SE5599/03 Nab End and Round Hill

Starting at the car park at the southern end of Chop Gate cross over the road (carefully!), turn right and follow the road as it crosses over the river.

Just beyond the bridge cross over the drive leading to Esp House, and look for a stile on the far side of the drive. Cross this stile. Follow the path that cuts diagonally across this field, heading towards a gate at the opposite end of the field. Here the path joins a track across the fields. Join this track and follow it to the far end of this second field.

At the end of this field turn right and follow the footpath on the near side of the wall as it heads towards Low Ellermire Farm. In the farm yard the path reaches a track - one branch heads right, down the hill back to the road while the other branch heads left, climbing up slightly before running across the side of the hill. Take this left hand branch. The first part of this track runs between walls, before crossing a field scarred by old industrial workings. Finally, it emerges into a larger field.

Our route across this field leads to a gate on the opposite side of the field, downhill and to the right of our starting position. The best way across this field is to turn right and head down hill until level with the gate and then turn left and cross the field. On the far side of this gate a clear track leads south across the next field, soon joining a farm road that leads to Cam House.

We join this road at the tip of U-bent in the road. According to the OS map we need to turn right onto this road, follow it until it turns to the right to head down towards the main road, and at that point leave the lane to the left, heading south along the edge of the next field. However, on my last visit that route was blocked. Instead, almost immediately after turning right onto the lane, look for a clear footpath that heads south through this first field, running level across the side of the hill. Follow this path three-quarters of the way down this field, and then cross over a stile that takes us into the field to the right. Continue south along the edge of this field.

At the end of this field, turn left and cross back into the original field. Head east across the southern end of this field, with the steep side of the moors ahead of us.

This path leads us to the corner of a small path of woodland. Here the path splits. One path turns right and heads along the base of the woods. Our path continues straight ahead up the left hand side of the trees. At the edge of the trees we meet what was probably originally the path onto the ridge, but is now a plant-clogged cut across the moors. Instead, head out across the open moors, aiming at the top of the ridge, staying in line with the original line of the path by the trees.

After a short scramble we reach a track that runs along the top of Nap Ridge. Turn left and follow this path as it runs north along the ridge line, with Bilsdale to the left and Tripsdale to the right.

We continue along this track until we reach a second track that leaves to the right, heading down into Tripsdale. Follow this track as it zigzags down in the valley, and then climbs back up out of the other side. On the far side of the valley continue along this track until it splits in two.

At this junction take the track that splits off to the left, heading uphill across Todd Intake Moor. Follow this path as it runs almost straight across the moors. Close to the end of this section of the walk the track passes around a small pond, before joining another track at a T-junction.

Turn left onto this new track and follow it as it zigzags across the top of the moors. Ignore a side track we pass soon after joining this track, then follow the track as it turns right, left, then right again, dipping down across the top of the valley of Hodge Beck, before finally we reach a cross roads.

Turn left at this crossroads, and follow the track as it climbs up Cockayne Ridge, up to Cockayne Head, where it joins the Cleveland Way.

Turn left onto the Cleveland Way, and follow it as it runs up towards Round Hill, the highest point on the moors. Round Hill itself is slightly off the path to the right, but is well worth a visit.

Just after we pass Round Hill, the track splits in two. The Cleveland Way takes the right hand branch, heading along the northern edge of the moors. We want the left hand branch, which runs across the middle of the moors towards Bilsdale. The path eventually reaches the western edge of the plateau. Follow it as it descends down into Bilsdale, eventually reaching the minor road at Bilsdale Hall.

When the path off the moors reaches the side road, head straight on along the road. After a short distance this road joins the main road through Bilsdale. Cross over (carefully!) to reach the footpath, turn left and follow the road back to the car park.