Our drawing of the route — the shape of the walk, not a navigation aid. Carry OS Explorer on the hill. Off-lead information here is what walkers reported or what signage allows — never our advice. Whether and when a dog is off the lead is the owner’s decision and legal responsibility; keep dogs under control near livestock and follow signs on the day.
Five miles of field path and green lane out of Sheriff Hutton, past the four broken towers of the fifteenth-century castle and the earlier Norman ringwork above the village, with fifty metres of ascent spread over two hours; a moderate rather than easy walk only because of the field gates and the mud. Park on the wide village street near the church and the castle field path leaves from the southern edge of the village; the number 21 bus from York serves Sheriff Hutton several times a day. The castle ruins themselves are fenced private land seen from the path rather than entered, the going is through working arable and pasture with livestock likely, and there are stiles a heavy dog will need lifting over; there is no reliable water, so carry some.
Shepards Hut AirBnB is a place to stay in Sheriff Hutton. It is listed here so you know it is there, but we have not yet established whether dogs are welcome — so there is no verdict on this page and no stamp. If it is your business, claim the page and tell us, and we will stamp it.
Just under seven miles linking sections of the Foss Walk, the Ebor Way and the Centenary Way around the village, two and three quarter hours, mainly flat with one modest climb up towards West Lilling and a handful of gates. Start from the castle ruins in Sheriff Hutton where there is free roadside parking on the main street and a pub in the village for afterwards; the 71 bus from York reaches the village on weekdays. Almost the whole circuit crosses grazed fields with both sheep and cattle, and this is one route where a bull has been known to be in with the herd, so it is a lead-on walk and worth taking seriously; the Foss provides water at the Sheriff Hutton Bridge end, and the low ground beside the river stays wet well into spring.
The big day out of this patch: nearly nine miles from Sheriff Hutton north-east into the woods and rolling farmland at the foot of the Howardian Hills, with 200 metres of ascent and around four hours on the move. Park in Sheriff Hutton village and take the castle field path out, returning by the Centenary Way; the 21 bus from York gets you there without a car if you start early. Sure footing is needed in places and there are stiles that will defeat a large dog on its own, the route crosses grazing land where cattle and sheep are common, and water is scarce between becks, so this one is for a fit dog with a good recall and a carried bowl.
Real dog-welcoming cottages from our booking partner holidaycottages.co.uk — live prices, booked on their site. Booking through these links supports Wagfinder and never changes the price you pay.
Whisper Cottage
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £520
Birchwood Stable Cottage
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £428
Hawthorn Cottage Yorkshire
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £447
Prospect Lodge Halifax
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £453
Clover Cottage Osmotherley
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £479
Number 2 Bank Top
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £484
Havercroft
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £485
Lavender Cottage Helmsley
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £521
Dove Cottage Old Malton
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £649
Farmstead Cottage At Bland Close Farm
Yorkshire · dogs welcome
7 nights from £671
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