A treat before the mast; Walks Bilsdale North Distance: 5 miles.

Byline: Bob Woodhouse reports

FARMSTEADS are dotted along both sides of Bilsdale and seem to blend into the ridges and hollows of this delightful setting on the B1257 between Stokesley and Helmsley.

Starting from the roadside car park at the southern end of Chop Gate, we walk back along the roadway to pass the Buck Inn. We turn left into Raisdale Road and within yards turn right along the lane past the Wesleyan Methodist Church.

Continuing up the narrow track of Cold Moor Lane, we soon pass through an area of woodland and the gulley widens out before we reach a stile on our right-hand side.

We walk ahead between fences and then follow the left-hand field edge down the grassy slope to another stile.

Following the line of trees, we walk ahead to join a sunken track that runs downhill to the B1257 road. Crossing with care, we continue down the slope and over the footbridge that crosses Bilsdale Beck.

Continuing round to the right and up the slope, we pass the track to Eastbank Farm (on the left) and follow the concrete trackway past a steep valley on our left.

A double bend in the track takes us past farm buildings at Stonehouse Cote and through a wooden field gate with views opening up across Bilsdale.

There are left and then right-hand bends as we follow the track towards William Beck Farm. Passing the buildings on our right, we pass through a wooden field gate and keep to the right to pass through another two gates.

Continuing ahead, we pass through a squeeze stile in the wall and then walk down the field to another wooden gate. Our route then runs to the right down the slope to reach a gate beside the farm buildings.

After passing through, we turn left in front of High Ellermire Farm and follow the track away to the left with a wall on the left and fence on our right-hand side.

After the next gate, we bear diagonally right towards a field gate with fences on both sides.

The lines of fencing lead towards Cam House, but we turn away on the track that runs downhill.

We walk as far as a fence on the left and follow the line of fencing to a stile before the wall, where we turn right to make our way down to the B1257.

Crossing with care, we walk to the left for about ten yards before heading over a ladder stile into the roadside field. Bilsdale mast is prominent as we follow the wall downhill to a stile in the left-hand corner and continue ahead to the bank of the River Seph.

Turning right along the river bank, we cross a wooden footbridge and then follow the track through three more gates before we reach another footbridge.

Bearing left up the trackway, we cross a cattle grid and continue to the right to Low Crookleith Farm. After the next field gate on the right, we follow the left-hand field edge to twin gates and continue through two more gates on the approach to Orterley Farm.

Waymarks guides us to the right to a metal field gate and then left at a finger post to reach a ladder stile on the left of another metal gate.

Turning right beside the fence, we cross two stiles next to wooden field gates before turning left down the slope towards a telegraph pole.

We continue ahead to reach a stile in the bottom right-hand corner and then walk ahead, with the river close at hand on our right.

We pass through two wooden gates along the next stretch and keep below the barn to cross a stile and footbridge. After the bridge we bear right to a stile beside the beck and then right again over a bridge that leads back to our starting point in the car park.

Fact File

LOCATION: Chop Gate is on the B1257, eight miles south of Stokesley.

START: Car park at southern end of Chop Gate.

DISTANCE: 5 miles.

GOING: Field paths and trackways.

Several moderate gradients.

REFRESHMENTS: Sun Inn or Buck Inn, Chop Gate.

MAP: Ordnance Survey Explorer OL26 North York Moors Western Area.

DOGS: Under proper control.

WHEELCHAIR ACCESS: Not suitable.

CAPTION(S):

IT'S DELIGHTFUL: Bilsdale mast (top) is prominent on our walk from Chop Gate (above)