Hawnby Hill Crag Circular – North York Moors

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Tom & Essi Troughton

Hawnby Hill Crag Circular – North York Moors

Distance

12.5km

Time

4hrs

Difficulty

Medium

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Published on March 15, 2025

2 min read

Seize the day by discovering some of the finest views that the North York Moors has to offer. The quaint villages, sweeping valley views, magical woodlands and rolling moorland. Discover these gems for yourself on this 12.5km walk starting and finishing in the village of Hawnby.

Starting and finishing in the quaint village of Hawnby, this walk is certainly not one to miss. Hawnby is a small village around 11km north-east of Helmsley in the North York Moors.

This route is best undertaken at first light when you can appreciate a stunning sunrise from the top of Hawnby Hill Crag. Be prepared for breathtaking views, dense woodlands, rolling moorland and trickling streams. Make sure to pack plenty of snacks and a flask of coffee!

The route starts with a climb; Hawnby Hill is short but steep and takes you all the way up to the crag – a stunning spot with 360-degree panoramic views of the surrounding moorland and countryside.

Follow the ridge northwards. Here you will start your descent down towards Hawnby moor. The descent is steep and slippery so watch your footing!

After a few kilometres on the moorland, keep your eyes peeled for a left turn. It can be a little inconspicuous but there is enough trod to follow, and the GPS line is accurate.

Once you’ve descended this short turn off, you’ll turn left again through a farmer’s gate into Hazel Head Woods. This is a stunning woodland, and on our frosty, bluebird day, the sun’s rays were piercing through the trees onto the woodland floor – it was spectacular.

After a little while, you’ll find yourself back onto a road before entering a second woodland. This will take you to a small stream crossing across a wooden bridge.

You may recognise this next section and the farms you pass through, as it’s visible from the crag you climbed at the start. The next part takes you along a gravel track before winding through more woodlands, streams and fields before taking you back into Hawnby.

We hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

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This route guide is part of the Taylor’s of Harrogate Coffee Bag Adventures Collection and was created by OS Champion Tom & Essi Troughton

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