Start in front of the Abbey Inn opposite the entrance of the Abbey itself, and whilst facing the Abbey head left 122m - Stream5 : km 4.1 - alt. As mentioned one section suffers from encroaching nettles in the summer and trousers rather than shorts are useful. The end of a wonderful walk, during which we'd only seen 2 other walkers. Grid reference: SE513797. The walk makes a circuit of Hawnby, Bilsdale West and Wetherhouse Moors and gives views into upper Ryedale, Bilsdale and Ladhill Gill. This North Yorkshire walk is full of interest, visiting three villages, the rivers Rye and Riccal, a section of old railway and a section of the Ebor Way. The bridle track passes across the moor and then through another gate and into woods. Continue It’s a wonderful place and well worth a visit in its own right, We started today’s walk from the small car park near the abbey and, after spending some time wandering around its atmospheric ruins, we walked along the road to Wass for 200 yards or so before turning off to follow a drive, and then a path through the fields, to the edge of Abbey Bank Wood. The remainder of the walk was through unspoilt countryside (save for the environs of Oldstead Grange, which are an unsightly rubbish dump). 118m - Space for a few car4 : km 2.42 - alt. lane below by way of a further stile. At Cam Head take the left footpath ignoring the Oldstead Grange sign and head into the woods keeping the fence on the left. This circular walk starts from the market town of Richmond and passes close by to Richmond Castle before dropping down on to the River Swale. Walk over the small bridge and through a gate and into a field. Global average : 5/5 It was designed to accommodate about 100 monks and 200 lay brothers. Return across the green and turn right to follow the road through the village, uphill again. By 1538 the abbey was a very prosperous place, but then the abbot John Ledes along with his (5) Go through a gate and turn right onto the road. This North York Moors walk around Rievaulx Moor is easy to follow and gives periodic views into the lower valleys below the Rievaulx Bank. Turn right onto this, and follow to Elphin Bridge. Its a fine bridge, built to replace the medieval bridge swept away by floods in 1754. comes out in front of the Abbey and affords excellent views of it and the surrounding area as this part of the final From the abbey, the walk heads into Wass and then follows a track through a wood for about one mile to reach Mount Snever Observatory (a now disused stone tower) before descending to Oldstead and heading back to the Abbey. Then, once you’ve enjoyed the views, fun, exhilaration and good company, it’s just a case of becoming a member. Some of the many wildflowers seen along the way. (Rievaulx Bridge). The path slowly climbs now for just under a third of a mile, 79m - Rievaulx Bridge2 : km 0.81 - alt. following the yellow waymark sign and the footpath sign for "Cam Farm". Follow this up to a T-junction and again turn left. This lovely walk takes you on a tour of upper Farndale; a delightful and peaceful valley in the North York Moors. Byland Abbey was started in 1177 by the Savigny monks, a reforming branch of the Benedictines. Byland Abbey is an English Heritage site and was once of the greatest monasteries in England, and was the most ambitious Cistercian abbey built in England during the 12th century.