Rosedale Abbey to Hartoft Rigg Walk, North York Moors

At the top end of the field we go through another gate and into the forest, following the path that is taking us steeply up through the trees, perhaps pausing to hug a tree or two as we go. There’s a slight fork in the path – we’re keeping to the right until we come to another gate (which we go through) at the top.

From here we turn right, following the dry stone wall – it’s a wide track with blue arrows that are helping point us in the right direction, as we go through the wall and continue along the wood and wire fence until we turn left and head gently uphill and to another gate in the top corner of the field.

Through the gate we turn right and head along the wide access track for about 100 yards. Where the dry stone wall finishes on your left, we leave the stone track and follow the wider track to the left (ignore the narrow signposted path that’s a sharp left) and we head diagonally towards the forest. Eventually the track emerges from the trees near a minor road – here we turn right along the road before turning left onto a bridleway.

This is a lovely part of our walk. Keep left as small paths diverge on the right until we come to a crossroads of forest paths with a finger post. Here we’re going straight across, following the bridleway downhill, through a barrier gate until we reach a minor road where we turn left.

We soon pass by the stone buildings of Rock House with the sandstone cutting factory opposite. To our right there are some wonderful views out across the fields and down towards Hartoft Beck. As we continue along this road we also pass a remote Primitive Methodist Chapel that dates back to 1865.

About 150 yards beyond the Chapel, on our left, is a bridleway that we’re taking, following the track along the right-hand edge of the forest until we reach a gate which we go through to find ourselves out on open moorland. This is Hartoft Rigg.

The track climbs gently to the west, over the moor. We continue straight at a yellow marker (this can be a bit boggy here) and then up to a gate with a blue marker. We go through the gate and head diagonally left on to a minor road before going right across a cattle grid. Here you’ll also find an information board offering more information about Hartoft Rigg. When you’re ready – we’re following the green marker downhill towards a cairn and a memorial seat where you may want to pause for a moment and enjoy your surroundings and the amazing views on offer out across Rosedale.

From the seat we continue on to a tall stone that was once a gatepost and a 3 way sign at the walled corner of another field. Here we’re heading right, over a double stile (first stone, then wood) before continuing onwards with the wall to our right. We go through a gate where we see a two finger post and then continue on, with the wall to our left.

We soon come to The Grange – going through a series of gates (some wooden, some metal). In the yard you’ll see some yellow signs that point ahead and left. We’re going left – along the tarmac road and past the holiday cottages to your left. Here we see another yellow pointer showing your direction on the wall of a building to your right.

We keep walking along the tarmac road and, using a footbridge, cross the stream on our left. Keep an eye out here for the pond with the black swans that’s to our left. We keep going right along the tarmac road until it turns to the left (you’ll see a 3 fingerpost on your right). Here we go straight ahead into the field, keeping to the left-hand side, until we meet a gate with a yellow marker.Going through the gate, almost immediately go left through another gate with various yellow points. From here we’re going diagonally through the field to the bottom right-hand corner (where you’ll see some farm buildings) and through another gate with a yellow pointer.

We head down the track past various buildings to meet the main road where we turn right and after a short distance return back to Rosedale. We need to cross the next field diagonally down towards more farm buildings and continue on past them to the road. Here we turn right and walk the short distance back to the village centre and back to where we began.