April 2026 - Helmsley

Sunshine, showers and lambs

By Sonja Allen

On our April walk from and to Helmsley, glorious sunshine alternated with occasional short showers, typical for this time of year. The long walkers started their walk from Newgate Bank car park and took a linear route into Helmsley, passing through a great variety of landscapes, from moorland (Rievaulx Moor) and woods (Roppa and Riccal Dale Woods) to sheep fields (Hasty Bank Farm) and rivers (Riccal River). We were also greeted by many ewes and lambs in the fields and on one occasion we had to rescue a little lamb from a ditch who was desperately bleating for its mum. Later on we also got company from a herd of cows who were inspired to walk a stretch of our walk with us.

The medium walkers started their circular walk from Helmsley and took the Tabular Hills Walk Path through the Ash Dale Plantation, heading towards Carlton. They continued on to Collier Haag Wood, passing Beck Dale and Beckdale East Wood, before returning to Helmsley for refreshments.