Scotton, Brearton & Farnham

Sunday, 20th March

6.84 Miles (11 Km) - 2hrs 33 mins

Well, circumstances have meant that it's been a month since our last walk and, sadly, we will have another break as Gill goes to America to visit our daughter (although, I will try and get out whilst she's away).

This was a short(ish) ramble between three villages just outside Knaresborough and it was the perfect re-introduction to our regular walks.

We parked in the Village Hall Car Park at Scotton (GR SE326589) and after walking through the village headed off across the fields, just before we got to Lawrence Hall Farm, to the equally sleepy hamlet of Brearton.

After passing through this village the route took us along the traffic free Knaresborough Road past Walkingham Woods and Warren Farm.

Here we took a short detour to find a cache (GCZMG6) - situated underneath an old ash tree.

After logging our visit to the cache we re-traced our steps to pick up a delightful green lane that ran down to the third of the villages on the route, Farnham. 

Sadly, the route from Farnham follows the fairly busy Stang Lane, where you need your wits about you as the traffic moves at quite alarming speeds !

Thankfully, the road is soon left to go through fields before joining another green lane, initially called Rooker Lane which then becomes Smithy Lane and drops you back in the centre of Scotton.

Spring, it seems is late this year.  Although it didn't rain it wasn't a very warm day and gloves are still the order of the day.  It might be my perception but there don't seem to be as many daffodils out as there were this time last year - I may be mistaken, but, hopefully things will warm up over the next few weeks.

For anyone who reads this blog (and I've no idea if anyone does !), Gill and I have entered the Leeds Well Walk which is to be held on 22nd May at Temple Newsam.  The walk is organised by Diabetes UK and we are both looking for donations to help us raise some money of this charity.  I have been diabetic for three years now and this is my way of trying to raise funds to help find a cure for diabetes which is increasingly becoming more prevalent in our society.  If you can spare a few quid then please donate to us by visiting our page on the diabetes challenge website - THANK YOU !

Kirham Priory

Monday, 21st February

12.6 km (7.8 miles) - 2hrs 59mins

Having been away over the weekend I took the Monday off work and, after meeting the wedding photographers, we decided to walk in the Howardian Hills close to the delightful Kirkham Priory.

This walk is described in the Dalesman magazine way back in February 2010. However, we did not follow the route printed in the magazine but added out own variation to take us high above the river paths which would have been quite wet after the recent rain and snow.

We parked next to the remains of the Augustinian Priory (GR SE734658) at Kirkham.  Sadly, this is not open until April but our route took us up the hill which gave us good views across the remains.  We turned left onto Centenary Way next to the pub (can't remember it's name but GR 738658) and, instead of turning off carried along the road until we met Dark Lane (GR 746660) which runs up the hill and drops into the village of Westow. 

A short stretch up the road before we cut off and climbed to the top of Spy Hill (GR 750646). The drop down the other side of the hill took is into Howsham Wood and a good, clear path through the wood is obviously well used as evidenced by the number of boot marks in the mud!

The path eventually drops into the village of Howsham and, again, a short stretch along the road brought us to Howsham Bridge (GR 731625). Here, we joined the path next to the River Derwent before making a sharp turn and climbing up to Crambe Grange (GR 728631)- the home to a herd (is that the correct collective noun ?) of Alpacca!

From here the path runs straight and true across agricultural land, and the railway line, past Clay Hall and up Cramble Bank.  At the top of the bank a sharp left turn cuts along Cliff Lane to Cliffe House Farm (GR 724654).  Thankfully, the route turns right along a bridleway, rather than having to make an acquaintance with the incredibly busy A64. 

The end of the lane joins the tarmac road known as Onhams Lane which drops steeply down the valley, across the railway crossing (with an authentic "old fashioned" signal box!) and across Kirkham Bridge to the car park.

A good work out with some stiff climbs - although the Howardian Hills are, in reality, pretty easy.  Unfortunately, the weather was dull and overcast, in fact just as we got back to the car it began to rain quite heavily. I suspect that this walk will offer outstanding views on a clear days, particularly as it is close to Castle Howard. 

