Shallow Dale and Ampleforth Country

9 miles                    Hot and fine

For no particular reason that we can think of, this is the only route in Tom Scott Burns's The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills that we have never walked so we decided to correct that.  We set off from Middlesbrough in heavy rain expecting a wet day but as we approached Helmsley the sun came out and it remained fine throughout the day.

We turned off the B1257 south of Helmsley and drove into Ampleforth where there is roadside parking.

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

Primitive Methodist Hall, Ampleforth, dated 1854

TSB says that Ampleforth is mentioned in the Domesday Book and means 'ford where the sorrel grows.'

We followed the road west out of the village and took the second turning on the right, into Westwood Lane.  Passing a working sawmill the road soon becomes a narrow lane which is very pretty and pleasant to walk along, as we enter Shallow Dale.  This is a very quiet dale and there is little trace of the Quaker settlement that was once scattered along the valley, growing flax in terraces and spinning it into yarn. There are heaps of stone where their cottages once stood. 

Bench on the outskirts of Ampleforth

Turn right into Westwood Lane...

The view from Westwood Lane

Pretty Westwood Lane

A long gentle climb brought us to the head of the valley where the path continues past High Woods Farm and then returns alongside Low Wood plantation before entering Burtis Wood.  We walked through the wood for some time descending, sometimes steeply, back towards towards Carr Lane.

First sight of High Woods Farm

The path is diverted away from farm buildings

High Woods Farm.  We mistakenly climbed higher than necessary, the path actually runs alongside the farm

Walking alongside Low Woods plantation

Entering Burtis Wood

Some steep and slippery descents

Leaving the wood we walked across fields parallel to the road, using way marks as our guide, until we reached Carr Lane.   We crossed the road and followed a way-marked path across fields to reach a pond, which TSB describes as delightful but which no longer deserves that moniker.

We turned sharp left and walked back up to the field boundary where we came across a perfectly positioned tree trunk where we stopped for coffee and scones.

Across fields behind Carr Lodge

Walking towards Newstead Pond

Newstead Barn

Newstead Pond

Time for coffee and scones!

Setting off once more we crossed a couple of fields then located a hedgerow stile where we entered a lane which soon joined the Colley Broach road.  These little lanes and roads seem devoid of traffic and are very pleasant to walk along. 

Our track takes us across fields

North Moor Lane

We get the feeling we are being watched....

We passed Old Pilfit Farm and climbed past Low Lion's and then High Lion's lodges, before turning left onto North Moor Lane.  

Across Gilling Moor

The lane through the trees of Gilling Moor

We walked a short distance to the right then turned left across Gilling Moor to reach Higher Fish Ponds.  The track then turned left to sweep past the ponds to reach Lower Fish Pond.  This Lower Fish Pond is a tranquil and pretty spot.

Short cut near Higher Fish Pond

Higher Fish Pond...

... and the larger and more attractive Lower Fish Pond

Just past Lower Fish Pond our route turned north to cross a sheep field.  There were new gates on the field and no way marks, but this was definitely the right of way according to my GPS, and sure enough we came to a stile on the far side.

We crossed this sheep field after passing through an unlocked but 'un-way-marked' gate

Clive checks the ground for pellets. We wondered if this was an owl box?

We crossed the old embankment of the long disused Malton to Coxwold railway.  TSB says that a special train used to convey students from London to Ampleforth College at the start of each term until the line was closed in 1964.

There was a fine view of Ampleforth Abbey and College to our right as we joined and then followed Mill Lane back to Ampleforth.

Ampleforth Abbey and College

Manor House, