Easy Walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey

This walk takes you from the picturesque market town of Helmsley, and along an easy path to reach the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey. You will have views down to Helmsley and the remains of a medieval castle, and if you time it right, will walk amongst the bluebells…I didn’t time it right. Actually, I didn’t know that bluebells live here, until I walked through a mass of green, with about 5 bluebell flowers coming through. I did see lots of lambs though.

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A cute store front in Helmsley at the start of the walk to Rievaulx Abbey.

A dirt trail with woodland to the right, and a wire fence and field to the left with a view down to Helmsley on the walk back from Rievaulx Abbey.

A small pillared sitting place nestled high within the trees. The sky is bright blue.

Looking across the river rye to a small cottage hidden behind the trees along the Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey walk. There is a small waterfall flowing into the river.

A country road leading straight, with some red roofed cottages ahead. There is a sign on the right saying Rievaulx. There is a hedge lining the right side of the road, and woodland on the left.

What I’m going to do in this guide, is first give you a little overview of the walk between Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey, with full logistics, a map, and useful tips. Then I will go on to describe the route step by step with photos. At the end I will provide suggestions for similar walks you could try.

How long is the walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey?

The walk between Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey is about 6 miles there and back. It’s a very easy walk, with a few small hills, and mostly on well laid out path.

A path leading straight with a field to the right and woodland to the left on the walk Rievaulx Abbey from Helmsley.

There is an option to make a bit of a loop, however, that takes you a little on busy road. I read into it, and the consensus I got was, that the loop isn’t that great. It’s better just to walk back to Helmsley the way you came.

Is the walk between Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey dog friendly?

Yes. The walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey is suitable for dogs. However, just be aware of the sheep in the fields at the start of the walk out of Helmsley, and then the road on the other end when approaching Rievlaux Abbey. It’s not a busy road though. There are no stiles along the route.

A country road lined with hedges, and the red roofs of cottages visible over the right hedge, on the walk into Rievaulx.

A dirt path with steps leading up ahead, under the woodland on the walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey. There is a person and their dog on the path.

A sign on a wooden fence saying to keep dogs on leads due to sheep and lambs.

Is the walk family friendly?

Look, I don’t have a family (you know what I mean), so I’m not the best judge, however, I think that Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey is a very family friendly walk. I saw some people doing it with prams. The main issue would be the steps, but there aren’t that many of them, so if there are two of you, it would be simple to carry a pram for this bit. The ground is a little rugged in places, but I think it’s quite navigable.

A rugged dirt path under the woodland on the walk between Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey.

The thing that confuses me the most is that there are some swing gates with a small gap, which I do wonder how a pram would get through. These are near the start of the walk out of Helmsley, so maybe they started the walk from Rievaulx Abbey.

I actually passed a women breastfeeding by the side of the trail. I didn’t realise that’s what she was doing, and was staring for a little too long. Once I realised, I quickly looked a way and felt quite embarrassed that she might have thought I was staring at her (which I was).

Can you see Rievaulx Abbey without paying?

You get a great view of Rievaulx Abbey as you approach along the road, however, you do need to pay to enter. It is an English Heritage site. If you are a member, you can visit all English Heritage sites for free.

Find out more about membership prices here

Not too far away from here, you could visit Kirkham Priory, which is also an English Heritage Site. The area is lovely, and totally worth a visit….The walk I did was questionable though. If you head over to the coast, you could try this route from Robin Hood’s Bay to Whitby. Whitby Abbey is English Heritage.

Looking across the grass to the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey, at there halfway mark in the walk from Helmsley. There is a tree covered hill behind the abbey.

Once I reached Rievaulx Abbey, I didn’t enter, as I always prefer seeing places like this from the outside….plus I was a little annoyed that it’s English Heritage and not National Trust. You see, last year I got myself a National Trust membership, so I could use their car parks for free. I have used a total of three car parks. Since then, I have not found myself near any National Trust sites. I’m still waiting to get my moneys worth.

(update: I have since visited Brimham Rocks and Fountains Abbey, and both were wonderful. I was so impressed, and I’m now making more of an effort to visit National Trust places).

If you head over to the Yorkshire Dales, you could try this route to Bolton Abbey. I really loved this walk. It’s super pretty, taking you all the way along the river and past the Strid.

Parking for the walk

In Helmsley, there is a large pay and display public car park (Cleveland Way car park). It has electric charging and public toilets. There is also some free street side parking in the village (my parking of choice). Rievaulx Abbey has a small pay and display car park, which has public toilets.

Tips

Trainers will be fine for this walk. Note: There were a few spots that looked like they could be muddy at times, but these were few.
I have read that the area gets busy on weekends. I came on a weekday and it was lovely and quiet. So come on a weekday of you can.
Although I said that I have read that the loop back isn’t that great, what was also said is that you get a good view of the Rievaulx Abbey from up high, so if you want, you could walk up the hill to see it.
If you like visiting places like Abbey, and think you will see more, then it might be worth getting an English Heritage membership, which will give you access to all their sites.
For bluebell goodness, time the walk for spring time.

Looking through a gap in the bush to tome lambs in a field. — In spring, you might also get to see some lambs

Logistics

Start/finish: Helmsley
Where is it: Located in North Yorkshire, in the North York Moors. Post code for the car park in Helmsley is YO62 5AZ
Distance: 6 miles there and back
Time: It took me just under 2h to compete
Terrain: Easy path, a bit of dirt trail, some steps, road.
Difficulty: Easy
Dog friendly: Yes
Amenities: Helmsley has a car park with electric charging and public toilets, a few restaurants, cafes, pubs. The usual. Rievaulx Castle has parking, a cafe, and public toilets
Time of year: I walked it in early spring

Map for the walk from Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey

There is a little extra line on the map, which is where I went the wrong way, so ignore that.