Usual selection of photos here

On another note we have just "cracked" the 50 mile mark for 2011 - not bad going for February. It's also a year since we started walking each weekend (or at least as often as we can).  In that time we've walked just over 350 miles - long may it continue !!

Linton, Sicklinghall and Spofforth

Saturday, 12th February

14.3 k (8.9 miles) - 2hrs 56 mins

A "spare" Saturday - well not really, I just fancied a walk rather than either (a) sitting and watching England v Italy (a mistake as it turns out) or (b) watching Aireborough v Baildon (full marks here as we were comprehesively beaten !). 

Linton is between Wetherby and Collingham and, recently, has become the village of choice for Leeds United footballers who have bought some pretty impressive properties in the village. We parked outside the Village Institute and did make the recommended £1.00 contribution through the door of the Institute !!

The walk was pretty easy going and the weather fantastic for mid-February as the route took us up Trip Lane before turning off just before the Woodhall Hotel and skirting Lime Kiln Wood and heading towards the village of Sicklinghall.

The walk was taken from my old friend www.walkingworld.com (walk 4980).  this turns right on reaching Sicklinghall, however, we turned left and headed up the lane towards Whin Lane Farm.  From here we simply followed the incredibly muddy path toward Spofforth.

If we thought the path was muddy, then the next stretch defied description as the gates between fields had been churned up by the cows and were "over the boots" muddy.

The path eventually brought us back into Sicklinghall and the first snowdrops of spring !  Is it me, or are they flowering very late this year. 

After following Sicklinghall Road for half a mile or so,

the track cuts off at Linton Spring Farm and cuts back through fields before re-joining Trip Lane and returning to the car in Linton.

A lovely sunny February afternoon.  If I have any criticism of the route it was quite featureless but,nevertheless, the idea is about exercise and not sight-seeing ! 

Small selection of photos avialable here

Saxton and Towton

Sunday, 30th January.

12Km (7.46 Miles) - 2hr 47 min

Although this was a 71/2 mile walk it was relatively easy with few inclines to cope with.  This was just as well as we had both had a "heavy" night the previous evening as we celebrated John's Retirement!! 

Saxton is a small village just off the B1217 Tadcaster to Wakefield Road. It's "celebrity" is shared  with nearby Towton as the scene of the Battle of Towton, described at the "biggest and bloodiest" battles fought on English soil. Fought in 1461 as part of the War of the Roses it is estimated that some 28,000 people lost their lives and part of the walk follows Cock Beck which is said to have flowed red with the blood of the slaughtered.

We parked in the village by the church (GR SE 475368) and soon left the village behind as we headed out on the track past farms and cottages whilst on the other side was the site of the battle and, in particular "Bloody Meadow" where the Yorkists coralled the Lancastrians and infilicted heavy casualties on them. The track then takes a sharp right had turn towards Newstead Farm and the only piece of uphill work on the whole walk.

Cresting the brow of the hill brings Hazelwood Castle into view and the long, straight path heads towards it before veering off in front of the haa-haa wall and cutting through Hazelwood Park before skirting Hayton Wood.

The final stretch drops down into the valley to join Cock Beck once again and this is followed before again turning off for St Mary, Lead.  

The history of this tiny church, which stands alone in middle ofa field, is written on the back of the door. The church was first built in the 12th Century and eventually fell into direpair befoe being rennovated and re-consecrated in the 1930s.  It certainly is small with only eight pews inside.

After visiting the church one strikes through the Car Park of the Crooked Billet pub (with some self control to stop yourself visiting it ) and up the banking before dropping back into Saxton, although our way was "barred" as the farmer had ploughed the field where the footpath was supposed to run! No problem really as we just skirted the field edge to get back to the car.

A grey and overcast afternoon but a gentle walk that cleared the cobwebs and a couple of bits of history to keep it interesting !

Selection of photos available

Skirethorns & Bordley

Sunday, 23rd January

12.5Km (7.7 miles) - 2hrs 54 Mins

Map : OL10 Yorkshire Dales - Southern Area

Another walk from the WalkingWorld website, this is no. 2755.  It is described as an easy walk, which I would disagree with as the first 5k takes you from 192 m to 370m and, although it is not a steep gradient, it is relentlessly uphill all the way.

