C 11 from Cawthorne Camp, map & directions

Route C 11: Circular Walk from Cawthorne Roman Camp

This is a pleasant walk of less than 5 miles but in winter the route across fields may be muddy and an alternative on minor roads and farm tracks is available. The route goes through woodland and fields on high ground just within the North York Moors National Park. OS Explorer map OL27 "North York Moors Eastern area, grid reference 782896.The Roman Camp is worth a visit but there is no access from the Camp onto the walk route other than the car park drive and public roads, so that site is not included.

Park at the end of a compacted stone drive: there is a circular loop with parking bays arranged around it. Paths from here go to the remains of the Roman Camp.

Walk directions

1.        Leaving the car park (map reference 782896), return down the drive to the Cropton-Newton road. [total 300m]

2.        (782893)  Turn right onto the road and follow it to a road junction with sign to Keldy only. [500m]

3.        (777894) Turn right towards Keldy and follow the road to Keldy Banks Farm (on the left) and just beyond to where a bridleway leaves on the right. [900m]

4.        (780903) Turn right onto the bridleway (Tabular Hills Walk) and follow a grassy track that later becomes narrower and muddy in places to a sharp bend to the left over a footbridge. [400m]

5.        (784905) Cross the bridge and follow the winding path through the wood, emerging through a gate then diagonally across a field to a gate onto a drive. [1000m]

6.        (785914)  (see alternative “Muddy weather option” below) Turn right and cross the drive to Elleron Lodge, following the tarmac drive to Thornsby House. [200m]

Muddy weather option – through the gate and continue straight on along a muddy/grassy track for 600m, then turn right at a wooden signpost (Tabular Hills Walk bridleway) and follow this track for 1200m. On reaching a road, turn right and continue south for 400m to rejoin the main route at the entrance to Rawcliffe House Farm (10), continuing along the road.

7.        (787915) Where the drive turns left into the farm, continue through a farm gate (no waymark) and follow the path that bends to the right alongside a beck. The path turns left between two fences, passing a barn, and through a gate (open?) into a field and across this to a stile. [400m]

8.        (791915) Over the stile then veer slightly left to come alongside a stone wall and continue to the next field boundary. [200m]

9.        (793916) By corrugated huts, very muddy, turn right and immediately left over a stile onto a grass path, with the field boundary to your left, to a farm. [300m]

10.     (796917) Over the stile to the left of a gate then in front of Rawcliffe House Farm and along the farm drive to the road. [200m]

11.      (797917) Turn right onto the road and continue to a left-hand bend in the road where a permissive path continues straight on. [300m]

12.      (795913) Take the signed permissive path up a steep hill round to the left (may be muddy – the road is an alternative), eventually emerging at a road junction at the top of a hill. [300m]

13.      (799911) (An alternative route, turn right onto the road to Cropton for 2 miles, passing a view point above Elleron Lake, then as from 15) Cross the road and continue along a wide, firm farm track continuing along a muddier track when the firm track turns left to Low Breckenbrough until the start of a small wood on the right. [1150m]

14.      (798899)  Turn right, onto a track that becomes Bradley Road and passes High Staintoft Farm, then continues to meet the Newton to Cropton road at a bend. [900m]

If you miss the track, continue to just before a house on the left, turn right onto a wide footpath and follow this when it becomes a farm track leading to a farm. Pass the second farm building on the left then turn left and through the left of 2 gates into a field then right at a waymark and turn left onto the tarmac farm drive. Follow the farm drive until it meets a road and turn right onto the road, then at a road junction, turn left onto the Newton to Cropton road. 

15.      (790895) Continue along the road towards Cropton to the entrance to the Roman Camp on the right, opposite a small wooden signpost. [1200m]

16.      (782893)   Turn right, back along the drive to the car park. [250m]