This isn’t a race report but it is a really good advert for the Moorsbus which you can use to get you to a destination point in the North York Moors so that you can then do a point to point walk or run. Alan Simpson and Kim Werner took the bus to Helmsley to do a lovely route to Coxwold via Rievaulx, Wass and Oldstead.
Moorsbus runs! There are various options to take a linear walk or run through the North York Moors taking advantage of the weekend Moorsbus service. A one-way single journey costs just £3 (cash or card) for an adult. For example you can go from Helmsley to Coxwold on a 22km adventure taking in ancient monuments and a variety of moorland landscapes. Park at the village hall in Coxwold and catch the M5/M31 bus (Saturday 958am or Sunday/Bank Holidays 10am). The bus winds through Byland Abbey and Ampleforth dropping off at Helmsley marketplace. Make your way to the start of the Cleveland Way and follow it to Reivaulx Abbey. Pick up a few refreshments at the English Heritage cafe then cross the picturesque Reivaulx bridge. Just after Ashbury farm, take a bridleway left and climb on the ancient ‘coffin road’ towards Scawton Moor. Many such historic tracks were used across Britain to carry the dead from remote settlements to a church with burial rights. Our route would also have connected the monks at Rievaulx and Byland Abbey. This path is now part of Saint Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail, which loops through historic villages, churches and abbeys. The way continues passing by an ancient tumulus and through a farmyard to cross the A170. Turn left and immediately right into Wass Woods. Follow the bridleway to the road down Wass Bank or take a more adventurous exploration of the woods through Duckendale (if you don’t mind a few nettles!) Both options meet up at the footpath leaving Wass village towards Mount Snever Observatory. After visiting this curious building descend to Oldstead and take the road past the Black Swan. Take a right to Oldstead Grange and follow a maze of footpaths back into Coxwold across the pastures. If you are lucky the Moonshine Pop-Up Parlour might be there serving ice cream to round off a great day!
The Moorsbus runs from early April until Sep 26th this year. Other options with routes that vary from 20 to 30km include parking in Guisborough and taking the M4 bus to Chop Gate returning via Captain Cooks monument. Alternatively, park in Stokesley and alight in Rievaulx for a fantastic route over the Hawnby hills and Bilsdale Moor. You could also try the M3 bus which connects Hutton le Hole to the Lion Inn with a great descent through Rosedale. Another option is to park at Sutton Bank or Helmsley and take the M4 to Chop Gate via Pockley Moor or try bus 28 to Scarborough, getting off at Wrelton and returning on the Tabular Hills Way.
