Rosedale and its ironstone railway

The walk starts in Rosedale Abbey and makes a circuit of the upper dale. Field and riverside paths lead north-west to the hamlet of Thorgill, and more field paths and farm tracks continue up the west side of the dale to Dale Head Farm. The route climbs to the head of the dale and joins the trackbed of the old ironstone railway, which runs level round the east side, high above the valley. It passes the tall arches of the iron kilns and then the stone kilns, where the ore was roasted before it was sent out by rail. Beyond them the route drops through Hill Cottages and returns by field paths to Rosedale Abbey.

It is 12.2 km with 243 m of ascent; allow about 3¾ hours. The grade is Moderate: it is a long walk with gentle climbs, half of it on field paths.

The railway carried ironstone out of the dale from the 1860s until 1929. The National Park asks for dogs to be on a lead on the old railway, and says the kilns are fragile: do not climb on them or go inside. The trackbed is exposed, and windy and cold in winter.

Parking is on the street in Rosedale Abbey, where spaces are hard to find at busy times; the village has toilets. There is no station nearby.

Route drawn by Global Adventurer along OpenStreetMap paths (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), with figures worked out from it. Check the forecast and the ground on the day: paths change.