Hawnby Loop Route Details

The route is in the western section of the National Park near Rievaulx abbey, and has lots of climbing and some nice fast descents on wooded tracks with the odd bit of single track. Although the route goes on to the moors, most of the riding is on field and forest bridle way. The route would suit fit intermediate or better riders, although you could attempt each of the two loops separately to break the route down into more manageable sections.

The fields and woods can be very muddy after rain, but will remain rideable all year round. It’s worth remembering that woodland paths take longer to get wet but tend to stay wetter for longer.

You can shorten the route by either missing out the western or the eastern loops by using the road which heads north from Hawnby. Either of the two sides would make a pleasant summer evening ride, or a ride more suited to less fit riders. The very fit can add on an extra road climb up Murton Bank, and head south east along the top of the hill, to miss out much of the road work.

The remote upland nature of the parts of the route means you need to be appropriately equipped for a day on the hills, especially in winter. There are no shops apart from Hawnby Post Offices stores, which has very limited opening hours, so you will need to carry everything you need.

Park on the verge by Hawnby Church. Head SW to Hawnby village.  Head south across the bridge and up a brutally steep hill until you come to a junction with a road on your left. Masochists may prefer to climb the entire hill and follow the BW in the woods above before rejoining the route at SE 558 883. Follow the undulating road along the side of the valley to a bridge over the river Rye, and immediately after the bridge, on the left is a BW running into the woods.

Following the BW into the woods you will very shortly meet a tarmac farm track which you need to turn left on to, and head north past the first farm. You will come to a junction where the BW is signed downhill to the left. Just before the new house at Fair Hill farm, a BW turns right to double back up the hill towards the upper farm. At the top of the climb, turn left and follow the pleasant grass track to the north. Climb the track until you reach the B1257 above halfway up a big hill. Turn left and head down the B1257 until you see a public phone and a turn to the left, sign posted for Laskill. Turn left and cross the bridge, then turn right onto the dead end road when you reach the T junction. Follow the minor road for a ¾ of a mile until at SE 565 916 a waymarked BW starts at a gate on the right just after the cottages.

Follow the BW downhill over fields and through a small wood, and then along the side of the valley passing through many fields. As you approach Helm House the track improves but after you pass the farm, the track fades again. 3 fields after the farm, the track actually changes direction and you will need to look in the north east (lower right) corner of the field for the gate leading on to the track. The track then improves again as you approach the next farm. At Malkin Bower farm avoid the temptation to carry on to the road, but instead turn left onto the rough track with the ‘Access Only’ road signs. The climb is very steep and loose, and you will probably end up walking at least part of it. The track passes an old quarry before you reach a gate in a wall marking the edge of the moors.

After passing through the gate, carry on south west across the moors towards a solitary tree and a stone wall on a narrow track. Shortly after the tree, the climb stops and then you start to go down. Take care to stay on the right track as there are many tracks all over the moor in different directions. Follow the track as it descends steeply into a wooded valley.  At the stream, turn left and head downstream for 100 yards to the footbridge. Cross the stream and head up the path which has a small stream flowing along it. A very short distance from the bridge, the path turn left away from the stream, and goes up some steps. Carry on up the path, through some scattered trees on a faint path to arrive at a minor road.

At the minor road, turn right and head uphill until just before you reach a cattle grid, you should see a waymark for a BW to the left. Turn left and head across the saddle between the hills in a SSE direction, avoiding the temptation to take the obvious track which leads straight down to the west. You’ll then need to follow the fence line to a gate just before Hill End House. Go through the gate and head downhill across the fields, before the following the BW into the woods. A short but technical descent takes you to a footbridge in the woods. Cross the bridge, and head along the river side path until you reach a further footbridge over a small beck. Cross the beck and go through the gate onto a muddy farm track. Turn left and follow the track up to a New Hall farm, and a road.

Turn right, uphill, and head west along the road. The road climbs steadily through the woods to a junction where the tarmac road turns sharply right and down towards Arden Hall. Instead of turning right, carry straight on up the gravel track which is sign posted to Kepwick. The climb through the woods is very steep, but before long you’ll leave the woods and head across open fields past several gates, and out onto open moorland. The track ends at a junction with the Hambleton Road, an ancient ridgeway, at SE 489 914. Turn to the right and follow the well surfaced track north for a quarter of a mile, until a BW is sign posted to your right by an old quarry.

At the top of the valley side, the track and BW part company. Instead of following the track which heads south, you must head south east down the hill to the stream. The BW then follows the stream down to the end of the forest track which loops around the top of the forest. You can then follow the BW which goes along left hand side of the valley. The BW climbs up and down the valley side, through the forest, on a gravel track. When you are above the buildings at Arden Hall, look out for the BW turning right and steeply downwards. Soon you will pass through the farm yard and around the front of the hall. You will then need to take a track, which leads due east from the hall, for a quarter of a mile before you rejoin a minor road.

At the road, which you have already passed along earlier, turn right. After 100 yards, look out for a BW waymark on the left hand side of the road. Follow the BW up into the woods on a boggy track. At the top of the hill is a gate leading to an open field. Go through the gate. The BW notionally crosses the field into front of you in a zig-zag to enter the woods in the upper, left hand corner of the field by slight mound; but there’s little sign of any path across the field. Just head to your left and up the field until you see the gate with the BW waymark on it.

Once through the gate, follow the path which heads into the woods along the side of the hill. You will then join a forest track as the forest ends on the right. Half a mile after entering the woods, turn right at the junction with another track. Don’t confuse this with another track on the right, but before the clearing. Follow the BW steeply downhill until you arrive at a minor road by a bridge. At the minor road turn right, and after a short climb, turn right again onto a minor road which shortly takes you to towards Hawnby Church and the start.