Helmsley, Rievaulx Abbey & Ash Dale - Friday 11 September 2015
Route
Helmsley - Cleveland Way - Rievaulx - Beck Dale - Ash Dale - Helmsley
Parking
Plenty of free parking in Helmsley although today we caught the bus over from Thornton Le Dale
Mileage
11 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout with a small amount of road walking on quiet lanes & roads
Weather
Warm and sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2040ft (622m)
Map
OL26 - North York Moors (Western Area)
Helmsley - Cleveland Way - Rievaulx - Beck Dale - Ash Dale - Helmsley
Parking
Plenty of free parking in Helmsley although today we caught the bus over from Thornton Le Dale
Mileage
11 miles
Terrain
Good paths throughout with a small amount of road walking on quiet lanes & roads
Weather
Warm and sunny with light breezes
Time Taken
4hrs 10mins
Total Ascent
2040ft (622m)
Map
OL26 - North York Moors (Western Area)
GPX File
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Walk Description
The Church of All Saints in Helmsley
The walk begins at the start point for The Cleveland Way in Helmsley
We completed The Cleveland Way in 2018 - the link to the walk report can be found here
We completed The Cleveland Way in 2018 - the link to the walk report can be found here
Helmsley Castle
Originally constructed from wood in 1120 the castle was converted to stone in 1186. Whilst the castle is still owned by the Feversham family, it is now in the care of English Heritage.
Originally constructed from wood in 1120 the castle was converted to stone in 1186. Whilst the castle is still owned by the Feversham family, it is now in the care of English Heritage.
Heading along the Cleveland Way to Rievaulx
At these signs there is a bit of road walking along a quiet lane to Rievaulx Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey panoramic
The sign points the way to the Abbey at Rievaulx Bridge
Rievaulx Bridge
A lovely sign entering Rievaulx
Another Rievaulx Abbey panoramic
Rievaulx Abbey
Rievaulx Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in the north of England, founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey in France. It was one of the great abbeys in England until it was seized under Henry VIII in 1538 during the dissolution of the monasteries. The striking ruins of its main buildings are a tourist attraction, owned and maintained by English Heritage.
Rievaulx Abbey was the first Cistercian monastery in the north of England, founded in 1132 by twelve monks from Clairvaux Abbey in France. It was one of the great abbeys in England until it was seized under Henry VIII in 1538 during the dissolution of the monasteries. The striking ruins of its main buildings are a tourist attraction, owned and maintained by English Heritage.
The Abbey from the Free Car Park - they were charging £7 to get in therefore being a tight arse we gave it a miss
What a poser
Chocolate Box cottage in Rievaulx
Another shot of the Abbey
Heading out of Rievaulx towards the B1257
Leaving Oscar Park Farm we entered woodland where we followed these way marks on the trees
Interesting path through the heather
Dropping down into the gorge at Beck Dale
...... and heading back out again
Leaving Beck Dale there was a short walk over fields to Ash Dale
Entering Ash Dale for the long walk back to Helmsley
This was a delightful path through Ash Dale
The Market Square in Helmsley - a lot quieter than when we arrived
My wing man guarding my excellent pint of Jennings Bitter
He's had a hard day - fast asleep on the bus back to Thornton Le Dale