Great Ayton to Low Easby

This is a walk originally published as part of a series of 6 walks available as leaflets from the Tourist Information Centre (TIC) in Great Ayton. The TIC is now located in the Library, west of the High Green. Previously it was in the car park adjacent to the High Green.

Distance: 4 miles

Time: allow two hours.

Grade: easy

Conditions: this is a very pleasant, easy walk across fields on public footpaths and bridleways. Though there are several stiles, the entire walk is level. Some of the walk is muddy after rain.

Refreshments: Great Ayton's High Green and Fletcher's (Woodhouse) Farm.

The walk is never far from the River Leven, which it crosses twice. Otherwise the views of Roseberry Topping, Captain Cook's Monument and the Cleveland Hills are spectacular without requiring the chore of climbing.

From point 1 to point 2 on the map

From the High Green go past the statue of the young James Cook to reach the river by Suggitt's ice cream shop. Cross the river by a footbridge built in 1919 as a memorial to men from Ayton Mines who lost their lives in the First World War. On the other side is tiny Waterfall Park named for the weir which diverted water to the local corn mill. The path passes a cast iron Victorian urinal and goes through a kissing gate by the weir. Beyond a second new kissing gate the path is much improved and passes sports fields first on the right, then on the left. Ignore the sign 'To the Riverside' and continue ahead with excellent views to the hills beyond.

The path then turns half left across a small field. The path in the next field undulates over remnants of the medieval ridge and furrow system. Turn right where the path reaches the corner of the field and go straight ahead for 200 yards to a tarred lane.

From point 2 to point 3 on the map

Take the stile on the other side of the lane and keeping a barn on your left follow a clear path which, in less than half a mile, brings you to an idyllic stretch of the river just before Woodhouse Farm.

The path passes to the left of the farmhouse and then crosses a field with prominent traces of the original course of the river. Three stiles then follow. After the third go half left back to the river and into the pretty hamlet of Low Easby, where turn left to recross the river.

From point 3 to point 4 on the map

Turn left in Low Easby along a tarred lane. This soon becomes an easy to follow bridleway which in just over half a mile brings you to Fletcher's (another Woodhouse) Farm. Go round the farm buildings to join the access lane which passes the Brookside Farm marked on the map.

From point 4 on the map to Great Ayton High Green

Follow the lane to the very attractive corner by Little Ayton bridge, an ideal picnic spot.. Now turn right along the narrow lane which in half a mile leads back to Great Ayton. Go straight ahead at the roundabout to return to the High Green.