Rosedale walk - Rosedale Abbey - North Yorkskhire walks

Route: Rosedale

Area: North Yorkshire

Date of walk: 23rd September 2017

Walkers: Andrew and Gilly

Distance: 6.6 miles

Ascent: 1,000 feet

Weather: Cloudy with a couple of bright patches, warm

We parked by the village green in the lovely village of Rosedale Abbey, which is now a quiet backwater, but in the 19th century was at the centre of a busy iron-mining area. In those days the population of the valley reached 3,000, an expansion made possible by the construction of a railway which carried the iron ore across the moorland. We would use the old railway line for the return leg to the village

We’d made a late start, so before setting off from Rosedale Abbey we topped up our tanks at the excellent Graze on the Green. Suitably fuelled we walked out of the village, passing by the church and then walking through a caravan park. We followed a path beside the River Seven for a while, and then left its banks to climb uphill to Hill Cottages. This brought us onto Daleside Road which we followed for a few yards before descending back down the valley, crossing the river, and making the climb up the other side of Rosedale onto open moorland

On reaching the moors we joined the route of the former Rosedale Ironstone Railway, which is not a public right of way, though the owners kindly permit walkers to use it. There then followed a wonderful high level walk of nearly 3 miles, all of it very easy going, with views over Rosedale on our left as we progressed. It’s a shame that the weather was dull and indifferent during this section of the walk

Eventually we reached a point above Rosedale Abbey, just beyond a barrier, where we left the old railway line to follow a narrow path down the hillside (which was quite muddy and slippery at times) back into the village. Despite the average weather it had been an outstanding walk, full of beauty and interest all the way

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The day before the walk, a visit to Burnby Hall on our granddaughter Phoebe's 4th birthday

The gardens are home to a National Collection of hardy water lilies, one of the biggest collections in Europe

If you're anywhere near Pocklington, I recommend a visit, preferably in June-August when the lilies are at their peak

Next day, on the way to Rosedale, a brief stop at Birdwatcher's car park in Forge Valley near Hackness, where a variety of woodland birds can be seen using the car as a hide