Clay Bank Top - Lord Stones Café - Osmotherley

Sam Roebuck

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This walk starts at the car park at Clay Bank Top, just into the North York Moors National Park near Stokesley. We quickly find out that calling it 'Top' is very much a misnomer, as we are dropped straight in at the deep end with a steep 160m climb up Hasty Bank to White Hill. This hill has a good flat top and once on the level you can really enjoy the walking and the views over the Tees flood-plain and back towards Roseberry Topping and the North Sea beyond.

The drop down Hasty Bank is the only scramble of the day, down through The Wain Stones. You may wish to take a breather here, as all the way down you'll be able to see the next climb in front of you. Don't worry, it's just a trifling 100m, but no sooner are you up than you're on the way down the next steep descent and once again, the next climb is obvious ahead. Another 120m up Kirkby Bank to Cringle Moor, another short respite for some level walking on the top and we drop to Carlton Bank Top and the renowned Lord Stones Café. You still have the best part of seven miles to go, but you'd be forgiven for stopping for a coffee here and rest your legs for the next 110m climb.

At the top, relax and enjoy the walking. The tough stuff is behind you now, though the descent into Scugdale may be quite tiring. Some lovely wooded walking now, in contrast to the moorland you were walking earlier; don't let it lull you into a false sense of security though, as there is still an 80m climb back up to Wood Moor. However, it's much less steep than the previous four climbs. From now on, it's a mixture of woodland and moor until the gradual drop through pasture to the charming village of Osmotherley. With its three pubs and tea shop, there's plenty of opportunity to rest up and refresh while you wait for the bus back to Clay Bank.

There are a only a couple of dog-unfriendly stiles on the route, but there is the strong possibility of sheep and also the scramble down the Wain Stones may worry some dogs.

This walk can easily be shortened to start at Lord Stones Café, using the same bus service for the return.

England - North England - Yorkshire - North York Moors