A Tour of Raisdale from Chop Gate

 7 miles         Sunny with cold wind

We parked at Chop Gate Community Centre on the B1257 where there is space for many cars.

After booting up we climbed over a stile at the rear of the car park and followed a faint trail next to Raisdale Beck, across wet meadowland towards Cock Flat Farm.

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

Walking alongside Raisdale Beck

Crossing tarmac just below Cock Flat Farm

Some wet paths and fields today

Cock Flat Farm

The path stays well below Cock Flat Farm, which Tom Scott Burns says comes from Kyrkflat, denoting Church field.   Fields close to the farm were crowded with heavily pregnant ewes probably brought down from the hills.

Our path wandered through several fields climbing above Raisdale (Reith's Valley, an old Norse personal name) and would make pleasant walking if it were a bit drier underfoot.  As it was we slipped and slid quite a lot until we reached High West Cote Farm, where we had a splendid view west towards Raisdale Mill and the moorland col of Barker's Ridge.

Pregnant ewe at Cock Flat Farm

Following field tracks above Raisdale

Low West Cote Farm

After High West Cote we dropped down to reach a tarmac lane just before well ordered Stone Intake Farm and immediately after passing the farm buildings we climbed a stile on our left and descended through a field to Raisdale Road.

Field tracks through Raisdale

High West Cote Farm

Fine views towards Barker's Ridge, top left

Stone Intake Farm

Troubled by cats at Stone Intake?

Weather vane at Stone Intake Farm

Weather vane at Stone Intake Farm

TSB notes that this section of Raisdale Road is referred to in the 1160 Rievaulx Charters as the 'Red Road', perhaps derived from the red shale in this area.  

Leaving the field we turned right into Raisdale Road and followed it for a couple of hundred yards until we turned into the entrance of Raisdale Mill on our left.

We walked down to the old mill buildings, originally built by John Garbutt in 1849.  These ceased operating in the 1920s.

The 'Red Road' or Raisdale Road

Mill Buildings

Raisdale Mill

John Garbutt 1849

We turned left immediately after Raisdale Mill and entered what TSB describes as 'a most beautiful green lane which threads its way upwards to Barker's Ridge'.  Sadly since Tom wrote his book in the 1980s motor cycles have pretty much ruined the green lane and it is badly rutted and difficult to negotiate.

We reached the top and Barker's Ridge, with the rocky outcrop of Barker's Crag to our right.  We followed the ridge to pass by High House and continued climbing until we came to a gate on our left. Here we entered the gate and settled down behind a stone wall to enjoy our coffee and scones in the lea of the wall, with a fine view back of our walk so far.

The Green Lane - note the 'no motorcycles' sign

The green lane becomes a 'hollow lane'

Passing by High House Farm

Up to Barker's Ridge

Looking back at High House Farm

Looking down to Raisdale from our coffee stop

After coffee we resumed our walk along Barker's Ridge towards the head of Scugdale.   We were now walking into a strong south westerly wind and talking became difficult.

The last time we did this walk, in Summer 2015, the heather was blooming and the bees were droning but in today's conditions it was all we could do to keep on our feet.

Climbing Barker's Ridge

Barker's Crag

2.5 miles of moor track

A 'surprise view' into Scugdale

This stretch of the walk was not very interesting, other than a surprise view into Scugdale, and we trudged along the moor path into the wind for about 2.5 miles, until we came to a small copse of forestry trees.

A jet trainer zooms up Scugdale

No dogs? 

A shower approaches

Here we came to a junction where we turned left and walked down to Head House, no longer the ruin described by TSB.  Considerable care has been taken to restore parts of Head House but it is still work in progress.  We found it unlocked and entered for a look round just as a shower arrived.

Approaching isolated Head House

A couple of years ago we found this as a ruin...

... but someone has been to trouble and expense

A dry place to store feed

Still work to be done

The view from Head House

We left Head House and soon came to Arnsgill, but just before the stream we saw a strange contraption behind the wall which appeared to be a solar panel joined by cable to a black box some yards away.  An examination of the label on the black box provided a surpising explanation, it was an earthquake detector!  You don't see many of those on a walk on the moors.

Solar panel near Head House

Hmm, what does that do?

The surprising answer

We dropped down to Arns Gill and crossed the stream with a jump. The path took us to an ancient rowan tree, fallen but still alive and described in the '80s as 'weathered' by TSB.

The weathered rowan

Clive puts up a grouse

Someone has suffered an expensive loss

A long climb up Trennet Bank took us to a memorial stone and a fine view down to Chop Gate.  A number of hollow-ways descend Trennet Bank to Chop Gate, which TSB says were worn over many centuries by sledging turf from the moor tops for fuel.

Climbing Trennets Bank

Memorial stone at top of Trennets Bank

Chop Gate appears in the distance

Chop Gate

Hollow-way

We used the hollow-ways where possible and walked along their tops when they became too wet and muddy.

These turf tracks led us directly to the car park below, crossing Raisdale Beck by a wooden bridge, and we were soon discussing the day's walk over a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord.

Chop Gate from our descent

Hollow-way

Stayed above this one

Community Centre and car park below