Parking
A gravel forest path curving through dense woodland and bracken on the Adderstone Rigg Trail.
Overview
About Adderstone Rigg Trail
Why go
- Naturally sculpted Adder Stone
- Secluded woodland sections
- Extensive forest views
Heads up
- Shared forest roads and tracks
- Long and short markers can be confusing
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the North York Moors map
Full mapElevation174–251 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
8 active North York Moors alerts
- ClosureHawnby Bridleway 110 closurePublic Bridleway 25.122/110/1 in Hawnby is closed to pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians because its bridge is unsafe. - The closure is between grid references SE 5309 9073 and SE 5335 9097.Official details
- ClosureWest Ayton Footpath 1 closurePublic Footpath 1 in West Ayton (Forge Valley) is temporarily closed because its boardwalk is unsafe. - The closure is between SE 9860 8494 and SE 9839 8712.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
North York Moors Tour Guide
Your drive to Adderstone Rigg Trail, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for North York Moors National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Nissen Hut and Adderstone0:00 / 0:33
“You're approaching the Nissen Hut trail in Dalby Forest, a short woodland loop with a surprising sculpture at its centre.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Staindale Lake
- Bridestones
- The Forest Eye
- The Cone Thief Overhead
- 298 audio storiesacross North York Moors’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Eurasian Otter, Red Deer, Grey Seal, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 126 trails, 65 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Adderstone Rigg Trail
The loopA closed loop of about 2.5 miles / 4.1 km, starting and finishing at Adderstone Field car park.
A closed loop of about 2.5 miles / 4.1 km, starting and finishing at Adderstone Field car park. Distances given here are for the full circuit, not one way. Mapped measurement of the signed long corridor comes out at roughly 4.3 km, so plan on that order of distance.
SequenceFrom the car park the route follows forest paths and forest roads through secluded forest,…
From the car park the route follows forest paths and forest roads through secluded forest, reaches the naturally sculpted Adder Stone, then returns to Adderstone Field.
Difficulty and terrainGraded moderate.
Graded moderate. The ground is fairly flat overall with some steady gradients rather than sustained climbing: the route ranges between about 174 m and 251 m, with the start and finish around 218 m. Surfaces are forest paths and forest roads throughout.
Forest character and the Adder StoneThe loop passes through secluded forest and a range of habitats, with extensive forest views…
The loop passes through secluded forest and a range of habitats, with extensive forest views along the way. The naturally sculpted Adder Stone is the main point of interest and makes a logical pause before the return leg.
Wayfinding and shared roadsFollow the yellow markers with black arrows and check them at junctions, because the long and…
Follow the yellow markers with black arrows and check them at junctions, because the long and short options diverge and it is easy to end up on the wrong circuit. A trail map is available at the visitor centre. Forest roads and tracks are shared with vehicles and other users.
DogsDogs are welcome under the forest dog code.
Dogs are welcome under the forest dog code. Keep them close and in sight, use a lead if recall is unreliable, and do not let them chase people or animals.
Parking and accessAdderstone Field car park is the practical starting point and has accessible toilets.
Adderstone Field car park is the practical starting point and has accessible toilets. Car parking in the forest is charged. No direct public transport to the forest is documented, so arriving by car is the realistic option.
If you want something shorterThere is a separate signed short route of about 1.5 miles / 2.4 km.
There is a separate signed short route of about 1.5 miles / 2.4 km. It is a different, briefer walk rather than a trimmed version of this loop, and it is the better pick if time is limited.
Wildlife
Wildlife in North York Moors
15 sightingsEurasian OtterMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
10 sightingsRed DeerMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
79 sightingsGrey SealMost seen around noonSighting map
26 sightingsWestern Barn OwlMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
33 sightingsEuropean BadgerMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
10 sightingsMute SwanMost seen around noonSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across North York Moors. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
