North Yorkshire’s stunning scenery makes it a magnet for fans of the outdoors, and many people visit the area to enjoy the many walking routes which wind through some of the best countryside in the UK.
Our luxury holiday lodges at Abbots Green are an ideal base if you’re planning to explore the countryside on foot. Here’s our pick of some of the best walks in North Yorkshire which are within easy distance of our holiday park.
And remember, you don’t need to get in the car to enjoy some lovely walks: there are great routes straight from our door. One of our favourites is the bridleway to Thirkleby, which takes walkers on a lovely circuit, and can even include a pub stop if you’re in need of refreshment.
Sutton Bank, the White Horse and Kilburn (approx 10 minute drive from Abbots Green)
Starting at the Sutton Bank National Park Centre, there are a range of walks around the area of the famous White Horse of Kilburn, offering views which were called the finest in England by vet and author James Herriot.
At 318ft long and 220ft high, the White Horse spans about 1.6 acres and is one of the most recognisable sights in the North York Moors. The figure was cut into the hillside of Sutton Bank in 1857 (although there is some debate around its creator), and is so conspicuous that it was covered up during the Second World War to prevent it becoming a navigation landmark.
Download a three-mile walk from the North York Moors website here or why not try this difficult 11-mile route from the Walking Englishman’s website.
Boroughbridge and the Lower Ure (approx 20 minute drive from Abbots Green)
Boroughbridge is a lovely and historic town in the Harrogate district, located about 16 miles from York. The town itself is a pivotal point on the Way of the Roses cycle route through Lancashire and Yorkshire, and the Lower Ure area around it is a great place for walkers.
Popular routes follow The Swale Way and Yore Dale Way, and take in a variety of areas of historic interest, including a Roman road, crash sites of Second World War bombers, and prehistoric standing stones. The pretty countryside and the Ure riverbank are also a draw for walkers. See the Boroughbridge and Lower Ure Walks website for a range of great walk ideas.
Howardian Hills AONB (approx 30 minute drive from Abbots Green)
Abbots Green has lovely views across the Howardian Hills and it’s definitely worth taking a closer look while you’re here. Despite being designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this area often plays second fiddle to the nearby North York Moors, but it can be well worth a visit.
Woodland, banks along the Derwent or Rye rivers, farmland and lush countryside await walkers, as well historic buildings such as the country estate Castle Howard, Nunnington Hall, Ampleforth Abbey and Kirkham Priory. You may even come across the mysterious City of Troy maze, a circular structure in the ground which is one of only eight in the country and it believed to date back to the Vikings.
For walk ideas visit the Howardian Hills website at http://www.howardianhills.org.uk/out-and-about/walking/
Roseberry Topping (approx 40 minute drive from Abbots Green)
Roseberry Topping is a well-known landmark on the edge of the North York Moors about seven miles south-east of Middlesbrough. The impressive-looking hill’s distinctive summit with a jagged cliff can be seen for miles around, and is set in pretty countryside. It has a fascinating human and geological history, not to mention a wide variety of flora and fauna.
The short but rather strenuous walk to the top is worth it for the lovely views across North Yorkshire and Cleveland, and down to the coastline. An alternative, lesser-followed route takes you through Newton Woods, where you’ll spot lots of wildlife. If you visit in the spring, the ground is carpeted with bluebells.
For those looking for a challenging walk, there’s a 7.5 mile route which takes in Roseberry Topping as well as Captain Cook’s Monument on Easby Moor, commemorating the famous explorer who lived in nearby Great Ayton as a child.
See the National Trust website for some more ideas for walks at Roseberry Topping here.
Nidderdale AONB (approx 45 minute drive from Abbots Green)
The Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is 600km sq of protected working landscape within the Yorkshire Dales. From the Washburn Valley and its picturesque reservoirs in the south to Jervaulx Abbey in the north, not to mention quaint towns and villages such as Pateley Bridge, Masham and Ilkley, there’s lots to explore by foot along its 900km of rights of way.
Check out the AONB’s page for some great walks around Nidderdale.
Reeth (just under an hour’s drive from Abbots Green)
The main village in upper Swaledale, Reeth is the perfect starting point to explore this area of the Yorkshire Dales. A Saxon settlement which was to become a major lead mining community in the 18th and 19th centuries, Reeth and the countryside around it offer stunning scenery and sites of historic interest.
The Where to Walk website has some great walks in Swaledale, including an easy route to the west of Reeth along the banks of the Swale, and a moderate route from Reeth through the moors to the village of Grinton.
Aysgarth (approx 1 hour drive from Abbots Green)
This pretty village in the mid-Wensleydale area of the Yorkshire Dales is perhaps best known for the series of three waterfalls nearby. Aysgarth Falls has attracted visitors to the area for more than 200 years and is one of the most popular spots in the Yorkshire Dales, but it is just part of a number of scenic walks that can be taken through woodland and along the river.
The Walking Englishman website has a great family walk around Aysgarth.
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