Howardian Hills Walks
This Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty is located in a splendid area of North Yorkshire. With hill climbs, riverside trails and lots of interesting old villages it's a great place for walkers.
Use the links to view full route information including elevation profiles, interactive maps and GPS downloads.
You can also view an overview map of all the routes in the using the Howardian Hills Walk Map>>
| Route Name | Photo | Distance | Description |
| Ampleforth | 6.2 miles (10 km) | This village in Ryedale is a delightful place for a walk being situated on the edge of the North York Moors and near the Howardian Hills. Highlights include the nearby Yearsley Woods and the beautiful grounds of Ampleforth Abbey. This circular walk explores the countryside and woodland to the south of the village. visiting Ampleforth Abbey, Gilling East and Yearsley Woods. The route runs for a distance of just over 6 miles with some small climbs on the way. View Full Details>> | |
| Burythorpe | 1.1 miles (1.8 km) | This walk visits the village of Burythorpe, North Yorkshire. The pretty rural village is located just south of Malton and includes a noteworthy 19th century church. View Full Details>> | |
| Castle Howard | 2.2 miles (3.5 km) | The 1000 acres of parkland and gardens surrounding this stately home is a walker's paradise. There are peaceful woodland trails, two large lakes, a series of ponds, formal gardens and fountains. There's a lovely walled garden with romantic Italianate trellises and peaceful woodland trails in the Yorkshire Arboretum. The Arboretum covers 120 acres and includes a wonderful collection of trees from all over the world. There's also beautiful rhododendrons and a wildflower meadow to enjoy. All the while there is the beautiful surrounding countryside of the Howardian Hills making a splendid backdrop. The house itself has been categorised as 'One of the World's Top Ten Greatest Mansions and Grand Houses' in Lonely Planet's 1,000 Ultimate Sights. It was used as the fictional 'Brideshead', in the 1981 TV adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited and the two-hour 2008 remake for cinema. View Full Details>> | |
| Centenary Way Yorkshire | 83.3 miles (134 km) | Explore the Howardian Hills and the Yorkshire Wolds on this splendid walk devised to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Yorkshire County Council. The walk starts at the fabulous York Minster next to the Roman York Walls in the historic city. View Full Details>> | |
| Coxwold | 4.8 miles (7.8 km) | This pretty little village in the North York Moors makes a fine base for walkers. There's a notable pub/hotel, an interesting museum dedicated to a well known local author and the historic Byland Abbey and Newburgh Priory just a stones throw away. View Full Details>> | |
| Crayke | 13.7 miles (22 km) | This picturesque village is located just to the east of Easingwold in the Hambleton District of North Yorkshire. The village is a great base for exploring the surrounding countryside of the Howardian Hills Walks AONB and the Hambleton Hills. View Full Details>> | |
| Easingwold | 12.7 miles (20.5 km) | This attractive market town is located in a fine location for walkers, sitting on the edge of the North York Moors National park and the Howardian Hills. View Full Details>> | |
| Ebor Way | 75.8 miles (122 km) | Follow the Ebor Way from Helmsley to Ilkley on this walk through Yorkshire. The first section runs from Helmsley to York, passing Hovingham and the ruined Sheriff Hutton Castle, before a short section along the River Foss leads you into York. After leaving York following the River Ouse, you head towards Tadcaster where you join the River Wharfe taking you to Boston Spa and Wetherby. Here you continue to Otley, passing the impressive Harewood House which is a major route highlight. View Full Details>> | |
| Foss Walk | 28 miles (45 km) | Follow the River Foss, from the historic city of York to Easingwold, on this lovely riverside walk through Yorkshire. You will pass several pretty villages including Strensall, Sheriff Hutton, Haxby Crayke and Oulston. The route links with the Ebor Way and the Centenary Way near Strensall. View Full Details>> | |
| Hovingham | 13 miles (21 km) | This large village in Ryedale sits in an appealing location on the edge of the Howardian Hills. It's an idyllic and appealing place with a historic Saxon Church, a picturesque cricket pitch by the 18th century Hovingham Hall, a pretty beck and two fine hotels to relax in after your exercise. View Full Details>> | |
| Kirkham Abbey | 7.8 miles (12.5 km) | A circular walk around the historic site of Kirkham Abbey in the Howardian Hills. There's much to enjoy with fascinating history, beautiful Ryedale countryside, moderate hill climbs, riverside paths and some pleasant woodland sections on the way. The route starts at the atmospheric ruins of the 12th century Kirkham Priory. Enjoy a stroll around the grounds where you can see the stunning Gothic architecture of the Gatehouse. From the abbey you pick up a section of the Centenary Way to take you east towards Firby. A woodland section through the Coldwell Plantation follows before coming to the River Derwent. You follow the river round to the Suspension Bridge at Huttons Ambo where you cross to the village of Low Hutton. The path then follows a track west to Hutton Hill and Chanting Hill, with nice views from the high points. Please take care when crossing the A64 road on this section. You then descend to the village of Crambeck before following woodland trails along the Derwent to Kirkham Bridge. Cross the bridge and you will soon return to the priory. View Full Details>> | |
