Coneysthorpe and the surrounding woodlands.

Distances: 5½ miles

Time: 2 hrs 30 mins

Grade: Easy

Map: OS Explorer 300 – Howardian Hills & Malton (Yorkshire Wolds North)

Start Point: Village Hall, Coneysthorpe, YO60 7DD.

Walk Summary

This is a charming and pleasant 5½ miles walk in the Howardian Hills, and is enjoyable all year round for all ages. The walks is fairly easy going with only one moderate ascent through Slingsby Banks Wood which is short, and one short moderate descent of Coneysthorpe Banks Wood with a slightly uneven path. The walk offers a mixture of interest of various woodlands that surround Coneysthorpe and open space moorland with vista views of the surrounding area. Hall Moor Beck and Coneysthorpe Beck include some added interest with the creatures they attract depending on the time of year. The wildlife that inhabit the area can often be seen foraging around, providing heavy feet don't scare them away, and you're lucky roe deer and hares can be found bouncing around. The wild flowers that emerge in spring give way to fungi in autumn as the greens become yellows, oranges and browns.

The woodlands that surround the village of Coneysthorpe are a mixture of planted pine and some ancient native broadleaf trees which are home and offer refuge to a wide range of ground and tree dwellers, the chirping and activity change with the seasons. The tracks are well defined and well signed. The tracks are mainly stony which provide good drainage in the wetter periods, though boots are still recommended during the wetter and wintry months. There are a couple of moderate ascents and descents but these are short and not too arduous.

There is limited parking in Coneysthorpe at the village hall where there is a honesty box on the door of the village hall asking for £1 parking (in 2023) donation, but there is further parking on the main road in the village. Please park responsibly and respect the villagers. The village hall was formerly the schoolhouse and reading room that was built in 1852. At the end of the village green at the entry/exit to the village, is where the village’s War Memorial located, commemorating those who fell during the First World War.

The walk leaves the village, turns right on Hepton Hill and follows the road through Shaw Wood and in to Thurtle Wood. The walk follows the stony track through the wood, cross a small section of Hall Moor and over Hall Moor Beck. On the right are views across moor towards Coneysthorpe Banks Wood on the horizon. Hall Moor is the site of several ancient monuments in the form barrows which date from the Late Neolithic period to the Late Bronze Age. The mounds are difficult to distinguish due to the many centuries of plant growth that has changed the landscape of these ancient burial sites.

The path leaves the moor to enter Slingsby Banks Wood, ascend to the top of the ridge and follow the Centenary Way. The track leaves the wood to enter a clearing with lovely views north towards Slingsby and south towards Castle Howard. The track descends to cross the road 'Slingsby Bank' then ascends on the other side passing through a gate with more views to the north and the south, then passes through a second gate to enter Coneysthorpe Banks Wood.

There are some information boards summarising the history of Coneysthorpe Banks Wood and about the regeneration programme, where over time the planted pine trees are going to be removed and replaced with native broadleaf species. The intention is to restore the woodland back to its more historic origins and to re-establish the flora and fauna that once thrived here. The walk follows the path to a finger post signed Coneysthorpe ¾ of a mile to the right. Keeping on the Centenary Way the path steadily descends Coneysthorpe Bank, crosses Hall Moor, with a gentle ascent over Sand Hill to arrive at Coneysthorpe Beck, it is worth stopping a while to investigate the wildlife that feed and live here.

From the beck there is a gentle ascent up a hill to the village, at the rear of the barn and cottage building the path in to the village lies to the left. Continue passed the historic Coneysthorpe Chapel of Ease to Barton-le-Street St Michael. The chapel was built in 1835 by the Earl of Carlisle, in the Georgian style and tooled from limestone ashlar with Welsh slate roof and a bell turret, and return to the village hall.