When the Lyke Wake Walk started the route had been a major test of endurance, no footpaths, pure navigation and moorcraft, knee deep heather and little idea of what lay ahead. Paths have developed, in some places to such an extent that they are now environmentally sensitive. In some areas, mainly the western section the path has been greatly improved as it shares the route with the Cleveland Way (National LDP) and Coast-to-Coast routes. Walkers of all ages and nationalities have completed the walk, making them eligible to wear the much sought after official coffin shaped badge.
The average time is currently about twelve hours, which means in summer the entire walk can be completed in daylight, runners in the annual race are doing it in less than five hours!
A full route guide "The Lyke Wake Walk--the official guide" published by 'Dalesman' is now in its 13th edition. ISBN 185568191-9.

The general route, which can be completed in either direction, is from Sheepwash near Osmotherley (SE467992) on the western edge of the North York Moors to the coast at Ravenscar (NZ981017) several road crossings are available for support parties, such as NZ573033 on the B1257 at Clay Bank, SE679997 at the Lion Inn, SE856982 on the A169 at Ellerbeck and NZ945003 on the A171 at Jugger Howe, and  other minor roads.
Historically, the route links together the bronze age tumuli (burial mounds) on the high watershed of the moors, coffins were never carried over the full route, in fact, coffins would never have been carried on the route --this is 1960's journalistic imagination!

In 1983, the late Bill Cowley devised the Shepherd's Round, a 64kM circular route, which can be based on Osmotherley, this is a fairly difficult route with a lot of hill climbing. Going east to Urra Moor, Rudland Rigg, Brandsdale, crossing Bilsdale and onto Snilesworth Moor and back to Osmotherley along the western escarpment of the moors.
A full route guide is in the Lyke Wake guide book, a leaflet guide is also available and badges are for sale.

In the same year Paul Sherwood devised the 51kM Hambleton Hobble, this too is circular and based on Osmotherley but can of course be started at any point on the route. The original intention was to link four pubs, Osmotherley, Hawnby, Scawton & Silton, this roughly circumnavigates Black Hambleton. It can however be done as two circular walks.
A full route guide is in the Lyke Wake guide book, a leaflet guide is also available and badges are for sale.

The majority of the Shepherd's Round and Hambleton Hobble are on definitive rights of way or permitted paths. Some sections of the Lyke Wake Walk are not on public rights of way, but by usage over such a long period this could be disputed, The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, alters this situation. The CROW Act is not a 'right to roam'. It is in fact a fairly restrictive piece of legislation, areas of open moorland can be closed at almost any time to suit landowners business needs, restrictions such as 'dogs must be kept on leads' or indeed 'no dogs' can be imposed anywhere, and it certainly does not include open access onto arable or pasture land.

More information on www.openaccess.gov.uk