Nawton

This is a short circular tour based on Nawton, which lis between Kirby Moorside and Helmsley. There is parking b the cricket club or parking in the streets off the A170 that runs through the village.
The tour proper starts near the Primary School and heads off diagonally north-east from the gate, with the exit from the field being in the corner. The way across the next field is again diagonal and this time a gate can be seen to the right of a building of two large semi-detached houses and leads on to Guncross Lane. This is a very quiet lane that leads down to the A170 which is crossed and the footpath, which is well sign-posted, picked up. This is on the inside a hedge boundary and leads to Nawton Road.
Just on the left as you reach Nawton Road there is the base of an old way-marker called Stony Cross. The Thurkilsti, one of the four most important medieval roads from south to north across the North York Moors, crosses the A170 at this point or close to it as it goes from Sunley Hill towards the Skiplam Road.
The route then leads down Cockerhill Road toward the Municipal Tip, but before that is reached a stile is crossed and the field boundary followed crossing another four stiles in the process. I could not see any marking of the footpath at the stile in Cockerhill Road.
Eventually, a stile on the right is crossed and this leads toward South Lund Farm and the path becomes a lane past the farm and leads on to Station Road. On the left are the remains of the old station at Nawton, which has been converted into a house and the whole area into holiday accommodation. The path past the old station goes on to reach Gale Lane and the centre of the village.
There are no spectacular views along this tour, but it is very undemanding being almost flat. Navigation is straightforward. Furthermore, there are no muddy stretches so it is good for a tour in the winter when days are shorter and often wetter. There are six stiles to cross in total.