The lost village of Pinchinthorpe from Newton

7 miles       Bright and windy

We parked in the layby at Newton under Roseberry and walked through the village past the Kings Head pub to the pay and display car park at the other end of the village.  Our track leaves the main road here and goes directly towards Roseberry Topping which dominates the skyline.

Today's map from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills

 

Roseberry from the Newton Road

Muddly lane to Roseberry Topping

This track was very muddy and we were pleased when we reached the gate into the woods under Roseberry where we turned left.   Our track now follows a hedge up to Roseberry Common where we kept left and walked towards a conifer wood in the distance.  This is Hanging Stone Wood and we turned left into a field just as we reached it.

Looking down to Newton from Roseberry Common

Roseberry from the common

We now followed the yellow way-marks through several fields until we reached Bousdale Farm, once Sir Joseph Pearce's stud farm.  The old stables with their unusual shape have been converted to holiday cottages.

Old stables at Bousdale Farm

Leaving Bousdale Farm

Walking past the farm we reached a forestry gate which we passed through, following the track nearly to Hutton Gate where we turned sharp left.  Still following the forestry track we walked down to meet the old railway track which led to the old station at Pinchinthorpe and a dog- friendly cafe.

Approaching Cafe to the right

At the cafe we enjoyed coffee and scones and set off much refreshed to walk along the old railway line for another two miles. We soon passed the original station built in the 1850s and now a house, and then a few yards later saw the slightly newer and larger station house from the 1870s, now converted to several houses.   As we walked along the old railway track we looked at the strangely named farm Spite Hall to our left.  Tom Scott Burns tells us that the farm is aptly named because it was built by a younger son to obstruct the view of his elder brother who had inherited Pinchinthorpe Hall, across the fields.

Old station on left

Slightly newer station!

Two mile walk along old railway track

 After half an hour's march along this dead straight and level track (which would have been boring without the constant view of Roseberry Topping to our left) we reached a stile which we crossed into fields that led us to the Middlesbrough to Whitby railway line.

Leaving the old railway track

Duck house

We turned sharp left before the line as our route was now south for a short while before cutting across a field towards Snow Hall Farm. TSB wonders at this name and guesses that it derives from Ann Snowdon who lived there in the 1890s.

Crossing Nunthorpe Stell

Pond at Snow Hall Farm

Snow Hall Farm

Suffolk Sheep at Snow Hall  "We have reason to believe one of you is an imposter."

The lane quickly led from Snow Hall Farm to Newton and the ancient St Oswald's Church.  We had a look around this interesting old building and admired the Anglo-Saxon carved stone set in the tower of the church showing a dragon and some sort of quadruped.  Tom Scott Burns says that this stone was actually described in an eleventh century book called 'Bestiaries'.

St Oswald's Church

Saxon Carving

Ancient stone coffin found under church floor

We crossed the green to the main road and returned to our waiting car, pausing for one last look at Roseberry Topping, the Cleveland mini-Matterhorn, looking magnificent in the afternoon sun.