This walk, just under 6 miles, starts from Murton Heights above Gowerdale, follows high agricultural land to a valley (Caydale?) north of Old Byland, then along this valley to return along the side of the Ryedale.  There are some short but fairly steep climbs.  Some of the paths may be muddy (but not impassable) after rain.

Park just off the road to Old Byland close to where it meets the Boltby and Sneck Yate to Hawnby road (Explorer OS map OL26, North York Moors western area, ref. SE 536882 near Murton Grange farm). 

The walk route

1.    Leaving the car park near Murton Grange Farm (map reference 536882), set off south along the road (towards Old Byland).  After 700m (about half a mile), follow the road to the left at a Y-junction with a track and continue all the way to a ford at the bottom of a valley.  [total distance 1900 metres]

2.    (542867)  On reaching the stream, turn left on a path along the bank to a footbridge and re-join the road uphill. After 250m, turn left through a gate onto a grass path that is a waymarked bridleway. After 300m, go through a gate into a wood. [550m]

3.    (548867)  Follow the path through the wood to a gate at the far end (may take 40 minutes?); it is a bridleway and may be muddy after rain. [1700m]

4.    (564869)  Go through the gate and continue along the path, as trees and bushes thin out, to another gate. Through the gate, turn sharp left onto the drive to Tylas Farm.  On reaching the farm buildings, turn left through a gateway onto a drive downhill. [250m]

5.    (565870)  At a Y-junction, follow the track that bends to the right, crosses a stream and continues uphill to Barnclose Farm. [350m]

6.    (566871)  On reaching the farm buildings, turn left and go through a gate into a field (there is an alternative route here* – turn right after the gate and go over a stile and continue on a footpath along the valley). Climb up through the field to a wooden signpost and turn right, following a wide path to a gate. [400m] 

7.    (563874) Just before the gate, turn left into a field and continue upwards and towards the right-hand side to a gate in the hedgerow. Go through the gate and follow the waymark arrow, ignore paths to the left and right and continue. [300m]

8.    (560874)  Shortly before reaching the barn, veer right at a waymark post and after a short distance, where bridleways intersect at another waymark post, turn sharp right onto a track. Continue downhill, do not follow the track when it bends to the right but continue through a gateway and follow a waymark sharp left by an oak tree. Continue downhill with good views to Easterside Hill to join a more solid track. [350m]

9.    (559877)  Turn left onto the track then veer left off the track and through a gate into a wood (the alternative route from 6 re-joins at this point).  Follow the footpath track through woodland for a long time (25 minutes?) to a sign pointing sharp left up some wooden steps. [total 1300m]

10.  (549885)  Climb the steps and follow the path steeply uphill through the wood (an alternative is to continue to the end of the track and turn left uphill along a road to 12). Cross a forest track and continue uphill, emerge from mature forest and continue to a wooden sign on a track alongside a wall. [350m]

11.  (550882)  Turn right onto the bridleway track and follow this for a long time (25 minutes?) until it joins another track. [total 1300m]

12.  (539884)  Continue (slightly left) along the track to a gate.  Through (or round) the gate and turn left onto a road (the alternative route from 10 joins here). Continue along the road for 250m to a junction and turn left to the starting point. [350m]

*Alternative route from 6.  Over the stile, follow a path across fields, which continues as a track that eventually joins another track coming in from the left. At this point, turn sharp left uphill for about 100m then turn sharp right onto a waymarked path through a gate (9) into a wood. [total 950m]