Skirethorns is just above Threshfield on the B6265 from Skipton, take the first left after the garage.  We parked in the entrance to the quarry (SD 981638) and headed up the road signed to Malham before turning off onto Grysdale Lane, this soon meets Moor Lane and heads off up onto Threshfield Moor.

You traverse Threshfield Moor on a well defined bridleway which wends its way through old coal mining works and spoil heaps, which may be grassed over but you can still see the coal waste. Even though the weather was relatively mild, the bridleway was still icy and, in parts, quite slippery.

The bridleway eventually gives way to enclosed green lane (but still going upwards) before dropping steeply towards Bordley Beck.  Bordley itself is really only a collection of farm buildings (and a farm!) and here, you turn onto asphalt road and a steep climb before turning on to Malham Moor Road.

In not too long a distance the road is left and the route takes you through the delightful Cow Close Wood and drops through the caravan site and Wood Nook before bringing you out on Wood Lane.

The final section is a detour around the back of the quarry before leading back out quite close to the quarry entrance where the car was parked.

It was wonderful to be back in Wharfedale, which I always consider to be my spiritual home, after last weeks rambling in Nidderdale.  This was a walk that took in high, heather covered moorland along with some wonderful Dales pastures and the final section through bracken and woods.  As I said at the start, although billed as an easy walk, both Gill and I think it requires re-classification as a Moderate ramble.  By the way we've walked nearly 30 miles in January (with another weekend to come).  Despite the cold and frosty weather we've pretty lucky given that we've managed to avoid walking in the rain !

Collection of pictures here

Pateley Bridge & Smelthouses

Sunday, 16th January
12.4 km (7.7 miles) 3:00 hrs

Glorious Nidderdale in glorious rain !!  Although to be fair the temperature was nearly 10 degrees, so it didn't feel cold at all.  This is walk no. 4473 from the WalkingWorld website,described as a "moderate" walk I think all the "moderate" bits come at the beginning which is a pretty steep pull out of Pateley Bridge itself.  However, the reward was a visit to St. Mary's Church.  This ancient but now preserved site dates back to the 14th Century and, above all, it is the cemetary that receives the plaudits. After a short stay amongst the yew trees, we plodded on (and up) stopping for some spectacular views down across Pateley Bridge itself also up Nidderdale.

The route, at this point, follows the contour lines and is fairly level, although there are a couple of pulls up the hill and the world's wettest bridleway, or so it seemed as we dragged ourselves up through the mud !

Eventually, the going got better as we dropped down to the woods above Smelthouses and took a break for a spot of lunch.  Then it was down through the woods to cross the main road near Low Laithe to pick up the banks of the Nidd.  The final section simply hugs the bank of the river to return you back into the centre of Pateley Bridge.
Whilst this was only 7 1/2 miles, I have to say it felt longer and my legs seemed too think it was longer as well !!  Thankfully, the worst of the rain kept off until we got back to the car but it did drizzle for the whole walk.
A collection of photographs from this link

Gargrave

Sunday, 9th January

15.7 km (9.76 miles) 3:25 hours

A good long walk, although it has to be said that no gradients were involved ! The walk started in Skipton, my home town, and the outward stretch could not be more straightfoward.  Find the canal and follow it ! As with all canals it follows the countours and, whilst the walking is level, it does not take the most direct route. 

 The going underfoot was variable with some quite muddy stretches as we left Skipton and approached Gargrave.

Lunch was taken in the palatial surroundings of the bus shelter in the middle of Gargrave which proved quite popular as we were joined by another couple - we left them to tip the waiter!

The route back more or less follows the line of the railway line and is obviously not a welltrodden route with few footprints to follow.

At the end we had the dubious pleasure of crossing the busy A59 before regaining the canal bank and making our way back to the start point.  A pleasant afternoon with some lovely sunshine and a bit of heat in the sun (why is it that 5 degrees should feel warm ?!).  Not a strenuous afternoon but good exercise !

Some photographs from this link