Parking
Old Man's Mouth car park and picnic area on the East Ayton to Hackness road, about 1.5 miles north of East Ayton on the A170.
Overview
About Forge Valley Woods Walk
Why go
- Level boardwalk beside the River Derwent
- Ancient woodland and spring wildflowers
- Easy family-friendly outing
Heads up
- Boards can be slippery after rain
- Short route with limited elevation
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the North York Moors map
Full mapElevation43–105 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 Forge Valley Woods Walk, 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
Forge Valley Woods0:00 / 0:26
“You're approaching Forge Valley Woods, where a level boardwalk follows the River Derwent through a steep, wooded gorge.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- The Vole's Nibbled Lawn
- Dark Wings by the Derwent
- Old Work in Forge Valley’s Trees
- The River That Turned Inland
- 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 Forge Valley Woods Walk
The walk in briefAn out-and-back route of 2.0 miles / 3.
An out-and-back route of 2.0 miles / 3.2 km total round trip, allowing about 1 hour at a relaxed pace. Difficulty is easy, rated 2/10, on a mostly level wooden boardwalk.
Route sequenceStart at the Old Man's Mouth car park and picnic area, beside the information board.
- Start at the Old Man's Mouth car park and picnic area, beside the information board.
- Cross the footbridge and join the boardwalk along the River Derwent.
- Follow the boardwalk through the ancient broadleaved woodland, using the viewing platforms and seats along the way.
- Turn around at the end of the short visitor route and retrace the same corridor back to the car park.
Footing and difficultyThe boardwalk runs the length of the main route, with passing places for oncoming walkers.
The boardwalk runs the length of the main route, with passing places for oncoming walkers. It is level and unstrenuous, which makes it workable for families and short outings. The boards can be slippery after wet weather, so slow down on the timber and watch your footing.
SceneryThe valley is a steep-sided gorge cut by post-Ice Age meltwater, with the Derwent running…
The valley is a steep-sided gorge cut by post-Ice Age meltwater, with the Derwent running through the middle of it. The woodland is ancient broadleaf: alder, ash, wych elm, holly and rowan. In spring the ground flora is the draw, with wild garlic and wood anemone through the woodland floor.
Wildlife to look forNothing is guaranteed, but the reserve supports:
Nothing is guaranteed, but the reserve supports:
Pause at the viewing platforms and stay quiet for the best chance of seeing anything.
- Nuthatch and other woodland birds
- Brown trout and grayling in the river
- Crayfish
- Occasional otter
History underfootThe shape of the valley comes from meltwater at the end of the last glaciation.
The shape of the valley comes from meltwater at the end of the last glaciation. In the 14th century, iron forges here burned charcoal made from the surrounding woodland, which is where the valley gets its name.
Access, parking and dogsThe start is the free Old Man's Mouth car park and picnic site, roughly 1.
The start is the free Old Man's Mouth car park and picnic site, roughly 1.5 miles north of East Ayton on the A170 East Ayton to Hackness road. There is picnic space at the car park and level access at the main entrance. Keep dogs under control throughout, to avoid disturbing river wildlife, water voles and other protected species.
A tougher alternative nearbyIf the boardwalk feels too gentle, the nearby Raincliffe Woods walk is a more strenuous,…
If the boardwalk feels too gentle, the nearby Raincliffe Woods walk is a more strenuous, steeper woodland option and pairs well with this one on the same visit.
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.
