George Wilkinson gets excited about the publication of a new map.

A NEW Ordnance Survey map is a shot in the arm, the nearest to nandrolone a walker is likely to get. These days the big boosts are the new green dots that now mark up green lanes, or rather 'other routes with public access', and the heavy purple boundary lines of Open Access Areas.

Bang in the middle of this January's edition of the OS Explorer 297 is a purple patch, the Forestry Commission's share of the plantation five miles west of Harrogate, on Stainburn Moor.

We went there. First up was a wander to Little Alms Cliff, a rocky outcrop on a hillock carved with mysterious prehistoric cup and ring shapes. These are not as obvious as the also mysterious eavesdropping station at Menwith Hill that we could spy three miles to the north.

We sideways glanced at the American outpost on and off for the next mile or so as we skirted and tracked the dark forest. Sometimes one or more of the white spheres would catch a blast of sunshine and glow eerily. A sheep's skull hung on a wire fence, hailstones clattered and appropriately a rainbow missed the spy station.

The Lower Washburn Valley looked fresh, awash with reservoirs. The forest is laced with drainage ditches, railway sleeper bridges installed by the Lower Wharfedale Footpath Group cross these.

The second half of the route is a delve deep into the trees. I said "not a bad day" to a walker and he said "they're all good days if you can get out".

In the open access woods is a trig point at 955 feet. It's easy to find, especially if you remember it's on the top. What we didn't expect was to find the thing perched on a weather-sculpted and bus-sized block of gritstone. It is planted right up with view-denying timber.

Talking of the trees, if you go exploring there are lots half-fallen, propped by their creaking mates at various angles. And on a similar concern, remember a compass is very reassuring in the regularity of conifer forest. Here unplanned, as in if lost, excursions would involve triangular or trapezium shaped detours. The trees here are mature and semi-mature; there is some felling.

We followed footsteps along the forest tracks, which are mainly grassy with a drainage ditch each side and in places a bit boggy. That said, a most interesting walk.

Directions

When in doubt look at the map. Check your position at each point. Keep straight on unless otherwise directed.

1Left from car park to road, 200 yards, ladderstile on left to Little Alms Cliff rocks, 1 o'clock towards wood corner, stile, 100 yards, stile/fieldgate to path outside wood, stile to path between woods, stiles out and keep fence to left. Stiles.

2Stile on left to plank footbridge and immediately right to plank footbridge, edge of wood path.

3Squeezer and left to main road (verge) for 100 yards uphill. On brow, second of two tracks on left (footpath sign).

4Fork left at 'Y' junction (low post 'J2' on yellow), 200 yards uphill then swing right on main track, not grassy track ahead.

5To see trig point, path on left up hillside (large boulders nearby), fork right after 25 yards for 100 yards. Return to track.

6Left at tracks junction to grassy track/path, 300 yards

7Fork right at 'Y' junction (short post, Z 7/5 on yellow) and stay on grassy track, which skirts felled areas. Ignore any side turns. Left to main track for 50 yards back to car park.

Fact file

Distance: Four miles.

Time: Two hours.

General location: Near Harrogate.

Start: Stainburn Moor car park.

Right of way: The route is along public rights of way and in an Open Access Area.

Date walked: Saturday February 7 2004.

Road route: From the B6161 (Otley Road) half a mile south of Beckwithshaw take Norwood Lane also signed to Norwood and Fewston, two miles to car park.

Car parking: Forestry Commission, free.

Lavatories: None.

Refreshments: None.

Tourist & public transport information: Harrogate Tourist Office 01423 537 300.

Map: Based on the new, edition B (January 04) OS Explorer 297 Lower Wharfedale and Washburn Valley.

Terrain: Forested moor.

Points of interest: Sometimes vendors try to offload old maps, the new one has a picture of a water/rock garden at Harewood House on cover.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Dogs: Suitable.

Weather forecast: Evening Press and recorded forecast 0891 500 418

Please observe the Country Code and park sensibly. While every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers set out at their own risk.

Click here to view a map of the walk

Updated: 08:32 Saturday, February 14, 2004