Rievaulx Abbey – Fairy Staircase loop from Helmsley

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Ryedale

Helmsley

Rievaulx Abbey – Fairy Staircase loop from Helmsley

Moderate

4.8

(8)

hikers

Rievaulx Abbey – Fairy Staircase loop from Helmsley

04:34

16.8km

240m

Hiking

Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: July 31, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

North York Moors National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

108 m

Helmsley — Market Town

Highlight • Monument

The charming town of Helmsley is nestled in the heart of the picturesque North Yorkshire Moors.

Helmsley offers plenty to do and see. You could visit the imposing Helmsley Castle, …

Tip by

223 m

Helmsley Market Cross

Highlight • Monument

The Market is held in the central ancient Market Square every Friday and is alleged to date back to the 13th century.

Tip by

3.60 km

Collier Hag Wood

Forest

11.2 km

Rievaulx Abbey

Highlight • Historical Site

Such beautiful and complete ruins of what was once one of the grandest Cistercian abbeys – until Henry VIII set the Dissolution in motion. In the 1200s there were more …

Tip by

11.4 km

Old Stone Bridge and Waterfalls at Grass Keld, North York Moors

Highlight • Waterfall

Grass Keld runs from Nettle Dale into the River Rye. Fantastic in the early-morning sunshine and you can get right down to the water's edge on the eastern side.

Tip by

14.0 km

Fairy Staircase

Highlight • Structure

Great place for photos. Can be hard going on the knees for more mature walkers so hiking sticks may be useful. Can be very icy during colder months. Well worth a visit.

Tip by

14.7 km

Blackdale Howl Wood

Forest

16.2 km

Helmsley Walled Garden

Highlight • Structure

Gorgeous walled garden with a brilliant cafe. Largely run by volunteers and well worth a visit. Just of the Cumbrian way near the end as you come into Helmsley

Tip by

16.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.47 km

3.45 km

2.85 km

942 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

7.87 km

3.48 km

3.39 km

1.51 km

419 m

137 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Friday 16 October

12°C

3°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 9.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

October 13, 2022,Helmsley, Collier Hag Wood, Acre Grain Plantation, Oscar Park Farm, Crabtree Hall, Ashberry Wood, Rievaulx, Whinny Bank, Blackdale Howl Wood, Helmsley

We begin at Helmsley. Archaeological discoveries indicate that the area around Helmsley was first settled in around 3,000 BC and small farming communities existed here throughout the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages and into Roman times. Finds of beehive querns confirm local agriculture and the milling of grain since at least the Iron Age. With the old English name of …