The best walks and hikes around Lockton

Dundale Griff is a delightful narrow side valley leading down from Dundale Pond to Levisham Beck. It's an area with significant historical traces, particularly relating to medieval times, when a monastic sheep farm (bercary) was established at the head of Dundale Griff, with the foundations of the stone buildings still visible today. Dundale Pond's history is linked to industrial water supply starting in the 19th century. William Kay, who owned a silk mill requiring substantial water, supplemented his supply by drawing water from a lake at Miswell Farm and connecting it to the hollow at Dundale via a tunnel. He is believed to have constructed a dam at Dundale to create the pond. Another tunnel then carried water from Dundale Pond to the mill. Both lakes were referred to as 'balancing ponds' to maintain consistent water levels. Look out for the herd of resident Highland Cows, actively breeding and very cute small calves can be seen in early summer.

A ruined two-story structure built around 1830 by Reverend Robert Skelton, the rector of Levisham. It was initially used as a shooting lodge and possibly as a retreat for Skelton to write sermons or enjoy quiet drinks. Situated on Corn Hill Point, a grassy headland overlooking Newtondale, there are fabulous views of both Cropton Forest and the NYMR.

Located in a very scenic spot with a few routeing options. A public bridleway runs north to RAF Fylingdales before veering east to Worm Sike Rigg, and also runs west from Malo Cross, gently climbing up Whinny Nab to pop you out onto Old Wife's Way near Saltergate Car Park. There is also a public footpath that runs south past Blakey Topping and then up Newgate Brow. Avoid the public footpath that runs northwest from Malo Cross, it effectively goes nowhere, by crossing Saltergate Moor and emerging onto the busy A169, with no real further routeing options from there, unless you are prepared to go cross-country across Fen Moor.

One of many viewpoints along the route that runs from Saltergate Car Park along Old Wife's Way, passing Newgate Brow and Crosscliff Brow on the way to Jerry Noddle. An easy and worthwhile route to follow. Great quality track and quieter than the middle of Dalby Forest, allowing access to Langdale Forest if you are planning on covering some extra distance.

Awesome views, an unmissable highlight. An interesting monument, known as an aedicula, stands at Jerry Noddle, which depicts a sculpture of a winged sheep made by sculptor Fiona Bowley. Commissioned in 2020 during the national lockdown, its 14th century armour represents protection against the Covid pandemic.

Fantastic 360 degree views and a variety of routeing options. I can't comment on the track west to Wheeldale Lodge or the bridleway south along Simon Howe Rigg to Cropton Forest, but both the bridleway north to Goathland, and the track east to Fen Bog Nature Reserve and the A169 are good quality tracks over easy terrain. The track east to Fen Bog is still quite waterlogged and boggy in some places even in July, but it is quite easy to skirt around these over the heather.

This stone cross has stood here for the unimaginably long time of four centuries, marking a property boundary. The proverbial "ravages of time" have of course left their mark on this small sacred monument, and so it no longer stands vertically, but has leaned slightly to the side. Lichen has settled in the lower part of the shaft, but the engraved inscription in the crossbeam and upper part of the longitudinal beam is still easy to read.

A scheduled monument, Simon Howe is a large round cairn on Goathland Moor that offers great views of the North York Moors National Park.