton Lane, turn right and walk a short distance down Carlton Road. On your left is a footpath that heads towards Reagarth Farm.
OS maps show the footpath passing through the farmyard of this farm. THIS IS NO LONGER THE CASE.
There is a gate in the field to the West of the farm, which brings you to a footpath taking you to Monk Gardens Lane.
In the lane, turn left and after about 100 yards there is a footpath on your right that takes you to Riccal Dale.
Take the right hand footpath at the edge of the woods, to descend into Riccal Dale.
Follow the track Northwards through the dale for almost 2.5 miles.
At SE623 880 the footpath heads up out of Riccal Dale following the Tabular Hills Walk route. The entry to this footpath is somewhat hidden. The path itself ascends quite steeply, and the ground underfoot may be slippery. Some care may be needed.
At the top of the slope, turn left (follow the Tabular Hills Walk finger post) and head for the minor road.
Cross the road and walk past Carlton Grange Farm.
Follow the footpath to the road at High Baxton's Farm.
Turn left, and at the end of the first field take the field footpath on your right that leads to Beck Dale.
In Beck Dale, turn left and follow the footpath that runs along the edge of the dale. DO NOT take the track that descends steeply into the dale.
At the end of the footpath, there is a track that then descends into the dale.
Once in the dale, follow the track for the next couple of miles back into Helmsley.