This walk explores the countryside south of Harrogate. The route crosses Crimple Valley to Follifoot then skirts Rudding Park to return to the start with a walk along the valley through woodland and fields. The walk is 7 miles long and should take around 3 hours.
Getting there
The starting point is Hornbeam Park station which has a regular train service from York taking under 40 minutes. If driving, park at the station which is off Hookstone Road. This is 21 miles from York accessed via the A59, A658 and A661.
Refreshments
The walk passes two pubs, the Harewood Arms in Follifoot and the Travellers Rest on Crimple Lane (open daily except Monday).
Is this a walk for me?
There are lots of stiles, some of them tricky to climb. Paths are generally good but there is one very uneven section and several potentially muddy stretches. The route is undulating but with no steep or long climbs. There is some roadside walking but only one section (Direction Point 7) with no pavement.
1/ From the southbound platform go up the steps and left over the railway bridge. In about 50 metres, take the signed bridleway left between gardens. Continue keeping left of allotments on a paved path. Go ahead over a track with a playing field left. Where the track meets a tarmac lane in the trees go right on the lane (ignore alley right) with back gardens right. At T junction turn left downhill, still on the tarmac.
2/ At the bottom of the hill, go through a metal gate (ignore bridleway left) bearing right on a rough track. Follow the track as it swings left down to the gate in the valley bottom. Go through and over stream keeping on the track uphill alongside hedge left to a gate. Cross straight over the field to a wooden gate. Continue over the bridge and follow track right, initially near the railway. Keep with the rough track as it bears left then heads sharp left uphill onto a gravelled surface. At the Y fork keep left to reach a road.
3/ Turn left on the pavement and continue alongside a road for 800 metres passing Follifoot Hall and a business park left. About 100 metres beyond the latter take a signed path right, to the left of the house (The Oaks).
4/ Follow the track downhill and through a tunnel under the road. Immediately beyond turn right (ignore cycle route left) up-slope. Follow the track as it goes sharply left to the gate. Go through on a newly signed footpath with stream/pond right. Continue as signed going over a crossing track. After about 750 metres, take a narrower path heading up slope with a wooden fence to the right to a kissing gate.
5/ Go through and turn left along the field edge. At the corner, turn right but soon head left through a gap with a bench to the right, go downhill with a hedge to the left. At the bottom of the field go right then curve left with the track over a stream to continue ahead between hedges. At the metal gate, go sharp left still on track with gardens right. Keep on track as it swings right onto tarmac. Just beyond funeral business buildings, where tarmac goes right climb the easily missed stone stile to follow a narrow path beside a wall, then between fences. Soon after the path turns sharp left, go right (not ahead) down a narrow alley to emerge on Follifoot’s main street. Turn left to the T junction in front of the gateway.
6/ Turn right but in 150 metres, at the far end of the churchyard take a signed path over the stone stile. Leave the churchyard over a further stile and go along the right edge of a field to climb another stile to reach a busy road. Cross with care and go over a stile opposite. Walk downhill with a wall left for 40 metres to track. Keep ahead following the track as signed with a wall left. Stay on track alongside a wall until it ends at a crossing track. Here, go ahead, still with the wall on a grass path. Continue over a stile and cross a drive keeping by the wall to a stone stile giving access to a road. Turn right on the verge. At the traffic light controlled bridge, cross over and continue on the left uphill. Just round the bend take Crimple Lane left signed ‘Travellers Rest’.
7/ Follow the lane passing a pub. Continue ahead between hedges ignoring the cycle track right. Where the track ends, go over an unusual wooden stile/barrier by a gate and follow the path right to arrive at a gate/stile. Go straight across a field on an obvious path. Leave over a further stile following a path through trees soon passing under the right arch of the viaduct. Drop down to a concrete track and follow it left across the grass. Keep on the concrete as it bends right but once through double gates, head half left across the grass to the far left field corner. Go through the gate and over a beck on the bridge.
8/ Shortly after the bridge, veer half right following a narrow signed path (yellow arrow) through trees to a rough track. Turn right with field to left. Follow the track to a gate leading to a tarmac track. Turn right following the tarmac as it bends right over a stream. Continue uphill through trees to a four-way junction. Here turn left up slope and follow the track with fields left and school right to traffic lights.
9/ Cross the road and turn left on the pavement. Hornbeam Park station and car park are 500 metres further along the road.
DISCLAIMER: Walks are undertaken at your own risk. Due care must be taken in following the walk, particularly after poor weather. Whilst every care is taken in compiling the description changes may have occurred since publication. Neither the walk author nor Your Local Link can accept any responsibility for errors or omissions.
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