Hawnby Round

Starting point  and OS Grid reference: Village Hall car park Hawnby (SE 542894)		Ordnance Survey Map OL26 – North York Moors Western Area Buy this map from List of OS Maps     Note: If you use OS Maps on-line, you can download this route via this link.
Distance: 7.6 miles	Date of Walk: 29 October 2025
Ascent: Descent: See Walking Time Calculator	1412ft (430m) 1412 ft (430m)
Traffic light rating:     (For explanation see My Walks page)
For advice on .gpx files see My Walks page	Click the PDF logo above to give a printable version of this walk without the photos.

To view route as a dynamic Ordnance Survey map click here.

Introduction: This North York Moors walk starts from the village of Hawnby. The highlight of the walk is Hawnby Hill which you climb first, from which there are fantastic views in all directions, as you walk along its ridge. It is quite a steep pull up the hill and a very steep descent which can be slippery when wet. For these reasons I have awarded an amber ‘traffic light’.

The walk includes moorland, forest and riverside walking.

Hawnby village is in two halves, the lower part where there is a village hall, tea room and shop. ‘Upper’ Hawnby has the Owl pub. Hawnby All Saints church is some way outside the village.

The village is an ‘estate village’ and owned by the Earl and Lady Mexborough. It was the first village in England to have all of the buildings switch from normal lights to dark-skies friendly lighting in an effort to cut light pollution.

It is mentioned twice in the Domesday Book as Halmebi in the Allerton hundred.

Navigation on this walk is mostly straightforward although there is a section of indistinct path over moorland which is obviously little walked and quite hard work to plough through. Fortunately it is not very long.

It is possible to park on the road in the upper village, which would save you about a quarter of a mile walk each way. However, I parked in the lower village at the village hall to be sure of not being in anyone’s way.

To get to Hawnby, turn off the A170 just east of Thirsk, following the sign for Felixkirk and Boltby. From Felixkirk, follow the sign for Boltby. It is then a matter of just following the road until you get to Hawnby. The lower part of the village is first, where a left turn will take you to the village hall.

Start: Exit the car park (SE 542894) and turn right. At the road junction, turn left following the road sign for “Osmotherley 9½ miles”.

Follow the road for a quarter of a mile and by the Owl pub, turn right for a few yards then left up a broad track to the left of a post box and telephone box.

Go through a walkers’ gate then bear left to follow the clear path uphill. This leads you to the summit where there is a neat stone cairn and a bench for which you may be grateful for after the climb!

Continue along the ridge to descend at the northern end. Once you are past the steepest part. Bear right to join the broad track running east/west  and take the path heading north (SE 539913). You are basically heading towards the Bilsdale radio mast which is clearly visible. If foggy, direction is roughly 15° magnetic.

The path joins a road by the cattle grid. There is a sign which says “Welcome to Moor Gate”. Moorgate is marked on the OS map.

Cross the cattle grid and take the broad track off to the right, once more in the direction of the transmitter mast.

Follow the broad track for just over three quarters of a mile where you reach a ‘Y’ junction (SE 542930). Take the left fork.

After half a mile, you reach a post with yellow arrows (SE 541938). Turn left here across the heather. You quickly join a broad track. Turn left. The track runs past some grouse butts.

This is where the navigation gets a little tricky as the path is indistinct. Ahead of you in the near distance is a woodland. Head for the right hand side of it. The path (such as it is) runs parallel with the edge of the trees.

Continue to follow the edge of the trees. The going can be a little rough and is obviously not well walked. However persevere and after about a quarter of a mile, turn left through a five bar gate marked with a North York Moors footpath arrow into the trees. You should see a ruined barn and the gate is just before you get to it.

Follow the clear path alongside the dilapidated wall. You will soon pass the ruin of another building.

The path wends its way through the trees indicated by a number of yellow arrows, emerging at a road at SE 530929. Turn left and walk along the road for about two hundred yards.

Keep a look out for a old fashioned metal footpath sign on the right. Just before it you will note a fenced off bridge and path which you might think is part of the onward route but it is not!

At the footpath marker, turn right through a walkers’ gate then left after a few yards.

You will come to a broad logging track. Go straight across and continue as indicated by the yellow arrow.

You reach a broad logging track again. Turn right along it then across the footbridge ahead. Once over the bridge, turn right.

You reach a broad track (SE 529922). Turn left.

When the track reached a stream, it curves left (you do not cross the stream). You quickly come to a post on the right marked with a yellow arrow. Turn right here.

After around a hundred yards, come to a small ruined building. Turn left here, following the direction of a yellow arrow on a post. Climb the hill, following some power lines keeping to the right of them.

At the top of the hill, cross a stile and follow the direction of the yellow arrow, bearing left.

Reach a broad track and turn left. The track follows the same line of power lines but this time on their left.

Reach a junction of tracks. Keep straight ahead taking the left hand branch.

Keep a look out for a stile on the left before you get to a house (Harker Gates). Cross the stile and bear right . The path curves left to a five bar gate, marked with a yellow arrow.

Once through the gate, bear left heading for the bottom right hand corner of the field and the farm drive. Turn right along it.

When the farm drive bends sharply right, keep straight ahead through a farm gate following the fence on the left (SE 529912).

Around two thirds of the way along the field, go through a farm gate on the left and follow the broad track downhill beyond.

Cross a footbridge over the stream then immediately left following a blue bridleway arrow.

Quickly turn left over another footbridge then using the direction of the footbridge as your guide, continue ahead to a gate with another blue bridle way arrow.

Follow the track beyond to a more substantial footbridge. Cross it and follow the obvious path, going uphill.

As you get to the top of quite a steep pull, reach another track. Turn right.

Follow this, passing Carr House, where you turn right to follow its drive.

As the drive bends right, fork off left following a yellow arrow on a post.

Follow this path to the road where you turn left into the village the right at the Owl pub to return to the car park.

If you need to buy any hiking equipment/clothing before your trip see the Hiking Store

All information on this site is given in good faith and no liability is accepted in respect of any damage, loss or injury which might result from acting on it.