A Short(ish) Walk from Goathland – Curlews, Cuckoos & Wild Swimming

There’s something grounding about heading out early with no particular goal beyond a good walk, a few birdsong encounters, and the promise of a quiet pint.

On Saturday, Alastair laced up his boots and set out from Goathland for a 10km circular route. Goathland, with its TV fame (you might know it as Aidensfield from Heartbeat), remains a peaceful place to start a walk — especially if you step off the beaten path.

The route wound down into Beck Hole, a tiny hamlet tucked into the trees and home to one of Yorkshire’s smallest pubs, the Birch Hall Inn. It’s worth stopping just to appreciate its snug charm and the stillness of the spot — a proper hidden corner.

From there, it was up and into the oak woods. The trees here are magnificent — twisting branches, moss underfoot, and birdsong everywhere. Alastair heard his first cuckoo of the year, always a sign that spring is pressing into summer. Then came the call of his favourite — the curlew, bubbling across the moorland from somewhere unseen. A brief moment that stays with you.

Climbing higher, the walk passed a series of old trackways, marked with weathered stone posts engraved with benchmarks — symbols of a time when these paths were vital links between settlements.

Towards the end of the walk, the route skirted The Tarn, a wild swimming spot featured in Sarah Banks’ excellent book Wild Swimming Walks Yorkshire. Alastair didn’t take a dip (solo swims are a no from him), but it’s easy to see the appeal — solitude and not a sound apart from the wind.

From there, the route curled gently back downhill into Goathland, completing the loop.

Walk Essentials:

• Start/End: Goathland

• Distance: ~10km

• Highlights: Beck Hole, old oak woodland, curlews and cuckoos, The Tarn, historical trackways

• Maps: You can view the route on the OS Maps website.

It’s the kind of walk that doesn’t shout about itself, but leaves you feeling better for having done it.