Caydale and Noddle End from Murton

7.5 miles   Misty and cool

We left Middlesbrough in fine weather but as we drove up Clay Bank we entered low cloud which remained with us for most of the walk.  We passed Hawnby and drove up Murton Bank, parking on the roadside at Murton Grange.

 

Tom Scott Burns' map of today's walk

 Murton Grange Farm

Leaving the car we walked past Murton Grange Farm along Murton Heights.  We had no views in the low mist but noticed neat repairs to the roadside dry stone walls and soon came on the man responsible, sitting in the back of his van having a cigarette. He got out to chat and after we had enquired if the stone was limestone he gave us a brief lesson in the art.  He explained how the wall was tapered so that it wouldn't hold water that would allow ice to form and force the wall apart.  He told us that the wall settled over time and so had to be built on a firm surface, but not too hard or it wouldn't settle properly.  He had his own small quarry and had dug out the stone he was working on that very morning and would be finished this section in two hours.

 A brief lesson in the art of dry stone walling

We walked on and turned right into a tarmac road at Wethercote Lane, passing Wethercote Farm which we could make out only dimly through the mist..  Eventually we reached Boltby Scar and joined the Cleveland Way. We should have enjoyed a panoramic view but could see nothing.  We found a sheltered spot next to an old quarry and enjoyed our coffee and scones.  While we ate the mist slowly lifted and we could make out the shape of  High Barn ahead of us.

 We join the Cleveland Way

 Coffee and High Barn appears in the distance

 Looking down on the old quarry from our coffee stop

 Approaching High Barn

We followed the Cleveland Way past High Barn where there should have been a view of Boltby Village and entered part of Boltby Wood where we found a sad looking horse standing in our path.   He ignored us as we approached, looking disconsolate in the damp mist and we stopped to talk to him.  Clive found a couple of fruit shortcake biscuits left over from our coffee break and they were gratefully received and we felt he was looking more cheerful when we left him.

 Entering Boltby Wood

 A horse on our path

Horses like fruit shortcake biscuits

We continued along the Cleveland Way for some time until we eventually reached High Paradise Farm which was a nicely kept farm, everything looking tidy and pleasing to the eye.  As we walked through the farm we noticed there were some fancy hens and a sow and piglets running free in a small field.

 Dry Stone wall at High Paradise Farm

Just beyond the farm we crossed the Hambleton Drove Road and passed through the moor gate onto Dale Town Common.  The track gradually lost height by Gowerdale Bank and then as we arrived at an old ruined barn at Noddle End the mist had lifted sufficiently for us to enjoy a great view of Dale Town in the hollow below.

 Dale Town Common

Gowerdale Bank

The view from Noddle End

 Derelict Gowerdale House

We walked past the derelict Gowerdale House and climbed out of the hollow to Dale Town which was once a thriving medieval village but is now a single farmhouse.  A stiff climb from the farm took us left along Peak Scar Top and then to Murton Bank Road and our car.

Looking down at Dale Town Farm from Peak Scar Top, Hawnby Hill and Easterside Hill in the distance

The weather had improved as the day went on but we decided that this is a walk we must do again as we missed a lot in bad visibility during the first half.  It is also worth remembering as a good wet weather walk as there are good paths throughout the distance.