We are the Northallerton Ramblers. We open the way for everyone in our local community to enjoy the pleasures of walking.
The walk is 8.3 miles, with 367 metres of ascent and descent. It follows the Coal Road track up Colsterdale and then a shooting track over the moors near Baldcar Head, before joining the Six Dales Trail back to Gollinglith Foot, with a short diversion along a minor road to visit the Leeds Boys Memorial. There are a couple of stream crossings on the shooting track that could prove challenging after heavy rain and there are half a dozen stiles along the stretch of the Six Dales Trail.
The walk starts at Gollinglith Foot car park, crosses the footbridge over the River Burn and joins the Coal Road, following the river up to a point opposite High House Farm. The shooting track crosses over the moors, past the twin standing stones and crossing Spruce Gill Beck, Gipsey Wham and Grimes Gill, before joining the Six Dales Trail. Despite being a marked trail through a mixture of fields and woodland, it is not well used. Before reaching Pickersgill House we take a diversion along the minor road to the Leeds Pals Memorial, before returning to Pickersgill House an on to Gollinglith Foot car park. Along the way we see evidence of the planned reservoir construction in Colsterdale and the camp used by navvies, by recruits for the First World War and by German prisoners.
BOOKING ESSENTIAL at: membership@northallertonramblers.org.uk
Refreshments will be available in Masham following the walk.
Gollinglith Foot car park, grid reference SE 153 809. There is no mobile reception there - if necessary call the phone box on 01765 689391. To get there turn off the Leyburn road on the northern edge of Masham, signed for Fearby and Healey. After passing through these villages and shortly after the turn off to Ellingstring, take the right fork signed to Colsterdale. The car park is just over a mile on the left, near a red telephone box. Please note that the car park has been churned up by logging vehicles, leaving few firm places - please share cars as much as possible, even if it means meeting up in Masham or Fearby.
