Yorkshire Walks

The A169 through Sleights approaching the River Esk bridge

Road bridge over the River Esk in Sleights

The Whitby to Middlesbrough railway line at Sleights

We walked from our holiday cottage down to the road bridge over the river where just upstream there is a weir across the river with a fish ladder at the right hand end. If you're lucky you can see the salmon leaping up the steps of the fish ladder at the right time of year (early April onwards). We crossed the road bridge over the river and after another 50m we turned left to follow the access road to several farms.

Each Spring for over a decade now we have had a short break with my wife's two sisters and their husbands, somewhere with good walking for the brothers-in-law and some good sightseeing for the sisters. This year we are staying in a holiday cottage on the edge of Sleights overlooking the Esk valley in the North York Moors. I suggest that you can start the route from the Railway station in Sleights at the bottom of the hill next to the River Esk.

Weir & fish ladder on the R. Esk upstream of the road bridge

Turning off the A169 onto the farms access road

The access road to several farms off the A169 at Sleights

Passing Oak Hill along the access road

The old pannier way that we followed for most of the walk

This is an ancient paved way and for much of the route the large worn sandstone slabs are still in place. Most of these 'pannier ways' were laid down in the 1500's and were used by long strings of pack horses. We followed this path across the fields for about 300m to Thistle Grove farm & cottages where we joined the farm access road.

From here to Grosmont we would be following the route of the Esk Valley Walk. About 700m from our turning off the public road, where the access road had just come round a double bend at map ref. NZ860080, we turned left off the access road to follow a bridleway across the fields.

Start of the bridleway off the access road

Thistle Grove farm & cottages

Following the Esk Valley Walk along the old pannier way towards Thistle Grove farm & cottages

The access road from Thistle Grove farm

Our turning off the farm access road

Path across the fields to the farm access track at Back Wood

We continued across the fields for about 400m to a stile leading on to a farm access track at map ref. NZ853073. The approach to this stile was a complete quagmire! There seems to be a spring feeding into the area. We squelched our way to the stile and crossed the farm access track and continued along the Esk Valley Walk route.

Here we turned left and walked along the farm access road for about 200m to map ref. NZ856076. Here there is a wooden sign post where we turned left off the road to continue along the Esk Valley Walk route still on the old paved pannier way.

Sign post at our turning off the farm access road

Path across the fields to the farm access track at Back Wood

Very boggy approach to this stile

Path across the fields to Hecks Wood

Path through Hecks Wood

Following the old pannier way to Newbiggin Hall Farm

Leaving Newbiggin Hall Farm along the access road

We left the farm along the farm access road and passed a pheasant apparently sitting on its eggs on the road side verge. After about 300m we turned left off the access road to continue along the paved pannier way.

The path led us through some very pretty woodland to Newbiggin Hall farm where we passed a couple of interesting vintage tractors.

Leaving Hecks Wood to cross the fields

Spring scene by the path

Pheasant sitting on its eggs on the roadside

Tractors at Newbiggin Hall farm

The old pannier way off Old Park Lane

We followed the farm access track, still part of the Esk Valley walk, for about 300m to Grosmont Farm.

The path led us passed Fotherleys Farm where we saw a family of geese by the stream.

The old pannier way heading for Fotherleys Farm

Family of geese by the stream at Fotherleys Farm

The farm access road from Grosmont Farm

Following the road towards Grosmont

We followed the public road around a long left hand bend to a junction with the road from Egton to Grosmont.

From Grosmont Farm we continued along the farm access road for about 800m to join the public road at map ref. NZ827058.

Joining the public road at map ref. NZ827058

Turning left at the junction onto the Grosmont road from Egton

Bridge over the River Esk approaching Grosmont

River Esk seen from the bridge

Plenty of steam at Grosmont Station

We got a lift with our wives back to our holiday cottage in Sleights but you can complete the circuit on the train if you wish. Indeed you can park at Grosmont and get the train to Sleights to start the walk. That way round there is no fixed time to get back.

At the junction we turned left and followed the road for about 400m past the main car park entrance and under a railway bridge to the main street up to the level crossing at Grosmont Station. There are pubs and coffee shops in the village and the NYMR engine maintenance workshops with a public viewing area.

The road into Grosmont

Plenty of steam at Grosmont Station

Enjoy the return trip to Sleights on the train