GLAMORAKS
  • Home
  • Outdoor brands
  • About
    • Press
    • PRESS CENTRE
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Blog

Inspiration

A historic circular 7-mile walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey

5/5/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Start point: Helmsley Long stay carpark. Postcode: YO62 5AT 
Distance: Roughly 7 miles but could be extended by another 2 miles with an additional loop
Sights: Rievaulx Abbey & Helmsley Castle
Terrain: Easy walking on paths, a few hills with some steps that aren't particularly challenging
Facilities: Toilets in Helmsley carpark and at Rievaulx Abbey carpark. Tea room at Rievaulx and plenty of restaurant options in Helmsley

If you like to break up your walking with a little bit of history, then this is the perfect route, particularly if you're looking for somewhere not too far from York. It starts at a long stay carpark in Helmsley, which has the helpful bonus of loos. Whoop!

This is the official start of the Cleveland Way, a 109-mile national trail that runs across the North Yorkshire Moors and along the coast. As such, it's clearly signposted. Although the sign says 2.5 miles to Rievaulx, which should be a 5 mile walk there and back, my walk tracker definitely registered it more like 7 to 8 miles, but that will depend on how much walking around the Abbey you do!
Picture
After leaving the car park, there's a brief climb up a hill until you level out at fields. If you look back over your shoulder, you will see Helmsley Castle behind you. More on that later. 

Simply follow the path alongside fields and through woodland. There is one section with a set of steps going down and then steeply up on the other side. But other than that, it is fairly level walking, with plenty of wild garlic, bluebells and primroses as a backdrop (well in May anyway!) 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
On the far side of the woods, you reach a road which leads to a pretty little stone bridge over a stream. Turn right just before the bridge and follow the road to the Abbey, which you will see looming in the distance. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
If you are an English Heritage member, it's free to get in (£8.50 for an adult, £5.10 for kids if you're not - I would strongly advise getting English Heritage membership if you're keen on visiting historic place as it works out much cheaper in the long run).

Rievaulx Abbey was one of England's most impressive Cistercian monasteries. It's situated in a tranquil valley and the sheer scale of the ruins are impressive. It now has a new visitor centre and there are free audio tours you can take. Best of all, there is a lovely tea room with indoor and outdoor seating. And an excellent choice of cakes!
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​Once you've had your fill, you can either retrace your steps to Helmsley the way you came, or add an additional couple of miles to your walk by turning right out of the Abbey. Follow the road for a short while until you get to a gate on the left by a footpath ​​with a sign to Bow Bridge. You'll pass a paddock and fields, briefly joining the River Rye, before bearing right through a gate of the meadow. You'll turn left over a gravel track, cross Bow Bridge and carry on to a right hand bend. Go through a gate to the left signposted to Ashberry. You follow the base of a hill before climbing it where you get views across to the opposite bank and glimpses of the Abbey again. The path eventually goes down, depositing you back at the bridge you came across earlier. Then retrace your steps back to Helmsley.

If you want another history fix, visit Helmsley Castle, is just a short walk from the carpark. Another English Heritage property (free for members, £6.20 for adults, £3.70 for kids), it is well worth a visit. Again you get a free audio tour and you can learn all about the fascinating 900 year history of the place. You get lovely views over Duncombe Park from the castle too.
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
After all of that, you'll be ready for a hearty lunch, afternoon tea or pint in a pub, all of which you can get in abundance in Helmsley.  So add this walk to your list!

If you are a woman who likes walking, remember to join the Glamoraks community. Get inspiration, advice, meet other walkers for find walks. Access it here.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    10 Mile Or More Walks
    2018
    2020
    7 Mile Walk
    Advice
    Amalfi
    Autumn
    Beginner Walks
    Cape Wrath Trail
    Centenary Way
    Challenge
    Cleveland Way
    Coastal Walking
    Coast To Coast
    Community
    Competition
    Escape London
    Esk Valley Walk
    #Febfriendship
    #findyou
    Footcare
    Friendship
    Girly Weekend
    Glamoraks Connect
    Glamorak Weekend
    Guest Blogging
    Happiness
    Hiking Supplies
    History
    Inspiration
    Italy
    Kilimanjaro
    Long Distance Path
    Malham
    Meet A Member
    Mental Health
    #MerryMonday
    Multi Day Walks
    Multi-day Walks
    New Platform
    Norfolk
    Northumberland
    Peak District
    Photography
    Rosedale
    #SayYesSept
    Scotland
    Seasonal
    Short Walks
    Snacks
    Solo Walking
    Solo Walks
    Summer Hiking
    Through Hiking
    Toilet Stuff
    Walking Buddies
    Walking With Kids
    West Highland Way
    Wild Camping
    Women Only
    York
    Yorkshire
    Yorkshire Dales
    Yorkshire Moors
    Yorkshire Three Peaks

    Archives

    January 2021
    August 2020
    April 2019
    March 2019
    November 2018
    July 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    September 2015
    August 2015

    RSS Feed

Get social. Follow us. 

Privacy policy
Terms of use.


Don't get left out.

Add your email to be alerted about any Glamorak events, walks, get togethers, challenges or news.

Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit
  • Home
  • Outdoor brands
  • About
    • Press
    • PRESS CENTRE
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Blog