The Wainstones and Cold Moor from Chop Gate

The walk starts from the National Park car park at Chop Gate in Bilsdale and makes a circuit. From the village a bridleway, Cold Moor Lane, climbs onto the long ridge of Cold Moor and follows it north to its end. The route turns east on the Cleveland Way, drops to Garfit Gap and climbs through the Wainstones, a jumble of sandstone pinnacles and boulders, onto Hasty Bank. A steep descent leads to the road at Clay Bank Top. Beyond it the Cleveland Way climbs Carr Ridge onto Urra Moor, and the route comes down through Urra and Seave Green to Chop Gate.

It is 13.4 km with 487 m of ascent; allow about 4¾ hours. The grade is Moderate: there are three climbs, and the path through the Wainstones and off Hasty Bank is steep and rocky.

The National Park warns that the going can be wet and boggy in parts and that conditions change quickly, even in summer. Dogs must be on a short lead or to heel at all times, and on a short lead from 1 March to 31 July, when birds nest on the ground.

The car park costs £3.90 for up to two hours or £6.20 for longer and has toilets. The free Forestry car park at Clay Bank, on the route, is another place to start. 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.