Pickering to Levisham
Map based on Ordnance Survey mapping by permission of Ordnance Survey on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty's Stationery Office. © Crown Copyright.
Distance: 8 miles/12.9km
Height gain: 520ft/158m
Walking time: 31/2 hours
Start: Pickering railway station (car park). GR796842.
Finish: Levisham railway station. Check the North York Moors Railway timetable for times of trains to Pickering before setting out.
Type of walk: The walk follows bridlepaths and tracks across agricultural land; steep descents, sometimes slippery.
This is a linear walk which will appeal to all rail enthusiasts, evoking fond memories of the golden age of steam travel. Beginning at the station in Pickering, the route heads north across open country, with the North York Moors Railway never far from the path, as though acting as its loyal companion. The walk descends through extensive woodland, crossing the railway line at Farwath, before reaching Levisham's ruined church. Its peaceful setting is one of the highlights of this glorious walk. Beyond the village, there are superb views of Levisham station, the route's ultimate destination, and its spectacular wooded setting.
The market town of Pickering is the headquarters of the North York Moors Railway. It was in May 1836 that one of the wonders of the North of England was officially opened. Like all great ideas, the Whitby to Pickering railway evolved as a dream in the mind of George Stephenson, but by the 1830s the project was reaching fruition. Construction had begun, the dream had turned to reality. The railway's chief role was to help Whitby traders transport their goods inland, but the line also enabled passengers to travel across the moors in safety.
The line eventually closed in the 1960s, after more than 130 years in service. It lay dormant for several years while a group of dedicated enthusiasts campaigned to revive it. Their efforts eventually paid off and in 1973 the line reopened as Britain's second longest preserved railway, running steam-hauled services along 18 miles/29km of track between Pickering and Grosmont.
Leave the station car park by heading towards the road. Bear left immediately before the stop when lights show sign and cross the beck, turning right on the opposite bank. Cross a stile and follow the path through a meadow. Avoid the path running up the bank, keeping to the lower route as it passes to the right of some trees on the far side of the meadow. Cross a tarmac lane and follow the path between hedges. Negotiate another stile, turn right and head for the riverbank. Bear left on reaching the water and follow the path to a gate. Join a track between trees and hedges and at this point steam trains can sometimes be seen on the right, coming in and out of Pickering station. Pass a house and follow the path between banks of undergrowth.
Go through a gate and follow the track between fields to a galvanised gate. Turn immediately right to join a tarmac path, pass to the right of some houses, go through two white kissing gates either side of the railway track and cross the beck once more. Bear left at the road, pass the signal box at Newbridge and when the road bends left, veer right by a traffic mirror. Follow the no through road through the trees to Park Gate, a farmstead. Pass the buildings and about 80yds/m beyond them, veer half left up the bank. The nostalgic sound of trains and an occasional puff of steam are a reminder that the North York Moors Railway is never far from the route of this walk.
Follow the bridleway up through the trees, pass through a gate at the top of the slope and continue on the path as it curves to the left, running alongside a hedge. Some old stone byres can be seen on the left now. Pass through another gate and follow a clear track, with a fence on the right. Drop down to a gate beneath an oak tree and then head diagonally right to join a track by some gorse bushes.
Veer right at the fork, just before West Farm, and follow the track between fields. The character of the countryside is not really typical of the North York Moors on this stretch of the walk, with the accent on arable and dairy farming ¬ a pleasing mixture of open farmland. The route offers few glimpses of the region's renowned heather moorland, though the scenery here is no less attractive.
Follow the track to the right of Blansby Park Farm; beyond the farm outbuildings, the track bends to the left. Swing right at the fork, avoiding the track on the extreme right, which quickly peters out, and follow the unfenced bridleway to a gate in the far right corner of the field. Continue on the track, with a hedgerow on the right.
At a junction of bridleways, 50yds/m before the remains of some barns at High Blansby, turn right through a gate and head obliquely left across the field towards the woodland. Look for a stile and join a path running between trees and carpets of bracken. Merge with another path and descend steeply towards the railway track. Take great care on this downward stretch as the path can become wet and slippery after rain. Turn left at the next path junction and the Pickering Beck is visible through the trees, down to the right. After several steps, bear right onto another descending path and head down towards the ford. Turn left to a metal gate, then right to cross a footbridge over the beck. Beyond the bridge lies tiny Farwath ¬ once a remote halt on the North York Moors Railway.
Today, this quiet, inaccessible spot on the railway seems virtually overwhelmed by the huge curtain of woodland rising above it. Apart from walkers and passing steam trains, there is little activity here. Cross the track, pass some old barns and outbuildings and continue ahead. Pass through a gate and follow the bridleway as it curves to the left.
Go through another gate and keep to the track as it cuts through the trees. A galvanised gate marks the woodland boundary and beyond it the track (Sleights Road) runs across the fields and beside a line of trees. Pass through another gate and continue on the sometimes muddy track. The church tower at Levisham peeps into view at the next gate. Keep going for about 50yds/m, then bear left to join a path under a horse chestnut tree. Follow the path down to a gate followed by a footbridge spanning the Pickering Beck. Take the track past ruined, roofless St Mary's church.
This wonderfully secluded valley church has been a site of worship since the Norman Conquest, though today it is a sadly neglected shadow of its former self. Some sources suggest there was once a village on this site, but the Black Death forced local residents to abandon their homes and establish a community further up the hill.
Despite its isolated setting, the church remained in use until the early 1900s. By the late 1950s, however, St Mary's had fallen into disuse. Without the efforts of the people of Levisham, the church would have been demolished. It is managed today as a controlled ruin. Graves are tended by local families and an open air service is conducted every year. The churchyard contains parts of a Saxon gravestone, bearing a dragon design.
Walk up the steep track and look back for a memorable view of the forlorn church, nestling in the wooded valley. Bear right further up and head for the road. Turn left and follow it round the horseshoe bend, passing the village sign for Levisham. Walk along the broad village street, characterised by its wide, grassy verges and stone cottages.
Turn left just past the church and shortly before the Horseshoe Inn and follow the lane between houses and cottages. When the road bends left, cross a stile by a galvanized gate and go straight on along a track running alongside a stone wall. Looking to the left, there are views of the wooded valley and the outward leg of the walk.
Cross the field boundary and continue beside the wall to the next corner. One of the most famous and spectacular views in the North York Moors National Park can be seen at this point. Far below, to the right, the buildings of Levisham station seem to be dwarfed by the wooded gorge, where it carves a passage through Newton Dale. Cross the stile and follow the path down the slope between gorse bushes and then round to the left.
Take care here as the path falls away sharply on one side. A seat is found beyond the next bend, enabling walkers to relax and enjoy the magnificent view of Newton Dale and Levisham station. Descend between gorse and bracken and make for a waymark at the bottom of the slope.
Take the path for the station, crossing the stile just a few yards past the sign. Once in the field, head straight down to a gate in the bottom boundary. Follow the woodland path ahead, which can be slippery at times. Go through a gate, over a beck and out to the road. Turn left and walk down to Levisham station.
The information given in this walk has been provided in good faith and is intended only as a general guide. Whilst all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that details were correct at the time of publication, the author and Country Publications Ltd cannot accept any responsibility for inaccuracies. It is the responsibility of individuals undertaking outdoor activities to approach the activity with caution and, especially if inexperienced, to do so under appropriate supervision. The activity described in this walk is strenuous and individuals should ensure that they are suitably fit before embarking upon it. They should carry the appropriate equipment and maps, be properly clothed and have adequate footwear. They should also take note of weather conditions and forecasts, and leave notice of their intended route and estimated time of return.
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