Scarth Wood Moor loop and Mount Grace Priory
A circular walk taking in a variety of scenic settings: a reservoir, a picturesque village, woodlands and moorland, with panoramic views en route.
An optional detour leads to Mount Grace Priory, the remains of a 14th-century Carthusian monastery (check for opening hours).
Map
Start:
Scarth Wood Moor car park (aka Sheep Wash) near Osmotherley, grid ref: SE469993
1
From the car park, cross Cod Beck at the stepping stones, go through the gate, climb the steps, cross a concrete bridge and join a clear path with the reservoir on your right. Follow this to the far end of the reservoir.
Cod Beck Reservoir
The first glimpse of Cod Beck Reservoir nestled amongst coniferous woodland. This man-made lake owned by Yorkshire Water is a popular beauty spot.
2
At the dam end of the reservoir, turn left and follow the path which ascends through woodland.
3
Where the path joins a wide clear track, turn right. Several hundred yards on, another track converges from the left. Where the wide track bends right, pick up a narrower path and continue straight on with a fence then a tree plantation on your left. At the woodland edge, go through two gates then follow the path with a wall to your right for approx. 0.75 mile (1.2km).
View to Osmotherley rooftops
As the path emerges from woodland, views across fields and woods open up to your right. Look out for the buildings of Osmotherley peeking between the trees.
4
As your descent begins to level out, look for a Cleveland Way sign on your right pointing through a narrow gap in the wall. Follow this onto a clear track towards Whitehouse Farm. Before you reach the farmhouse, another Cleveland Way sign directs you right, across the corner of a field. Follow the path down a slope, through two gates and across a track to a footbridge over a beck. Climb the steps beyond to join a narrow fenced path into Osmotherley. Cross the first road you come to then wind between houses to emerge in the centre of the village.
5
Linger to take in the attractions of historic Osmotherley or turn right and follow the road out of the village.
6
At the outskirts of the village, look out for a Cleveland Way sign pointing up Rueberry Lane on your left. Pass a handful of houses and another track on the right leading to Lady's Chapel.
7
Optional detour to Mount Grace Priory. (To skip, proceed to the end of step 8 and continue along the bottom of the next field). At Chapel Wood Farm, take a U-turn off the Cleveland Way. Follow a footpath through a farm yard, through a gate then diagonally across two fields, through another gate and down the side of a third field. Please be aware that livestock may be grazing. Climb over a stile into a woodland. With a gully on your left, turn sharp right and follow the path downhill through the woods.
View of Mount Grace Priory
Once in the woods, if you keep an eye out you might glimpse the tower of Mount Grace Priory between the trees on your right. The well preserved remains of this 14th-century Carthusian monastery provide an insight into how monks lived more than 600 years ago. You might even be lucky enough to catch sight of members of Yorkshire's most famous stoat colony which inhabits passageways under the priory.
8
At the bottom of the woods, cross a wooden bridge and a stile. Turn right towards another stile a few yards away in the corner of the field. Make your way through the car park, cross another bridge to exit onto a driveway. The entrance to Mount Grace Priory is on your right. Please note, no dogs beyond this point. Retrace your steps back up through the woodland and across fields to Chapel Wood Farm. Rejoin the Cleveland Way to the right of the farm buildings. Pass through the middle of three gates to follow the lefthand track along the lower edge of the field.
Mount Grace Priory
The entrance to Mount Grace Priory is via a 13th-century manor house containing an exhibition and two rooms newly restored in the arts and crafts style. You'll also find lovingly renovated gardens, providing the perfect place to take a relaxing break from your walk.
9
Go through a gate which leads to a fork in the track. Follow the right-hand path upwards through woodland. Pass a BT station on your left and continue to a gate.
Viewpoint, Arncliffe Wood
As the Cleveland Way climbs through Arncliffe Wood, breaks in the trees reveal spectacular panoramic views across the Tees Valley.
10
The Cleveland Way leads onto Scarth Wood Moor, bearing right as it crosses open moorland.
Scarth Wood Moor
We look after land at Scarth Wood Moor, managing this Site of Special Scientific Interest to maintain a balance between nature conservation and visitor access. Tasks include dry stone walling, path and car park maintenance and litter picking. Top wildlife encounters: huge numbers of common toads moving to mating grounds in early spring, the unusual drumming display of snipe, sand martins nesting in the beck's banks. Ancient burial mounds dot the moor, protected through a programme of monitoring and bracken control.
11
Follow the path to a signpost. Leave the Cleveland Way which heads left, take the right fork down the bridleway to meet the road. Turn right and follow the road back to the car park. Take care to watch for traffic which sometimes speeds by.
Roseberry Topping in distance
Roseberry Topping, another of our places, can be seen in the distance. The distinctive shape of this iconic landmark means it is known locally as the 'Mini Matterhorn'.
End:
Scarth Wood Moor car park (aka Sheep Wash) near Osmotherley, grid ref: SE469993
