The Stonegrave and the Rye walk includes two picturesque village, a pleasant riverside section and a short climb to Caulkley’s Bank. Here there are some lovely views across the Hambleton Hills.
There is so much to this walk it is actually difficult to do it justice in a short description. However at no stage did I feel that the walk was becoming dull. There was always something of interest around the corner. Starting at Nunnington Hall there is a pleasant riverside path leading west along the Rye. From here the paths cross a low grassy ridge and drop in the beautiful village of Stonegrave. It is probably the section round Stonegrave and its lovely church which impressed me most. The views as the path drops steeply down the bank and emerging at the village are good. Take time to explore it.
However the views are more impressive from the wonderful ‘green road’ on Caulkleys Bank. They are particularly good over Helmsley and onwards to the North York Moors. Further on the walk passes through a third attractive village/hamlet at West Ness before rejoining the River Rye and a riverside conclusion.
Nunnington Hall is also immaculately presented as you may expect from a building owned by the National Trust. It certainly has an enviable situation and apparently has some wonderful period rooms if you take the tour,
This is really not a walk to rush. Spend time exploring all three villages (West Ness does not take time) and the views from Caulkley’s Bank.
In West Ness follow the road all the way to the river but do not cross it. The path follows closely the River Rye, keeping to its banks. However it is not clear on the ground, just look for the stiles at the end of each field.
Thought I would give this walk a try as it is very local to me (I live about a mile from Caulkleys Bank in Hovingham) and I walk regularly from the top of Caulkleys either to East Ness or to Stonegrave (the church is worth a detour for those interested, the current church being medieval with victorian restoration but the foundation is ancient, like many of the small North Yorkshire minsters).
I enjoyed it, it got me to parts of my locality which I hadn’t visited despite living in the area for some 16+ years.
Just to echo the note left by John. The GPX file and the OS explorer are slightly incorrect, the start of the footpath does not cross the field from the gates of Nunnington Hall, instead you have to continue up the road out of the village until you pass the Village Hall. The signpost and stile are at the corner of the field immediately after the Village Hall.
I look forward to travelling some of the other routes in the area.
A pleasant, undemanding walk on a fair Spring day. We measured our walk as 8 miles.
Suggestions : The start is more than 50 m. up the road from the bridge, and can be found on the left immediately behind the “Welcome to the Howardian Hills ” notice.
We made an error, continuing on the broad track and ending at Highfield House ; we should have veered slightly left at the end of Caulkleys Lane where we would have noticed the FP indication for the correct route along Caulkleys Bank.
Otherwise the walk was as delightful as advertised.
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