Going dotty.....

Ready teddy burn... these bonfire bears were spotted by George during his North Dale trek

Great news for walkers, new North York Moors Ordnance Survey maps are hot off the press and should keep us going nicely till the Right to Roam.

They are a big improvement with lots of previously unmarked rights of way. Not so much footpaths and bridleways, but more 'old roads' which are marked as strings of obvious green dots. The second half of our outing is on one of these.

Today, however, we start in Rosedale at Rosedale Abbey, we soon lose the main valley, hereabouts distinctive for tree-tufted hillocks. Northdale Beck leads us on and soon the land shapes into North Dale, a handsome blind valley, large, spacious, empty but for a couple of farms, and, having no through road, a tranquillity of pasture, sandstone walls, crags, rushes and some woodland. We have kept fairly low so far, gently easing up the eastern side of the valley, then comes the exciting part, the 'new' route and it's smashing.

A track doubles back and angles up Northdale Rigg, straight as an arrow and into the heather. Heather a lovely subtle colour this time of year, tinged almost pink by its tiny tight dry flowers. Then grouse lifted, to be swept away by a strong southerly. You've earned some super views. North up North Dale, south to the spread of lowlands, and west to a Rosedale skyline punctuated by the Lion Inn at Blakey and Ana Cross on Spaunton Moor.

Eventually we are faced by a wall of pines. These are the western edge of the vast Forestry Commission holdings, which are splendidly and exactly marked on the new maps. Not everything else is marked.

Here in Rosedale the famous railway track bed isn't. Across the valley the tarmac of Rosedale Chimney Bank snakes down to Rosedale Abbey. Our descent is even more direct, bottoming out at a farm resplendent with waterfowl. Then I was strolling through the village. A gaggle of walkers were waiting for the last Moorsbus of the season. The Village Store is now a Parks info point. You'll like Northdale, and the new maps.

DIRECTIONS

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

Directions

1. From car park, cross sports field, stile/fieldgate, stile/fieldgate, stile, stile and stream, 1 o'clock, wall stile (50 yards to right of ladderstile) and 1 o'clock gently uphill away from stream, heading for Northdale Farm. Gateway, fieldgate, 1 o'clock (waymarks, rough pasture), gate, 1 o'clock, gate and stone footbridge, 1 o'clock, fieldgate, 2 o'clock for 100 yards.

2. Fieldgate and immediately left to track by conifer plantation (fieldgates). Right to tarmac lane (dead-end).

3. At garden wall of Northdale Farm, track on right uphill - bends left after 100 yards.

4. At V-shape notch in walls (where track turns downhill), first fieldgate on right (extra wide gateway with pallet attached to gate), 2 o'clock uphill on faint grassy track, fieldgate. Uphill by wall on right, gateway and uphill on track, fieldgate and track climbs gently through heather.

5. Right to road, 200 yards, path/track on left (signed). Right to road.

6. Immediately before cattlegrid, right downhill on track to viewbench, path 1 o'clock below to snickelgate. Straight downhill. Stile, stile on right (3-way fingerpost) and aim for farm (fieldgates).

7. Left in farmyard, pass in front of farmhouse, over stream, 100 yards, snickelgate on right (waymark and sign), snickelgate and immediately fieldgate on left. Public right of way diagonally crosses field but farmer requests you walk round via top edge and has left margin. Right to road.

FACT FILE

Distance: Just over four and a half miles.

Time: Two to three hours.

Start: Rosedale Abbey village.

Right of way: The complete route is along public rights of way.

Date walked: Sunday, October 31.

Road route: Rosedale Abbey is north-east of Kirkbymoorside.

Parking: Free car park or roadside.

Lavatories: In village.

Refreshments: Pubs and cafs

Tourist & public tansport Info: Pickering TIC 01751 473791

Map: Based on new OS Outdoor Leisure, North York Moors Western area 26, and Eastern area 27.

Terrain: Valley and rigg.

Footwear: Walking boots.

Points of interest: North Dale and Rigg, views.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Dogs: Suitable for dogs but keep on leads or under close control.

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.

PICTURE:Ready teddy burn... these bonfire bears were spotted by George during his North Dale trek

Click here to view a map of the walk