You can find my more detailed route map for the Helmsley and Rievaulx Abbey walk on AllTrails

A guide to the walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey

If starting from the car park, the start of the trail is right next to the entrance. If coming from in the town, if you walk along the road with the church, look out for the sign for the footpath to Rievlaux and then the Clevland Way sign, and follow them.

A road on the right, and stone walled shops and store fronts on the left in Helmsley.

A church next to there road, with a graveyard on the green in front. The sky is blue with a few white clouds. There are some cars parked on the left.

A black and white stripped pole with a white sign saying 'Footpath to Rievaulx', at the start of the walk from Helmsley. The sign is on a green, with a road and row of houses to the left. There are cars parked all along the road side.

A white street sign on a stone wall saying 'Cleveland Way'.

Along the road (after the signs), you will pass the car park on the left, and then continue on the road past it, and this will lead you onto the trail.

A road leading straight, with woodland to the left and a stone shed building to the right/

A dirt trail winding uphill, lined with hedges at the start of the walk from Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey. There is a big trees next to the path ahead, and a green grassed field over the hedge on the right.

It’s a little bit uphill, first along this path, and then through a few fields. It’s a gentle incline though.

A dirt path along the side of a grass field, with sheep grazing.

When you get higher up, take a look back for the view down to Helmsley and the castle.

Looking through a gap in the hedge to a field and the castle ruins in Helmsley in the distance.

Looking across the grass field to the top of the ruins of the castle in Helmsley in the distance.

I was also looking out for the lambs. There weren’t any about, however, some of the sheep did look a bit fat, so I suspect they haven’t been born yet.

I thought back to that time that I was out on a walk and saw a sheep giving birth, and wondered if I would see that today….

I didn’t.

The woods

The path will then take you alongside the woodland before entering it. A short way after you enter, you will have some steps, first down, and then up.

A dirt path with a stone wall and woodland trees to the left, and a wire fence and grass fields to the right.

A dirt trail winding ahead with woodland to the left and bushes to the right. There is a wooden stump signpost with a yellow arrow pointing straight.

A dirt path lined with grass and overhanging trees and bushes.

Once out of the woods, at the junction, keep following the main path, past a small outbuilding to your right, which I realised was someones house. What a quaint place to live.

A dirt path leading straight with rough the grass, with a small outbuilding to the right, and a wooden trail signpost on the left side of the trail.

The path will lead you back into the woods, and now downhill. It is along this section where you will pass the bluebells.

a wide dirt path leading down through the woodland with leafless trees.

A dirt path lined with the green leaves of bluebell flowers, and trees. — This green stuff is the bluebells

The road

At the bottom of the hill you will reach the road, where you turn to walk left, following the sign for the Cleveland Way and Rievaulx.

A wooden trial signpost pointing the way to walk to Rievaulx Abbey and the Cleveland Way to the left, and Helmsley back.

A road leading ahead and to the right, lined with a grass backs on wither side, with a small path on the left side.

A road leading straight ahead, with woodland to the right and a wore fence and field to the left/

From here, for the rest of the walk to Rievaulx Abbey, you will be on the road.

Walk to Rievaulx Abbey

When you reach the bridge, make sure to turn right before it. I accidentally continued straight over, and didn’t realise until I was quite a bit further along that I had gone the wrong way. On the plus side, I did get to see some lambs.

After turning at the bridge, you will be walking alongside the River Rye, and before you know it, you will get a view to Rievaulx Abbey across the fields.

An archway stone bridge over the river rye.

A road curving to the left, lined with a wooden fence on both sides, and a hedge on the right, with the view to the top of the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey over the hedge. There is a big tree on the right side of the road.

Looking across the large grass field to the ruins of Rievaulx Abbey on the other side, at the halfway point in the walk from Helmsley. There is a tree covered hill behind the abbey.

Walk back to Helmsley from Rievaulx Abbey

After you have finished exploring the Rievaulx Abbey, to walk back to Helmsley, just go back the way you came.

One thing that hit me on the way back, was the big uphill through the woods. I hadn’t realised how steep it was going down. It’s not a crazy hill, but just enough to get your heart rate up.

A dirt path leading uphill through the woods. There are people walking up it ahead.

I actually preferred the walk back, as this way you get the great view down to Helmsley, instead of it being behind you.

A dirt trail along the right side of a grass field, with a hedge to the right of it, and a view down to the village of Helmsley ahead.

More easy walks nearby

On my way home, I passed by Sutton Bank, so I took that opportunity to see the Kilburn White Horse. It’s only 15 min drive away. This walk around it is nice and easy (expect those steps), with a jaw dropping view. It’s only 1.6 miles to do the circular.

If you want something a bit longer and harder, then you can do the Sutton Bank circular as well as the White Horse.

I quite enjoyed the Goathland to Grosmont route along the Rail Trail. Famous for the show Heartbeat and Harry Potter, this walk is along a well laid out, easy path. There is the option to walk up the hill for the way back, or you can just stick to the Rail Trail.

Another route which follows the old railway line, is this one from Rosedale Abbey. Despite the name, there is no Abbey. It’s located right in the heart of the North York Moors, and I found it to be one of the less crowded walks I have done out here.

If you head to the coast, you could try this route between Robin Hood’s Bay and Ravenscar. It’s mostly easy, but does have some steep steps. If you walk the same way I did, you can walk down the steps so it’s not that bad. You will get to see lots of seals on this one.

The Hole of Horcum is wonderful. I would rate this circular route I took as moderate, however, if you stick to the Hole of Horcum area, then it would be easy.

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Helmsley to Rievaulx Abbey walk guide in Yorkshire.