Country walk to Helmsley
Posted on August 13th, 2026 by Sproxton Hall Cottages
WALKING INTO HELMSLEY FROM SPROXTON HALL COTTAGES
This is a picturesque walk over fields into Helmsley. We recommend trainers, walking boots or wellingtons (depending on how wet it is underfoot) and long trousers (to protect against nettles and brambles). The walk is approximately 2.5 miles /1 hour each way; please allow enough daylight to complete the walk. Some fields have livestock, so please keep your dogs on leads, and take care at the river – it can flow fast and deep. There is a steady uphill gradient on the way back. Guests enjoy this walk throughout the year and the changing seasons reveal different wildflowers and wildlife. UPDATE for 2026: In places the route now follows St Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail and not the Ebor Way as the latter can be overgrown.
Walking Guide
Turn right out of the cottage gate; proceed along the track with the farm on the left. Bear left at the fork (Ebor Way) and continue along the track for approx. 10 minutes. The path starts to rise as you approach another farm.
Photo 1: Rather than follow the track to the left towards the farm walk straight ahead on to the grass for approx. 20m keeping the fence on your left. Go through the gate with the arrow on it (photo 2).
Keep to the right of the field, head downhill and join the track (photo 3) – you are heading towards the gate with the farm in the distance.
Go through the gate keeping to the track to the bottom left hand corner of the field. Take the track through the bushes and through the gate in photo 4, bear right. Sheep likely for several fields.
Keep right (downhill) with the trees on your right, follow the fence past the water/marsh (photo 5). At the waymark sign turn right through a gap in the hedge/trees towards the footbridge (photo 6).
Go over the footbridge and turn left. The fish farm is on your right. Walk along the raised footpath and go past the old caravan onto the track. Go through the gate on your left. If you find yourself going uphill on the track, retrace your steps to the gate.
Proceed along the grassed area through another gate to the old railway bridge (photo 7). Turn right under the old bridge then immediately left, waymarked blue St Aelred’s Pilgrim Trail (photo 8).
(THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTE continuing on the Ebor Way into Helmsley and not under the railway bridge is off to the left through another gate. This route follows the River Rye into Helmsley, waymarked as ‘Discover the River Rye’. This route can be overgrown, particularly in summer, and there are steep river banks and fast flowing water. If taking this route you will rejoin this guide at photo 12).
Follow the St Aelred’s blue waymark signs (e.g. photo 8), walking on the edges of arable fields (keeping hedges on your left), e.g. photo 9. Along the way you’ll see disused farm machinery with Helmsley’s castle in the distance. The route runs alongside the old railway line before turning a sharp right where the old line is fenced off, and then left keeping to the edge of the field.
At the gate (photo 10) head slightly right across the field to the next gate. Continue onto the track with hedges either side (photo 11) until you come to the sign for Helmsley, then turn right. (If walking the Ebor Way/Discover the River Rye route this is where the paths converge) (photo 12). Follow the ‘Helmsley ¼ mile’ sign, through the industrial area/join the tarmac road. Continue past the industrial units and houses. Turn left on to Ryegate; at the end junction turn right towards the shops and market square. Helmsley’s most famous view is just across the road after the micro-brewery. The castle and walled garden (photos 16 and 17) are both behind the market square.
Enjoy a stroll around Helmsley. We recommend an ice cream from Ryeburn of Helmsley (head towards the long stay carpark/Cleveland Way) or a drink at one of the many dog friendly cafes before the walk back, or take the (infrequent) local bus back to Sproxton from outside the Feathers. The Sproxton bus stop is opposite the church. If you take a taxi back to Sproxton, our address is Bransdale Cottage/Sproxton Hall Cottages, YO62 5EQ. Public transport and taxis are rare and in short supply so cannot be relied on. PLEASE NOTE: ALTHOUGH WE CONSIDER THESE DIRECTIONS TO BE ACCURATE, WE ACCEPT NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. PLEASE FOLLOW THE COUNTRYSIDE CODE. IF YOU ARE REALLY LOST PLEASE CALL 01439 770980 OR 07814 962761.
Laminated copies of this and other walks are in each cottage.