Bell End-Thorgill-Sheriff’s Pit-Ana Cross-Rosedale Abbey walking and hiking route

Walk Instructions

Start Point

1. Leave Bell End Farm via the car park entrance - turn left, then left again at the road junction. Walk a few yards down the road and where it bends left look for a gate across the road on the right. Go through the gate and walk along the left hand edge of the field next to the hedge.

2. On reaching a stile cross it and continue on straight ahead, then down a few steps before following a narrow path round to the left and downhill through an attractive wooded area.

3. At the bottom (Grid Ref. 717 966) you will see a footbridge crossing the River Seven. Don’t go across, but just before the bridge turn right and walk along a set of wooden ‘duckboards’ then go straight on across the next field towards a ladder stile. Cross the stile then continue ahead across the next 3 fields.

4. At the last stile/gate (Grid Ref. 712 966) follow the track downhill to the left towards the river. It then swings right towards another gate - go through and about 50 yards further on look for a small footbridge crossing the river on your left.

5. Cross the bridge and continue straight on up the field to Low Thorgill Farm (Grid Ref. 710 967).

6. Go through a small gate between two barns and continue on through the farm buildings and up and along the farm access road.

7. Where the track meets a narrow surfaced road, turn right and follow the road to the pretty hamlet of Thorgill (Grid Ref. 708 965).

8. Continue straight on past the houses of Thorgill. The surfaced road becomes more of a stony track - keep going straight ahead for about the next ¾ of a mile.

9. You soon pass a small group of attractive green caravans on your right. About 200 yards further on look for a footpath sign and a stile on your left at Grid Ref. 700 974. Cross the stile and walk up the field and through a gate into the next field. Look for a 3 way signpost near the top of this field and follow its direction to the right, up to a ladder stile at the top right hand corner of the field.

10. Cross the ladder stile and follow the track which soon bears left and climbs steeply up the bracken covered hillside behind High House Farm. The track levels off for a short while before going through a slightly marshy area. The path becomes a bit indistinct in parts, but just keep climbing steeply, zig zagging up the hillside ahead.

11. Eventually you reach the old railway track bed near the top of the moor - all the hard work has now been done!. Turn left along the railway track, which you will follow for the next 3 miles, enjoying the superb views east across Rosedale.

12. About a mile from where you emerged onto the railway you arrive at the ruins of Sheriff’s Pit and the fenced off mineshaft at Grid Ref. 698 963. (Take great care near the shaft with children and dogs as parts of the fence have been damaged over the years). The only remaining building relic that stands these days is the gable end of the mine manager’s house.

13. Continue to follow the rail track ahead as it winds around Thorgill Head and above Hobb Crag. Shortly after passing a seat dedicated to the miners of Rosedale you arrive at some stone cottages. Ignore the track that goes left but continue on ahead along a stony, grey path to reach a row of old stone arches. (These are the ruins of the roasting kilns from the days of the ironstone mining activity, which one thrived in the dale during the latter part of the 19th century).

14. Continue on past the kilns to arrive at a steep road -Chimney Bank was so called because a tall stone chimney stood nearby, a local landmark for many years until its demolition in 1972. Fortunately, you are near the top of the bank! Turn right and follow the road uphill for a short distance to the top, then look to the left for a metal gate leading to a wide moorland track. Leave the road and follow the track in a south easterly direction.

15. About ½ a mile further ahead leave the track near a pond on the right for a short detour to Ana Cross (Grid Ref. 724 938). From Ana Cross return to the wide track and continue ahead to the next junction at Grid Ref. 728 936. turn left and follow a similar track leading slightly north east. You soon arrive at a recently quarried sandstone pit on your left - go directly opposite for about 50 yards through the heather on the right to visit the remains of Redman’s cross.

16. Return to the track and continue on - it soon becomes much narrower, winding its way through the heather leading to the northern edge of Spaunton Moor.

17. As the path begins to descend quite steeply, superb views suddenly open up across Rosedale, this most beautiful of valleys. The track passes the site of old mines and quarry workings as it descends towards Hollins Farm.

18. At Hollins Farm, the track joins a wide, gated bridleway - follow it to the left, soon passing some fine stone houses. Evidence of former mine workings can be seen all around this area, especially on the hillside.

19. The track eventually arrives at the White House Farm Hotel - from here, there are good views down to the village of Rosedale Abbey. Turn right just past the hotel and follow the road downhill - this is the bottom part of Chimney Bank.

20. At the junction just over the river, turn left and walk into the village - go to the left of the school buildings.

21. Just past the school, near a duck pond, and opposite the church gate entrance, look for an ‘Inn Way’ footpath sign pointing to Thorgill - go through the kissing gate and turn right to follow the caravan park access road.

22. Leave the road via another metal kissing gate (GR 720 961), opposite an old stone well, and follow the field path eventually reaching a small wood.23. Cross a stile (GR 716 965) into the wood and soon you reach the junction of paths from earlier in the walk near the river footbridge. Bear right and climb the same path you came down earlier and retrace your steps back to Bell End.

Disclaimer: This route was correct at time of writing. However, alterations can happen if development or boundary changes occur, and there is no guarantee of permanent access. These walks have been published for use by site visitors on the understanding that neither HPB Management Limited nor any other person connected with Holiday Property Bond is responsible for the safety or wellbeing of those following the routes as described. It is walkers' own responsibility to be adequately prepared and equipped for the ‎level of walk and the weather conditions and to assess the safety and accessibility of the walk.