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Ampleforth – Easy Walk
Ampleforth – Easy Walk
This is an ideal walk for beginners. Steep at the very start of the walk, its all downhill after then with pleasant walking through cornfields and woodland around the surrounding countryside near the pretty village of Ampleforth. Take a picnic, as towards the end of the walk there's a picnic table!
Getting There
From Middlesbrough go up Ormesby Bank and follow the signposts to Great Broughton. Stay on this road which is the B1257 until you reach Helmsley. Follow the road out of Helmsely towards Thirsk. At a signpost which says route missing the Sutton Bank take this route and take the first right turning which will lead you to Ampleforth. Parking is on the roadside in Ampleforth.
Route of the Ampleforth walk
From the road side parking, along the main road in Ampleforth look for a gap between the White Horse Inn and the post office, opposite a post box.
This is the only climbing part of the walk, and although a bit strenuous, don't worry as its all downhill afterwards. Make your way through entrance gates onto a second drive. Turn right to a junction and go over a stile.
Climb to the top of the bank and you will reach a track, follow it to the left, passing through gates to carry on at the edge of a paddock. Entering the next field bear right to the far corner, and keep going by a fence and a broken wall to your right. When you reach the very top, walk left and then right and continue ahead by the perimeter of a long field. If you've lost your bearings you should have the circle of trees surrounding the Studfold Ring to your left.
Studfold Ring
The Studfold Ring is a banked enclosure dating from the Bronze Age. Carry onto the end of the cornfield path and you will reach a stile which leads you onto a road and onto the main road, the High Street.
Turn left and follow the High Street for three quarters of a mile, passing the entrance to Studford Farm and passing by a lane that leads back to Ampleforth. About 200 yards further on leave the road to the left dropping onto a forest track.
The track leads downhill into the plantations of College Moor. Look for the second fork in this path which leads to the left and take this path.
Take the left fork on the track
Follow this path and when it ends on a right bend look for a hidden path to the left which leads into the woods.
This path doubles back and leads into the woods. Follow this path until you reach a stile and a picnic table is on your left. A great place for a pitstop and food and refreshments!.
After your picnic, turn left on the lane and follow this back onto the main road and turn left back into Ampleforth. To your left on the way back are some great views of the Howardian Hills.
