Parking
Park at the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre or the adjacent Go Ape car park. Follow the orange markers with white arrows from the visitor-centre area.
Overview
About Sneverdale Rigg Rabbit Run
This is a closed circular walk of about 3.80 km (2.35 miles), measured as the complete mapped loop, starting and finishing near the visitor centre and Go Ape complex. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours at a relaxed walking pace, with roughly 90 m of ascent. Follow the orange markers with white arrows throughout. A short section is retraced where the signed loop turns back toward the access.
Why go
- Distinctive rabbit-trap history
- Short forest loop with a viewpoint
Heads up
- Steady climb and steeper forest-floor sections
- Uneven ground can be muddy
This walk sits within the North York Moors protected area. It works well as a short forest outing with a distinctive local-history feature and a possible deer sighting, and less well for anyone needing level, surfaced ground.
Parkwolf’s verdictWorth knowingMap & elevation
The route
Loading the North York Moors map
Full mapElevation89–194 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 Sneverdale Rigg Rabbit Run, 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
Dalby Forest Visitor Centre0:00 / 0:29
“Dalby Forest Visitor Centre is coming up, a useful first stop if you haven't decided how much walking or cycling you want. Staff can help you choose a route, and the café serves meals, coffee and cake.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf North York Moors Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Dalby's Rabbit Trap
- Three Ditches in the Trees
- Haygate and the Pexton Moor Trail
- Two Ages of Dalby Forest
- 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 Sneverdale Rigg Rabbit Run
How the walk unfoldsFrom the start the route climbs steadily on a gravel forest track, then continues through…
From the start the route climbs steadily on a gravel forest track, then continues through steeper sections on forest floor. It passes the old rabbit trap that gives the walk its name, then reaches the Sneverdale Rigg area and its deer viewpoint. From there the path descends through woodland toward Seive Dale before returning to the visitor centre and Go Ape area. Expect wooded track scenery and the memorial area in Snever Dale along the way.
Rabbit trap history and wildlifeThe centrepiece of the walk is a historic "rabbit type" rabbit trap, a reminder of how this…
The centrepiece of the walk is a historic "rabbit type" rabbit trap, a reminder of how this land was once worked. Higher up, the viewpoint area gives a genuine chance of seeing deer, so walk quietly and keep an eye on the clearings and track edges. Sightings are never guaranteed.
Difficulty and surfacesRate this moderate for walkers, around 4 out of 10.
Rate this moderate for walkers, around 4 out of 10. It is short, but the steady gravel climb, steeper patches of bare forest floor and one short steep descent all add effort, and mud is possible after wet weather. Footwear with grip is sensible. This is not a flat or fully surfaced route.
Parking and dogsPark at the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre or the adjacent Go Ape car park and follow the orange…
Park at the Dalby Forest Visitor Centre or the adjacent Go Ape car park and follow the orange markers from there. Trail maps are available at the visitor centre. Dogs are welcome on this walk. Follow the forest dog code, keep your dog under control around wildlife and other visitors, and clean up after it.
A gentler alternative nearbyIf you want something flatter and easier underfoot, the nearby Ellerburn Trail is designed for…
If you want something flatter and easier underfoot, the nearby Ellerburn Trail is designed for a wider range of users, including wheelchair users, pushchairs and dog walkers. It is a separate route, not part of this loop.
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.
