The Hambleton Hobble was devised in 1983 as one of the measures being taken to reduce numbers of walkers on other over used routes on this section of the North Yorkshire Moors. Although it was devised partly as a conservation measure (helping to reduce footpath erosion) it is in no way a second class walk.
It's a 50 km circular route centred around Black Hambleton, a summit of 399 m. of the Tabular Hills on the western edge of the North Yorkshire Moors National Park. Despite it's austere sounding name Black Hambleton is amongst the most scenic of the area. The Tabular Hills are built up on the jurassic rocks and offer very fine views westwards over the Vale of York to the distant Pennines.
The walk is unusual in that it deliberately set out to link the village pubs in Osmotherley, Hawnby, Scawton and Nether Silton. Since the walk started most of these inns have changed landlords and it is not known what some of the new ones think of hikers. In fairness to them please be considerate and don't litter public houses with rucksacks and filth from your boots.
It's an unfortunate fact that this area of N.E. England has what can only be regarded as an abysmal public transport service, with this walk being circular it is ideal for car users; but a word of caution, you are safer to leave your car in one of the villages - there has been quite a spate of theft from cars parked in remote places.
As the Hambleton Hobble was never intended as a speed challenge much of the route is not either well defined or way - marked so you are advised to use one of the Outdoor Leisure maps entitled 'North York Moors West Sheet'; both the old 1" new 1 : 50000 maps are unsuitable as parts of the walk are on arable land and these maps do not show walls, fences etc.
With the exception of a short section through Forestry Commission land the whole walk is on public rights of way. In normal conditions these forestry tracks are open to the public for recreational use but you must bear in mind that they could be closed in times of high fire risk. If anyone has problems with access on public rights of way along this walk please inform the North Yorkshire Moors National Parks Office and the Ramblers Association. Restrictions on rights of way must be opposed.
North of the war memorial in Osmtherley you will see a Cleveland Way sign, this points you through a snicket that leads to back lane; crossing back lane the footpath continues over fields and down to the footbridge over Cod Beck; cross this and follow the path uphill to White House Farm where you then follow the farm track to a green lane. Here the Cleveland way turns right, you go straight on, along a footpath to Greenhills Farm. Take the road to the old drovers inn at Chequers (those expecting a pint are in for a severe disappointment as the Inn has no beer license and is now a cafe serving only light refreshments). Follow the road south until you cross Jenny Brewster Gill, a further 100 metres of road walking brings you to a point on your left where an undefined and unsigned footpath takes you 500 metres S.E. through knee deep heather to rejoin the Snilesworth road near the remains of Robinson's Cross.
200 metres past Robinson's Cross a good track leads off to your right towards the disused farm at Dale Head, walk down the field to join the path which runs alongside the beck, cross this at some stepping stones and join the undefined bridle path towards Lower Locker Farm. This bridle path runs at the lower side of the ancient field system, a footpath runs on the upper side but this is too hard to locate in places. Keep Lower Locker Farm on your right and join the footpath to Far House and Cow Wath. At Cow Wath you have completed 10 kilometres.
From the remains of Cow Wath an obvious path leads through three small fields and into Greens Wood, the path continues through scrubby woodland to Brewster Hill, keep these farm buildings on your left and go through two small gates and down to Eskerdale Beck. A little confusion can be encountered here; after crossing the beck and heading uphill it can be difficult to see where the path enters the forest, but once onto this forest path which which leads you to Harker Bates and Mount Pleasant take care to adhere to the correct right of way - there are many 'private' signs! Leave Mount Pleasant by the farm driveway and follow this for a couple of hundred metres to a large gate on your right. The route to Arden Hall goes through this gate and alongside the fence, passing two small coverts, until you join the main area of woodland near Nun's Well. Nun's Well is in fact a small spring in a hollow on your left just after entering the woods. Follow the woodland path towards Arden Hall and leave by the estate driveway to join the road.
Cross the road at Arden Hall Gates and follow the path through woodland to the fields beyond. Once in the field you will see the remains of Coomb Hill House on a hillside to your left; just behind the house you go through a gate to join a bridle path which takes you round the side of coomb hill and north of Carr Woods to join the road at Church Bridge. Turn right and then it is time to make a very important decision; one that could affect your whole enjoyment of the walk; 'do you carry on or do you make the short walk to the Hawnby Hotel with its friendly landlord, good food, jovial company and excellent beer; the decision is yours, but if I had enough time to spare I know what my decision would be, and after all walking is very thirsty work.
