Hiking up Hawnby Hill and beyond has been one of my favourite hikes this year! The scenery was outstanding and the trail was so quiet. It is one of the quietest places I’ve walked in the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. We saw hardly anyone, all day long! It was great! Especially with COVID cases on the increase again, it was a perfect walk to keep safe.
The walk is 8.8-miles long. The route starts and finished in the village of Hawnby, located on the western side of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. The route is a lovely route, with a great variety of scenery. The walk starts with a quick incline up to the summit of Hawnby Hill. After the climb, you head across the ridge, down the other side of the hill, through wooded areas, onto moorland, and through more wooded areas.
At the time I walked this route, I did have to walk through a cattle field. The walk through the field was only short. The path only travelled at one edge of the field. The cattle were on the other side of the field and were not bothered at all.
Location
The village of Hawnby is located just 7-miles north-west of Helmsley, in the North Yorkshire National Park.
If you are driving using your Satnav, use this postcode: YO62 5QA.
Parking
You can park anywhere in the village of Hawnby, just as longs as you are not blocking somebody’s driveway. We visited on a nice sunny weekend, and there were spaces for parking. There isn’t a lot of parking space in total, but the village doesn’t seem to get that busy, even on a Saturday. I don’t know if it gets slightly busier during school holidays?
The Route
Follow this map, as you walk the route, you shouldn’t get lost! Make sure your location is turned on and you should be able to see exactly where you are, on this map. Or if you prefer, download the GPX file and use it on your choice of route tracker.
Please note:
You will notice at the beginning of the route we went wrong. We walked past the start of the route, but soon realised and turned back!
You also notice at point 8, we doubled back on ourselves as the path we wanted to walk through North Moor Wood was closed.
1.
Starting in the village of Hawnby, take the footpath near the bus shelter, which leads you to pass the left-hand side of a house. The path will then take you past an old farmhouse on your right-hand side, just before reaching a gate. Use the map to carefully guide you. There is a signpost across the road from the path junction making the footpath. But it’s not really clear.
2.
Follow the footpath up Hawnby Hill. The footpath will lead you through a cattle field, through trees, and onto the top of Hawnby Hill, where you should see the summit marker and bench. The walk up to the summit is only a short climb and at the top you will be greeted with my incredible views!
3.
Walk along the ridge, following the footpath. Eventually, it will lead you steeply down off Hawnby Hill and down into the valley. At the bottom, you will reach a path junction. Take the footpath on your left-hand side and walk along the valley, towards Hill End House.
4.
Just before reaching Hill End House, you should see a signpost, marking a footpath off to your right. Take the footpath. The footpath will lead through a field and along and the edge of another field, before reaching a gate into Low Wood.
5.
Pass through the gate and take the footpath to your right. Head downhill towards the river. Cross over the bridge and follow the footpath over to the next bridge. Cross over the 2nd bridge and head up to a gate. Go through the gate and turn left onto the track.
6.
Head along the track, through Half Moon Plantation, until you reach a gate. Head through the gate. Walk along the path through a field until you reach a road. Turn right onto the road and walk a short distance, until you see a footpath marked on your left-hand side. Take the footpath and follow it through a field, into another field, travelling uphill, until you reach a stile leading you onto a track.
7.
Turn right onto the track and head uphill through Blueberry wood. Eventually, the track will lead you up onto the moorlands. Follow the path along the side of the woods, along North Moor. The path will eventually lead away from North Moor Wood and head up onto Harker Yates Ridge. The views are great up here!
8.
As you walk along Harker Yates Ridge, you will reach a path junction. Take the path off to your left-hand side, leading you back towards North Moor Wood. You will notice on the map we tried to walk along a different path into North Moor Wood. However, it was closed and had to double back on ourselves to find another path into the woods, which was open. Not sure why it was closed!
9.
On your left-hand side coming down off Harker Yates Ridge, there should be a public bridleway open on your left-hand side into North Moor Wood. Take the bridleway and walk through the woods to Arden Hall. If you are lucky, you may spot a deer!
10.
Walkthrough Arden Hall and onto the road, where you should see a signpost pointing left to Hawnby. Follow the road for 1.5-miles, back into Hawnby, where you started the route from.
To read more on the North Yorkshire Moors National Park, where to stay, where to eat. Check out their website: https://www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/
If you are interested in more walks in the North Yorkshire National Park, check out some of my other walking guides:
