Esk Valley Walk
Encyclopedia
The Esk Valley Walk is a long distance footpath in North Yorkshire
, England
. The route first follows a loop on the North York Moors
to the south of Castleton
, reaching the source of the River Esk, and then follows its journey to the North Sea
. Waymarking uses the symbol of a leaping salmon, with yellow arrows denoting footpaths and blue arrows bridleways.
From Castleton
the route leads to Danby Dale, Rosedale Head and Blakey Ridge. It then passes through the remains of Esklets, a medieval sheep farm, and on to Westerdale
and, passing Castleton once more, Eskdale
proper. Next it reaches Danby
, including the Moors Centre at Danby Lodge, and then climbs to Danby Beacon. From here it leads to Leaholm, Glaisdale
, Egton Bridge
and Grosmont, the terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
. The final section passes through Ruswarp
to reach the end of the route at the old port of Whitby.
North Yorkshire
North Yorkshire is a non-metropolitan or shire county located in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England, and a ceremonial county primarily in that region but partly in North East England. Created in 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 it covers an area of , making it the largest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The route first follows a loop on the North York Moors
North York Moors
The North York Moors is a national park in North Yorkshire, England. The moors are one of the largest expanses of heather moorland in the United Kingdom. It covers an area of , and it has a population of about 25,000...
to the south of Castleton
Castleton, North Yorkshire
Castleton is a village on the River Esk, part of the civil parish of Danby in the county of North Yorkshire in England. It can be found about 15 miles south-east of Middlesbrough, in the North York Moors. There was once a medieval castle sited on Castle Hill....
, reaching the source of the River Esk, and then follows its journey to the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
. Waymarking uses the symbol of a leaping salmon, with yellow arrows denoting footpaths and blue arrows bridleways.
From Castleton
Castleton, North Yorkshire
Castleton is a village on the River Esk, part of the civil parish of Danby in the county of North Yorkshire in England. It can be found about 15 miles south-east of Middlesbrough, in the North York Moors. There was once a medieval castle sited on Castle Hill....
the route leads to Danby Dale, Rosedale Head and Blakey Ridge. It then passes through the remains of Esklets, a medieval sheep farm, and on to Westerdale
Westerdale
Westerdale is a village, civil parish and dale within the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. The Esk Valley Walk runs through part of the village.According to the 2001 UK census, Westerdale parish had a population of 175.-The Village:...
and, passing Castleton once more, Eskdale
Eskdale, North Yorkshire
Eskdale is a valley running west to east from Westerdale on the North Yorkshire Moors to Whitby on the east coast of England.Formed during the last major ice age, it has a classic U-shaped valley formation caused by the action of glaciers carving away the rock.Eskdale carries the River Esk from the...
proper. Next it reaches Danby
Danby, North Yorkshire
Danby is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. According to the 2001 UK census, Danby parish had a population of 1,515. Karl Pearson spent a lot of time there....
, including the Moors Centre at Danby Lodge, and then climbs to Danby Beacon. From here it leads to Leaholm, Glaisdale
Glaisdale
Glaisdale is a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies at on the River Esk, between the villages of Lealholm and Egton Bridge, west of Whitby, and is served by Glaisdale railway station on the Esk Valley Line...
, Egton Bridge
Egton Bridge
Egton Bridge is a village in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the River Esk, between the villages of Glaisdale and Grosmont, about six miles south-west of Whitby, and on the route of the Esk Valley Walk....
and Grosmont, the terminus of the North Yorkshire Moors Railway
North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is a heritage railway in North Yorkshire, England. First opened in 1836 as the Whitby and Pickering Railway, the railway was planned in 1831 by George Stephenson as a means of opening up trade routes inland from the then important seaport of Whitby. The line...
. The final section passes through Ruswarp
Ruswarp
Ruswarp is a village within the Scarborough borough of North Yorkshire, England. It lies around from Whitby, at the junction of the B1410 and B1416 roads, on the River Esk and the Esk Valley Line, with trains stopping at Ruswarp railway station. Bus services also connect the town to the...
to reach the end of the route at the old port of Whitby.