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Ryedale

Cold Kirby

Fairy Staircase – Nettle Dale ponds loop from Hood Grange

Routes

Hiking trails & Routes

United Kingdom

England

Yorkshire And The Humber

North Yorkshire

Ryedale

Cold Kirby

Fairy Staircase – Nettle Dale ponds loop from Hood Grange

Hard

4.8

(13)

115

hikers

Fairy Staircase – Nettle Dale ponds loop from Hood Grange

06:32

23.8km

390m

Hiking

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

Last updated: May 20, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

North York Moors National Park

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

26 m

Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Highlight • Cafe

A North York Moors National Park visitor centre, cafe and information centre. Start your walk here and pick up one of the local walking trails maps or use the facilities …

Tip by

5.19 km

Grass Keld Stepping Stones

Highlight • Bridge

Stunning location in the early morning sunshine just after sunrise, but added as a highlight because of the number of routing options from here. From this point, no less then …

Tip by

7.21 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

9.32 km

View of the North York Moors

Highlight • Forest

9.70 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

10.0 km

Blackdale Howl Wood

Forest

11.5 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

18.1 km

Nettle Dale ponds

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful stretch of water but unfortunately on private land. The area definitely makes for great photos though.

Tip by

23.8 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

11.5 km

8.65 km

1.95 km

1.58 km

118 m

Surfaces

11.3 km

8.84 km

1.70 km

1.29 km

386 m

243 m

Elevation

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

Highest point (300 m)

Lowest point (60 m)

Weather

Saturday 27 June

22°C

13°C

27 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 27.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

Want to know more?

Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Fairy Staircase – Nettle Dale ponds loop from Hood Grange

Sutton Bank National Park Centre

Grass Keld Stepping Stones

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

View of the North York Moors

Fairy Staircase

Helmsley Walled Garden

Nettle Dale ponds

Nearby routes

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