Sheriff Hutton Route Details

The route is in the Howardian Hills, to the south of the National Park. The smaller hills and easier gradients make this a far easier route than many of moorland routes. The route is quite long, and the majority of the way is on minor roads and farm tracks with a limited amount of woodland single track. The lack of big hills and technical difficulty makes the route well suited to competent beginner and intermediate riders, as long as your navigation skills are good.

Very muddy in places, especially over fields after rain, but still rideable with care all year. Some parts can also be overgrown with nettles and other nasty plants in summer, so short sleeve shirts and shorts are not a good idea.

You can shorten the route by heading north on the road at Whenby and going to Skewsby, before joining the BW at SE 624 719. There is also a BW from Gantthorpe to Birkdale Farm, but at the time of writing it is so overgrown as to be nearly impassible. There are other bridle ways in the area and minor roads which can be used to change the route, but bear in mind some paths may be very overgrown.

A lowland route such as this lacks the hazards of moorland routes, although in summer the chances are pretty good you’ll meet lots of stinging nettles. Navigation can be tricky in places, but the consequences of getting lost are far less serious than on the moors.

Park on the street in Sheriff Hutton village. The parking at the village hall is private, so please don't park there. 

From the village, head south west towards Strensall for one and half miles, until you come to the junction on the right. Turn right onto the minor road and go a further mile. You will see a BW sign, pointing to the right, alongside a farm road. Make sure it’s the second farm track, since the last junction, not the first. Go up the farm track towards Cornborough Farm, and turn left into a field, just before the farm, as directed by the BW sign.

The BW crosses several gates and a ditch before following the edge of a field to the north east. After a short climb on a rough track, the BW reaches the edge of Cornborough Manor Farm. The BW skirts round the farm on a track before arriving at a minor road at SE 632 673. At the minor road turn left, and follow it west for 300 yards. You should see a house and a gate to the right. Turn right onto the concrete track, passing through two gates close to each other, before a long stretch of well surfaced farm track leads you to Whenby Lodge. The BW then passes right through the farm yard. In the farm yard, there are several gates some of which are very elaborately fastened with many chains and bolts. Please ensure you leave the gates exactly as you found it. After the farm, carry on north, until you get to a road.

Turn left at the road and go through the hamlet of Whenby. After the hamlet, you should see a minor road on the left to Foulrice and a BW sign. Follow the minor road until it passes the last farm building. On the right, look for a gate and a BW sign pointing over the small hill. Go through the gate, over the small hill and head for a gate with BW way-marks on it. After a series of turns and gates, you will pass through the stable yard at Foulrice farm. Then, proceed to a cross roads with a minor road. Cross over the road, onto a rough track which runs through fields. The track eventually fades, but the way-markings will help you to go around the edge of Spellar Park farm, and carry on in a roughly west direction. Some parts can over-grown, especially around the small wood, but eventually, you will reach the B1363.

At the B1363 turn right, and head north up the hill to Brandsby. The village shop has a great selection of food, including sandwiches and some nice baked stuff, and an outside table to eat it at, if you feel like a mid ride feed. The ‘Fat Rascal’ is worth a try to give you the energy for the next hill. NOTE: The shop has recently closed.

Carry up on the steep hill out of the village on the B1363. Just remember although this is a short and sharp hill, it’s the only big hill on the whole ride. Carry on along the B1363 until after 1.25 miles, the B 1363 turns to the left, and a minor road carries straight on. Take the minor road, until after passing a wood, a farm track joins on the right. Turn right down this track, past a pig farm and along the edge of the wood.

At SE 630 730 don’t following the track where it turns to the left over fields. Instead follow the BW, which now runs just inside the wood, on some nice woodland single-track. The track descends briefly, and meets a gravel track. Turn right on the gravel track, go over a bridge, and then turn left, off the track at the BW sign. Then climb a steep, grassy, but mercifully short hill. After the hill, follow the BW along the hedge before a junction with a farm track. Turn left on the farm track and follow it past Scackleton Grange to where it ends at a minor road.

At the junction in Scackleton, turn left briefly, and pick up the track on the rightland side. Follow the track until you reach a left turn. At the turn, carry straight on, along the grassy track. After a gate and a short climb you will arrive at a minor road at SE 659 739. Turn right, and go downhill for 100 yards, until you see a farm track marked as a BW to the left. Turn left and follow the rocky track past Moor House farm and carry on to the east. Take care, at Airyholme as the BW goes around the farm, not through it. Carry on east, riding along the edge of fields and through a gate until you reach a north-south track.

Turn left onto the track, and go north past the ponds. Strictly speaking, the BW actually heads east up and across the hill, but it’s more sensible to carry on north a further 200 yards, until a track turns right and up the same hill. Follow the obvious track until you reach a further north-south track. Turn left and go north towards the woods for 200 yards, until you see a grassy track to the right. Turn right on the grassy track and follow the track for half a mile, when a path emerges from the woods to the left. At the junction, turn right, and head south, towards the woods on the other side of the valley.

Carry on along the track, as it heads into the woods, following way-marks at the various junctions. Beware: after half a mile in the woods, the BW goes straight up a grassy climb, leaving behind the track you have been following as it turns to the left.  At present there is no way-marking for this turn. Climb the hill and pass a wooden barrier at the top of the hill. The BW then ends at a track. At the track, turn left, and carry on for a few hundred feet, until you see a small way-mark post pointing right. Turn right and head down the steep hill to the road. On the opposite side of the road, slightly to the right, is a small gate.

Go through the small gate and follow the BW along the edge of the woods. After the 2^nd small gate, the BW heads off south west across the field. Head across the field, and go through a gate and to meet a muddy farm track. Turn left and go south along this track. After 300 yards the farm track curves to the left, but you need to go through the small gate to the right of the track. The BW then passes between ponds, before climbing to reach Ganthorpe.

At the top of the climb, you will reach a minor village road. Turn right on this, and after one hundred yards; you will see a triangular junction with a slightly bigger road. Turn left on the minor road, to head towards Bulmer. You can also attempt to follow a BW which heads south from this junction to Low Mowthorpe Farm, but during summer 2004 it was nearly impassably overgrown and boggy.

After going south east for nearly a mile, look for a BW on the right, just before Brandith farm. Turn right, and follow the stony track downhill, towards a small lake. Once past the lake, the track starts to climb up towards the farm. Shortly afterwards, the track meets a north-south track. Turn left on this track, away from the farm, and follow the track briefly, until the BW leaves the track to go south, following the edge of the field. It’s quite a complex series of turns to explain, but it’s fairly easy to follow on the ground, as the way-marking is good. You just need ensure you are following the signs for the BW to High Stittenham. After crossing a stone bridge, begin climbing uphill on the BW which becomes a gravel track, finally taking you to the farm buildings at High Stittenham. By the farm, at the sign post with many different paths marked, make sure you take the BW which runs around the southern edge of the farm on a gravel driveway. Once past the farm, head downhill on a rather overgrown BW, though the woods and onto a field. Then follow the edge of the field to reach the road, opposite Wheatclose Farm.

Then at the road turn right and follow the road for the remaining ¾ of a mile to Sheriff Hutton.

An alternative finish, if you haven’t had your fill of off-road, is to cross the road at Wheatclose farm, and follow the BW south, via Lodge Farm, to arrive on Moor Lane. Then follow minor roads back to the village.