| Malton | 1.6 miles (2.5 km) | This attractive market town in North Yorkshire has nice footpaths to follow through Malton Castle Gardens and along the River Derwent. There's also the Roman fort at Orchard Fields, historic buildings and a lovely market place. Start your walk in the town centre and head east past the Lodge to the Malton Castle Gardens and the Roman Fort. The lovely 5 acre gardens have a number of interesting flowers, plants and trees to see. They are located on the site of a historic castle. All that remains of the castle is a street name and a few remnants of wall. The Roman fort of Derventio Brigantum is of some note. It dates from 71AD and included large, elaborate dwellings with heated floors, baking ovens, workshops and storehouses, and even a bath house. Excavations have revealed pottery, jet jewellery and coinage. A plaque recording the excavations by Philip Corder in the late 1920s can be found on the site. After exploring the site you can cross the river and pick up a footpath along the Derwent. View Full Details>> | |
| Nunnington and the River Rye | 4 miles (6.5 km) | This pretty village on the fringe of the Howardian Hills includes the National Trust owned Nunnington Hall and nice footpaths along the River Rye which runs through the village. This easy circular walk starts at the old hall and takes you along the Rye to the village of Ness, passing a pretty weir and Ness Bridge on the way. You then head into the countryside, climbing Caulkleys Lane and Caulkleys Bank which reaches a height of over 300ft. From here you can enjoy splendid views over the surrounding area which includes the Howardian Hills. The route then passes Caulkleys Wood before turning north and returning to the village. You can also explore Nunnington Hall although this does require an entrance fee. The splendid 17th century manor house includes period rooms with exquisite funiture and artwork. The grounds are also delightful with an organic walled garden and spring-flowering meadows with resident peacocks. To extend your walking in the area you could head west and pick up the Ebor Way long distance trail. This will take you towards Helmsley where you can try the Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey Walk and explore the fascinating ruins of the former Cistercian abbey and the wonderful gardens at Rievaulx Terrace. The area also includes the splendid Duncombe Park with its landscape garden and National Centre for Birds of Prey. View Full Details>> | |
| Oulston Reservoir | 2.7 miles (4.4 km) | This walk visits Oulston Reservoir in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire. View Full Details>> | |
| Sheriff Hutton | 6.8 miles (11 km) | This village is located in the Ryedale area of North Yorkshire. The village is close to the Howardian Hills and there's also a number of waymarked trails running through the attractive surrounding countryside. The historic settlement includes a photogenic ruined castle, a Grade I listed 12th century church and a fine country pub to relax in after your exercise. View Full Details>> | |
| Terrington | 7.1 miles (11.5 km) | Terrington is a delightful village in the Howardian Hills near to Castle Howard. It's a great base for exploring the area which is a designated as an AONB (area of outstanding natural beauty). This circular walk makes use of the Centenary Way and a series of other footpaths to explore the woodland, countryside and hills surrounding the village. There's some fairly gentle ascents with fine views from the high points. It's a peaceful area so look out for a variety of wildlife including Roe Deer in the woodland sections. The walk starts in the centre of the village and heads north to North Carr Hill and Hollin Hill. Here you have the option of exploring the woodland around Hollin Hill which includes Frytons Wood. This route turns south towards Ganthorpe and Mowthorple Dale before returning to the village along Mowthorpe Lane. View Full Details>> | |
| Yearsley Woods | 2.5 miles (4 km) | These expansive woods in the Howardian Hills have mountain bike trails and a series of footpaths to try. The woods are quite hilly on the north western side so there's good opportunities for some fast descents for cyclists. There's also good wide footpaths leading to a large picturesque pond and a couple of smaller ponds. Look out for a variety of woodland birds as you make your way along the paths. The woods are located just a mile to the east of the Foss Walk long distance trail. You could pick this up near Oulston to extend your walking in the area. A couple of miles east of the forest you can pick up the Ebor Way at Cawton. The Nunnington and the River Rye walk is also nearby and a great way to explore the Ryedale area of the Howardian Hills. View Full Details>> |
