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NORTH YORKSHIRE - Helmsley
As featured in Country Walking Magazine, June 2003
'Bluebell Time'
The parallel valleys of Ashdale and Riccaldale, near Helmsley on the southern fringe of the North York Moors, feature in this walk. Both valleys are richly endowed with flora and fauna. In May, Ashdale boasts a mixture of spring flowers whilst Riccaldale provides a stunning carpet of bluebells amid its many varieties of trees. Look and listen for numerous birds, from Chiff-chaff to woodpecker, and mammals, from stoats to deer.
Fact File
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Distance
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13km (9 miles)
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Time
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4½ hours
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Map
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OS Explorer OL26 North York Moors West
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Start/Parking
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Street parking and pay & display car park in Helmsley
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Terrain
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Woodland paths and bridleways and minor road
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nearest Town
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Helmsley
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Refreshments
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Plenty of choice in Helmsley
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Toilets |
Helmsley
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Public Transport
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Buses: 128 from Scarborough, 31 from York,
Moorsbus Sundays & Bank holidays May - Oct, Daily - School summer holidays. |
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Suitable for
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all
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Stiles
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4
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- (Start) From Helmsley Market Square walk up the narrow lane to the right of the Black Swan Hotel.At the top, turn right and walk through a residential part of the town, passing the youth hostel. At the T-junction go left and follow the minor road north towards Carlton.
As this road climbs up hill take the path on the left through a gate into the wooded valley of Ashdale. Look out for a variety of wild flowers in spring including primroses, bluebells, wood anenome, & wild garlic and later, orchids. Walk up this valley for about 2 miles.
- (3.8km, 3 miles) Turn right at a signpost by a bench and walk up the bank, along a field side out onto the minor road just north of Carlton. Turn left and go up the road for about 800m (½ mile).
Where the road dips, take the bridleway to the right. This passes a disused quarry and skirts the edge of woodland, before finally entering woodland above Riccaldale. At a Tabular Hills Walk signpost, fork right and descend with increasing steepness down to a forest road. Cross over, passing a seat, to reach the valley floor and the River Riccal.
- (7.5km, 4½ miles) Turn right to follow the river down the valley. Areas of the valley side are carpetted with bluebells in early spring. There are several paths and tracks leading down the valley - where there is a choice keep to the lower path in company with the river.After an open area, used for Scout and Guide camps. Beyond this, keep to the main stony track which undulates down the valley.Ignore any footpaths on either side of this track and it eventually forks right to climb diagonally out of the valley.
- (10km,6½ miles) At the top, this track ceases to be a right of way, so look out for a path on the left through the trees. Follow this path past derelict farm equipment along the top of the wooded side of the valley.Once again blubells, garlic, anenome and primroses abound in spring. As it swings right another path merges from the left and you leave the woods for open farm land. Keep along a field side to arrive at Reagarth Farm.
- (11km,7¼ miles) Go across the farmyard and into pastures, downhill passing the edge of woodland, and bear left along a field side. Turn towards Helmsley, and cross a long narrow field to enter a lane next to a bungalow. Emerge on the Carlton road and turn left to reach the A170 and here turn right to return to the Market Square.
Along the Way Helmsley is a major centre for the surrounding area. It has much to offer the visitor - shops, inns, cafes and restaurants, the Castle, and nearby Duncombe Park and Reivaulx Abbey. Delightful walks radiate from the town by the River Rye to Sproxton, above Duncombe Park to Reivaulx, and north up Beck Dale or Ashdale.
Updated May 2008 - Arnold Underwood with Sheila Button
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