Thornborough Henges walk, North Yorkshire

Thornborough Henges walk, North Yorkshire

Explore the 'Stonehenge of the North' on this 4.7-mile circular walk in North Yorkshire

Published: August 31, 2023 at 2:17 pm

Between Yorkshire’s Pennine hills and the North York Moors is the greatest concentration of prehistoric henge monuments in the British Isles.

Thornborough Henges is at the centre of this vast ritual landscape, where three henges – ceremonial spaces encircled by earth banks and ditches – are joined together by wide earthwork avenues.

The line runs roughly north-west to south-east, and the slight dog-leg in the alignment perfectly mirrors the three stars of Orion’s belt. Coincidence? You decide.

This 4.7-mile circular walk loops around two of the henges and diverts off to the third.

Looking for more walks in North Yorkshire? Try our routes at Muker, Ingleton and Pateley Bridge.

Thornborough Henges seen from the air
Thornborough Henges consists of three large henges/Credit: Tony Newbould, Geograph

Thornborough Henges walk

4.7 miles / 7.6 km | 3 hours | moderate | 8m ascent

1. Start

From the central henge, follow the road briefly west and then turn left at the bridleway signpost through a gap in the hedge.

Passing through a bridle gate, continue across the field with a fence on your left. At another bridle gate, continue ahead across the middle of an arable field maintaining the direction indicated by the blue arrows and aiming for the gap in the trees ahead. This leads to a track with a plantation on your left that runs for about 300 metres to a lane.

Turn left here along this narrow lane for 130 metres and then turn left before Manor Farm Cottages onto another bridleway.

2. Back Lane

The track swings half right by woodland to continue in a broadly straight line, passing a burial mound on the left. You will have a hedgerow for company on your right until you reach a barrier, beyond which the track continues through open farmland.

On reaching a lane, turn left and follow this towards Thornborough. You can either stay with this lane and turn left into Back Lane, or turn through a signposted gap in the hedge to cut diagonally across a field to join Back Lane.

3. Thornborough village

Walk through Thornborough village and continue beyond the junction where Fore Lane merges with Back Lane. Just after the last houses on the right, turn right onto an enclosed grassy track – New Lane.

Thornborough river nd trees
The walk passes through the village of Thornborough/Credit: Mick Finn, Geograph

4. Thornborough Moor

The lane heads straight across Thornborough Moor, opening out into arable fields, but remaining grassy underfoot and maintaining the same direction. On approaching Moor Lane you will notice another burial mound on the left.

Turn left along Moor Lane until you reach a crossroads.

Road running through Thornborough Moor
The road out of Thornborough village and onto Thornborough Moor/Credit: Peter Wood, Geograph

5. Camp Wood

If you want you can turn right here (signposted Nosterfield) for a closer look at the north henge, although there is no public access and it is surrounded by the trees of Camp Wood.

6. Green Lane

Retrace steps back to the crossroads and head straight across onto a track – Green Lane.

This enclosed, grassy, tree-lined track continues straight ahead to meet a lane. Turn left along the lane to return to your car and the gates that give access to the central and southern henges.

Thornborough Henges map

Thornborough Henges walking route and map

Thornborough Henges map

Useful information

Start

In the care of English Heritage, please note the central henge is closed for conservation work from 21 August 2023. Access to the southern henge is still possible.

A small amount of free layby parking is available at the entrance gates to the central and southern henges, near West Tanfield, DL8 2RA.

Terrain

The terrain is mainly tracks, some quiet country lanes and field paths which can be muddy after rain. The route is mostly level, but not recommended for pushchairs.

Map

OS Explorer 299 and 302

Eat/drink/stay

Try the Freemasons Arms in nearby Nosterfield for food and drink or The Bull Inn at West Tanfield which also offers accommodation. Nearby Masham offers a wealth of eating, drinking and accommodation options.

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