Tabular Hills facts for kids
The Tabular Hills are a unique line of hills in northern England. They run from the town of Scarborough in the east all the way to Black Hambleton in the west. These hills form the southern edge of the North York Moors, a beautiful national park.
Their name, "Tabular Hills," comes from their flat, table-like tops. These flat summits are made of a very hard type of rock called Corallian limestone. Local people sometimes call these rocky tops "nabs." The Tabular Hills also create the northern border of the Vale of Pickering, a large, flat valley.
What Makes the Tabular Hills Special?
The Tabular Hills are not one continuous ridge. Instead, they are broken up by deep, steep-sided river valleys. This creates many separate, table-shaped hills.
One of their most striking features is their northern edge, called an escarpment. An escarpment is a long, steep slope or cliff. This northern escarpment rises about 60 meters (200 feet) above the moorland to the north.
At their western end, after crossing the River Rye, the Tabular Hills connect with the Hambleton Hills. These hills have a similar rocky base.
Amazing Valleys and Landforms
Some of the most interesting river valleys here are Newton Dale and Forge Valley. These valleys were not carved by regular rivers. They were formed during the last Ice Age!
Massive amounts of meltwater from glaciers couldn't flow into the North Sea because of the ice. So, this water poured over the lowest parts of the land, cutting deep, steep channels.
Another cool spot is the Hole of Horcum. This is a huge, bowl-shaped valley that looks like a giant scoop was taken out of the land. It was formed by a line of natural springs slowly eroding the rock over time.
Explore the Tabular Hills Walk
The Tabular Hills Walk is a special walking path. It connects the two southern ends of the Cleveland Way National Trail. This means that hikers can walk all the way around the edge of the entire North York Moors National Park!
The walk starts in Helmsley in the west and finishes at Scalby Mills on the North Sea coast. The total length of the walk is about 77 kilometers (48 miles).
As you walk, you'll pass through quiet countryside between Scalby and Levisham. The path also touches several charming villages. These include Newton-on-Rawcliffe, Cropton, Appleton-le-Moors, Hutton-le-Hole, Gillamoor, Fadmoor, and Carlton.
