Cold Moor and Urra Moor from Chop Gate.

This is another one of those walks we seem to to quite a lot, it’s got lots of nice scenery and some stunning views. It’s got a couple of nice bits of ascent and descent to get the heart going.

The weather was sunny with a slight breeze for the most part although for the last 2 miles the heavens opened and we got our share of the recent torrential rain.

We also had to make two small detours, the first on our way up to the Wainstones as there were lots of cows blocking the gate, so we skirted round the edge and hopped over the gap in the fence to re join the path. Secondly the path over Urra Moor was undergoing some restoration work so we followed the way markers that ran parallel to the path and crossed over the stream slightly further up the valley.

Length: Just over 9 Miles

Start/Finish: Car Park at the village hall in Chop Gate

Refreshments: Pub in Chop Gate.

Things to look out for: The views from the top of cold moor, The Wainstones, Bilsdale transmitter mast.

Kit Taken: O/R rucksack, Salomon Speedcross 3 CS ,X-socks airforce trekking light, X-bionic baselayer pants,  Montane Terra Convert Pant, Rab Boreas pull on,Haglofs LIM ultimate, First Aid Kit, Leatherman, Buff, Berghaus Tech T, 2 bottles of water, Iphone, Petzl Tikka Plus 2,  Garmin GPS 60 and paper maps. (OS MAP OL28)

Route: [click here to download the gpx file, will need unzipping] (edited from an older walk as I left my GPS on then drove home..oops)

1) From the carpark turn left and walk along the main road to the pub, just after the pub there is a war memorial on the right, turn left here and then take the first turning right up a track past the Wesleyan chapel. Follow this bridleway up the hill, through a couple of gates until you reach the moorland, keep going straight up the hill following the obvious track up towards the top of Cold Moor.

2) When you reach the top you should meet a paved path, this is the Cleveland way,after taking in the views turn right and follow the track which soon descends steeply, cross over the fields (if the cows get in the way you can turn left at the sign post then go right along the track and hop over the gap in the fence to re join the path) head up hasty bank to the big group of rocks known as the Wainstones.

3) Follow the path to the left of the Wainstones, clambering over some small rocks, once up onto the top you will re join the paved track. Follow this until it descends through a gate next to a wall down to the road.

4) Carefully cross over the road, go through the gate and follow the path uphill through 2 more gates, just after the second gate turn right at the bridleway signpost, this path then runs over Urra Moor for 2 miles, winding and dipping with the hillside,  you will soon reach a small stream, cross over the stream and follow the path to the right, you will soon go back up hill and pass some woodland on your right.

5) Eventually you will meet a wall and a sand track, turn left along the sand track, past the grouse butts, then follow the path as it bends right (at butt number 9). Follow this path until you reach a sign for William Beck, turn right here and descend through the gate and across a field to another gate, go through this gate and follow the walled track to the farm at the bottom, pass through the farm yard and follow the farm track to the road, turn right here and you will soon reach the car park where you started.