Old Byland

This is a circular tour based on Old Byland. There is limited roadside parking in the village, which can be reached either from the Helmsley-Thirsk road or via Rievaulx, the latter having more narrow roads.
The route starts on Claverley key Lane, where there is a wall stile on the northern side of the road – it is easy to miss seeing this stile. Currently, there are cows and some calves in the field, but it is a large field and you can skirt round the cows. The footpath follows a hedge down to the a large hedge where you turn right and follow the hedges along.
When Oxen Dale is reached the route is to the left leading to Tylas Barn. After the barn, the path becomes a farm track leading to Tylas Farm. Just before the farm, another track coming in from the left is met and this is followed going downhill.
This farm track becomes tarmaced and on an uphill stretch the route goes off to the right through Lambert Hag Wood. When you come to a road, turn left and a hundred or yards a footpath goes off to the right through Dick Wood.
At a fork, take the right hand path which goes through Low Gill. This is a very broad path through the trees, almost a clearing through the trees. There is a clear farm track later that climbs off to the left and this should be ignored.
Later there is a path on the right leading upward through the trees. This is not marked with a footpath sign, but can be taken since it leads directly into the village. Instead, I carried on the path that I was on as it was easier. It brought me to the outskirts of the village to walk in via the road.
In the village is Byland Old Hall (private) and a church that has Saxon origins, currently closed because of Covid restrictions.
There are five stiles (excluding the wall style), of varying height, to scramble over. The route is mostly well-signposted and there are good views over the valley where the River Rye can be seen meandering its way.