To carry on you walk through the churchyard and cross the River Rye on the Dalicar footbridge. On the far side of the bridge you will see a wooden shed in the field corner where an undefined path leads uphill to a white gate leading to Sunnybank Farm. From Sunnybank Farm take the bridle path, keeping Daleside on your upper right and then downhill to Daletown, you enter and exit this farmyard by two gates after which you bear right to join the inclined path to Peak Scar Top. In hot weather this can be a long slog but the view from the top make at well worth while. At the top you join the Hawnby to Boltby road.
You now have a 3 kilometre walk along the road to Old Byland, it's a very minor road with a water splash at Caydale Mill to contend with. Once into Old Byland keep on the same road right through the village until you reach a T-junction. You have now completed about 20 kilometres.
In front of you at this junction is a small gate which leads into a narrow valley head, drop down to the bottom and up the other side to join a well used bridle path that winds through the trees and onto a track across four fields and down into Nettledale Woods. You exit from the woods and cross two new footbridges on the Cleveland Way and then take the uphill woodland path to join the road to Scawton.
The Hare Inn is at the far end of the village and walkers are welcome and if you have time it is well worth the visit. This is approximately half way.
Assuming you have been to the pub, you will have to back-track as far as the phone box on your left hand side; behind this is a stile that starts a long section of arable field walking.( Please adhere to the correct line of pathways, even more so when fields are in crop - and remember that round here grass is a valuable crop). Going over this stile the footpath leads over the fields towards the top of Brignal Gill, stay on this path over a further four fields to the steep descent into Flassendale. An even steeper climb out of the dale, up through trees to where you cross two more fields before joining a farm access which leads you to the village of Cold Kirby. Straight across the village green, keeping the church on your right, you will see two farm entrances; take the left hand one which after going through the farm joins a bridle path over two fields to Back Lane. Almost straight across the lane the bridle path continues over three more fields to join the road near Wethercote Farm.
Turn left and follow the road past Wethercote farm to the Drove Road which at this point is surfaced. At the T-junction where you join the Drove Road a path leads westward to the western escarpment of the North Yorkshire Moors from where, on a clear day, you have a magnificent view over the Vale of York to the distant hills and dales of the Pennines. Almost under your feet at this point are the remains of the iron age earthworks on Boltby Scar; but turn right here and follow the Cleveland Way for about 1 kilometre to the disused High Barn Farm, where you descend on a zig-zag path to the road near Hesketh Hall. At this point you have done about 30 kilometres.
Turn right and follow the road to the forest gate; from here you are in a large Forestry Commission plantation; stay on the main forest track, keeping the reservoir to your right and when you reach the first obvious junction go straight on. At the next obvious junction turn left then sharp right up a fire break. (The map shows this as still forest but extraction is taking place). Follow this hard to find track through to the forestry boundary at Gallow Hill; turn left and follow the well used track down to Kepwick. You join the road just west of the village at SE:466907 from where a well defined footpath takes you north through fields to Nether Silton where you join the road near the church. (The Gold Cup public house is a few metres to your left)
In front of you is a small white gate, go through this and follow another well used and well defined footpath over fields to Over Silton. (You have now completed about 40 kilometres).A signed bridle path leads out of Over Silton and just past the pony trekking centre a footpath turns left uphill and leaves the main forest track. Follow this footpath, passing the hanging stone (you can't see it for the trees).The path leads down near Thimbleby and then up again and out of the forest on Thimbleby Moor. Cross this moor on the footpath to Oakdale and follow it down through trees to the east side of the lower reservoir, cross the footbridge to Oakdale House, follow the track out of the dale to your left. This access track , part of the Cleveland Way, takes you to the Snilesworth Road at Rose Cottage.
A short downhill walk and you cross Cod Beck, turn right here and follow the farm track past the old mill buildings. A few hundred metres further on and you rejoin the track that brought you out of the village at the start of your walk. Turn left here, up through the trees and back to Osmotherley. You have now completed the Hambleton Hobble and earned a pint. There are three pubs in the village proper and another couple just outside so you have plenty of choice. Most serve reasonable beer and food but if I can give you one last piece of advice :- start in the Three Tuns (locally called the Mousehole).