Route: Helmsley to Rievaulx and back
Area: North York Moors
Date of walk: 1st September 2013
Walkers: Andrew and Gilly
Distance: 11.8 miles
Ascent: 900 feet
We set off for Helmsley from our base at Derwent View with the intention of walking 3 miles from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey, then catching the Moors bus back. Once at Rievaulx, we found that there was a permissive path back to Helmsley via Rievaulx Terrace, so we decided to walk back. That decision, along with our meanderings around the various points of interest along the way, quadrupled the distance – and multiplied the pleasure by an even greater factor
We left Helmsley from the long stay car park and immediately joined the Cleveland Way. It was a lovely walk through fields and woodland to Rievaulx, and once there we spent some time wandering round the well preserved ruins
We left the Abbey and walked through the village to enter Rievaulx Terrace, a National Trust property. We walked through woodland and back along a grassy terrace with wonderful views back over Rievaulx Abbey. The permissive path then took us back to the Cleveland Way and we retraced our steps back into Helmsley
There was yet more to come – we then visited the walled garden, which was beautiful, then Helmsley Castle and finally had a walk round the unspoilt village
It was a day crammed full of interest – absolutely fantastic!
For other walks here, visit my Find Walks page and enter the name in the ‘Search site’ box
Click on the icon below for the route map (subscribers to OS Maps can view detailed maps of the route, visualise it in aerial 3D, and download the GPX file. Non-subscribers will see a base map)
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Shortly after leaving Helmsley, the path to Rievaulx follows the Cleveland Way
Further along the way
Rievaulx Bridge
Our first glimpse of Rievaulx Abbey
Leaving Rievaulx village
We visit Rievaulx Terrace, a National Trust property
The first part of the walk is through woodland, and on our visit was enhanced by an exhibition of willow sculptures by Emma Stothard
After leaving the woodland, the path leads to a temple and a grass terrace back to the start, with views over Rievaulx
Looking over Rievaulx from the terrace
This galvanised wire sculpture by Emma Stothard enhances the beautiful view of the Abbey
Back to the start of Rievaulx Terrace - it had been well worth the detour
The way back is across farmland
We rejoin the Cleveland Way and retrace our steps back to Helmsley
But just before the car park, there’s another diversion…..
The Walled Garden
There’s yet another diversion - Helmsley Castle. We visit the castle and look back over the Walled Garden
Helmsley Castle
Back in Helmsley
