Park at “Square Corner” car park, about 2 miles along a narrow lane from Osmotherley.  Map OS Explorer OL26, North York Moors, Western Area, ref. NZ 479959.  

The walk takes in 3 reservoirs, woodland, farmland and some extensive views.

1.    From the car parking place (map reference 479959), turn left onto the road then straight on at the corner onto a signed route (Cleveland Way) downhill on a stone-paved path with some steps. Pass Upper Oakdale Reservoir (currently being drained) and continue along Oak Dale to where a footpath crosses Cleveland Way just before reaching Lower Oakdale Reservoir. [total 1300 metres] 

2.    (469963)  Continue for a further 100 metres then follow Cleveland Way as it veers right and uphill away from the Reservoir. Continue along Cleveland Way through a wood and diagonally across fields to a road. [600m]

3.    (464968), Turn left onto the road and after a short distance turn right onto a track (Cleveland Way) for 200 metres to the entrance gates to Whitehouse Farm. [250 m] 

4.    (464970)  Do not turn left along Cleveland Way but keep straight on along the track (Green Lane) passing a farmhouse (Rocky Plain) after 900 metres and continuing for a further 550 metres in woodland to a junction on the left with a sign “Cycle Route 65”. [total 1450m] 

5.    (468984)  Turn left onto the Cycle Route and follow it down to Cod Beck Reservoir (463984); do not cross the dam, but turn right along the path near the edge of the reservoir to its far end. [total 800 m]

6.    (468991)  Near to the end of the reservoir, cross a small footbridge then turn right uphill through the trees to a T-junction with a more definite path. Turn left and through a gate then follow the path that bends to the right and continues uphill until it meets a track. [total 450m] 

7.    (472991)  Turn right onto the track (High Lane) and follow it until it meets a road. [total 1800m]

8.    (464973)  Turn left onto the road and follow the road back to Square Corner and the car park. [total 1400 m]

There are alternative routes from York, a winding road over the moors and through Bilsdale (B1257 from Helmsley), or a considerable faster road (A19).  I shall give details of the faster route and then outline the slower one.

From York, take the A19 north from the city centre, crossing the northern ring road near Rawcliffe P+R and continue, by-passing Easingwold, to the outskirts of Thirsk.  Pass beneath the A168 to a roundabout then follow signs to A19 to the right then left up a slip road onto the dual carriageway where A168 becomes A19. Continue north along the A19 for about 10 miles and pass a junction to Thimbleby on the right. Continue for a further mile and take a slip road to the left signed to the A684 and Osmotherley. Keep left then round a left-hand bend and turn left onto the A684 and pass under the A19.  In about 300 yards, turn right along a lane signed to Osmotherley.  In the centre of the village (¾ mile), turn right at a T-junction and on leaving the village (¼ mile) keep left on a road signed to Hawnby. Continue along this narrow road for about 2 miles to a right-angle bend to the left on the moors and park in a car-parking area just round the bend, on the right-hand side of the road. Total distance from centre of York is about 40 miles (~65 min. from ring road).

The slower route: Travel from York via Stillington (B1363 & B1257) or from Flaxton or Malton via Hovingham (B1257) and right onto the A170 into Helmsley.  Over the bridge, bear left onto the B1257 and follow this road for 3 miles (past Rievaulx) then turn left towards Hawnby for 2½ miles to a T-junction then right through Hawnby following signs to Osmotherley.  Continue along this scenic narrow lane for 6½ miles to a car parking area on the left of the road (a view point at the edge of the high ground), just before a right-angle bend to the right. Allow about 90 min. from York ring road.

Return to Osmotherley, turning right into the village and left at the village centre.  At the village centre on the left is The Queen Catherine Hotel (the lunch venue).  Find a suitable parking place nearby.  Please check opening times and current menu on the Hotel’s website.