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WALK 7

Gillamoor, Boonhill Common and Fadmoor

Start/finish	Royal Oak, Gillamoor, SE 682 899
Distance	8km (5 miles)
Total ascent/descent	140m (460ft)
Time	2hrs 30mins
Terrain	Easy walking along woodland and field paths with linking roads.
Maps	OS Landranger 94 or 100; OS Explorer OL26 South
Refreshments	Royal Oak at Gillamoor
Transport	Monday-only Ryecat buses serve Gillamoor and Fadmoor from Pickering

Gillamoor and Fadmoor are quiet, charming little villages with neat, spacious greens, several stone farms and cottages. Both villages are surrounded by fields that rise gradually to Boonhill Common, which is another of the nabs on the Tabular Hills, beyond which stretch extensive heather moorlands. Despite being flanked by the River Dove and Hodge Beck, Gillamoor and Fadmoor, in most respects, lacked a constant supply of water. This problem was overcome when lengthy leats were constructed to channel water to both villages from distant sources.

Start from the Royal Oak in Gillamoor and walk through the village to reach St Aidan’s Church. The road runs left of the church and reaches the Surprise View that overlooks the River Dove and Spaunton Moor. As the road bends left, immediately branch left along a signposted footpath that runs along the inside edge of a woodland at the top of a steep brow. The path continues alongside a field, then heads straight for a minor road. Turn right to follow the road past a junction, as signposted for Bransdale, beside Dial Farm. Walk down a wooded road that levels out among fields and passes Grays Farm. Turn left along a narrow road marked ‘no through road’ and follow it around the lower slopes of Boonhill Common, heading downhill a short way.

The pleasant valley of the River Dove below Gillamoor

Head left from the road to follow a signposted bridleway that starts out as a grassy track running down past a gate. Walk up through another gate to enter fields and look back to admire the fine house at Stonely Woods. Walk alongside fields and fences, passing through gates as marked, to land on another narrow road above Cherry Tree Farm. Turn left to cross a cattle grid and walk past a farm at Aumery Park. Just as you leave the last building, turn left up through a gate and walk alongside a fence as signposted for Fadmoor. The fence leads up across a wooded slope, and the path continues across a higher wooded slope with tangled brambly ground cover. Watch out for a gate on the left, at the top of The Brow, leading out into fields.

A little cottage standing beside the broad central green in the village of Fadmoor

Walk diagonally across the fields, and if no trodden path can be discerned, look ahead to spot the required step-stiles and take note of the direction given by marker arrows at each one. When you reach a road at some farm buildings, turn right to walk into the village of Fadmoor, then turn left to cross the central green to leave the village. The road continues straight ahead to return to Gillamoor.

GILLAMOOR AND FADMOOR