ON the Northern fringes of the North York Moors lies the Esk Valley. Leading from here are a series of attractive and very quiet valleys, separated by some low grassy ridges, ripe for exploration.

This walk takes you over Danby Rigg and the ridge separating Little and Great Fry Up dales.

Danby is an extremely attractive village close to Guisborough within the Esk Valley. The walk starts by heading south on the main road leaving Danby, crossing the River Esk and leaving to the east/left via a minor (and barely used) road for one-and-a half miles.

The walking here is very pleasant and enlivened by an excellent example of a packhorse bridge midway where the road splits. Named Duck Bridge after George Duck of Danby who rebuilt the original medieval bridge in 1771, it is very impressive.

Before crossing the bridge it is worth following the road south for 400 metres uphill to the remains of Danby Castle, the home of Catherine Parr, Henry VIIIs final wife. Return to cross Duck Bridge.

A further three quarters of a mile from Duck Bridge the road splits again, take the right fork and after 100 metres take to the bridlepath heading up hill on to ‘The Heads’. After 200 metres the bridlepath splits in some woodland but keep ahead, through a disused quarry before it double back, still climbing, which leaves the woodland below you.

Having passed the farm walk to the next gate and instead of carrying on above the woods continue on a footpath climbing on to the broad shoulder of the Heads. The views across the various moors and dales are superb from the shoulder. Explore off the path (it is access land) to look down Great Fryup dale before returning to the path and following it off the south end of the shoulder.

At this stage the path drops steeply for a short before entering some forestry and turning right in to the head of Little Fryup dale. Running parallel to Great Fryup it really is a little sibling, smaller and higher than its neighbour to the east. Where the footpath meets a minor road turn right and follow it across the head of Little Fryup dale and, after a third of a mile, take the footpath heading directly uphill when the road bends sharply right.

This path heads west (ignore the bridlepath to your right) and after a short, steep climb emerges at the Trig Point of Danby Rigg, set impressively on the wide shoulder of moorland.

Leave the path at the trig and head along the shoulder for 400 metres till meeting a bridlepath heading towards Danby. Again the views are impressive as the path starts to drop towards Danby. The path drops past a Standing Stone and some archaeological remains before meeting a quiet road.

Before reaching Danby the road passes through the settlement of Ainthorpe with its hotel, you may be tempted to stop but if not there is a second one in Danby.

* Fact Box:

Distance: Roughly 8 miles (13km).

Height to Climb: 400m (1,310 feet)

Start: NZ 708087. There is plenty of places to park in this small village.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard. The walk is along a mix of quiet roads/lanes and good footpaths.

Refreshments: There is an excellent pub and café in Danby.

Be Prepared: The route description and sketch map only provide a guide to the walk. You must take out and be able to read a map (O/S Explorer OL27) and in cloudy/misty conditions a compass (essential on this walk). You must also wear the correct clothing and footwear for the outdoors. Whilst every effort is made to provide accurate information, walkers head out at their own risk.

* Jonathan Smith runs Where2walk, a walking company in the Yorkshire Dales. He also runs one-day navigation courses for beginners and intermediates.

Join his Learn a Skill, Climb a Hill weekends in the Dales.

To find out more visit where2walk.co.uk