Swainby_Whorlton_Moor

Leave the village heading south keeping to the right of the stream. Follow this road (Coalmire Lane) to the climb below Scarth Wood Moor and onto the bend at the stream and ford (locally known as the ‘sheep wash).

Turn left here and cross the ford onto the 'Roman road' and a short steep climb up a wide eroded track. If you get to the rocks you're doing well. If you clean the rocks too let us know by the Facebook facility below.

Now follow this track past the Cod Beck plantations to the Hawnby road. Keep straight at the road past 'Chequers' to 'Square Corner' below Black Hambleton. Follow the road from a sharp left bend for another 1000mts. Turn left onto a moorland track (160mts after bridleway on right).

Follow this track for 2.8k to Swainby Shooting House. Keep right here following the track on a gentle climb sweeping round over Whorlton Moor with its fantastic view into Scugdale, Barker’s Crags and over to Carlton bank. Stay with this track to the 'T' junction near 'Osmotherley Stones' and turn left. The track now swings north for the first real descent of the route down Barker's Ridge. There is a locked gate on the lower end of the descent with a style to cross. (Presumably locked to keep the scramblers off the track).

Stop about 200mts ahead of the crags in front at a left turn junction. There are three options here but only one technically legal. For the legal choice turn left on a soft double track and left again down to gate. Follow this eroded track through to the lane at Scugdale Hall. The second option is to keep straight ahead to the rocks, climbing over another locked gate. Follow this track for 680mts to Brian's Pond where you can join the bridleway to Barker's Crags and a great descent through the bracken to Scugdale hall. The third option would be to turn left and then keep straight ahead on a signposted public footpath which muddybums do not encourage unless you GOAP. It is only a public footpath for 300mts to where you keep left at the junction on a single track to Barker's Crags to pick up the descent.

From Scugdale hall follow the lane to the road junction just before Huthwaite Green. Turn right here onto a firm bridleway.

Follow the track to gate at 600mts. Turn left and quick right following a grassy track alongside the fence for 200mts to gate to forest. Go through the gate and turn left on a lovely track through the forest. The only problem with this track is it is too short. Watch out for the turn and steep drop at about 260mts. The track ends at gate leading into field. Cross the field to an iron gate at far side and turn left on lane into Faceby.

Past through the village passing the Sutton Arms and turning left 130mts after road junction. This lane leads up a short tarmac climb past the chicken huts to Whorl Hill Farm. Turn right before the farm and follow track around the front of the house leading to a single track with a succession of gates to the Swainby Lane. Turn right at the lane passing the castle back into Swainby Village.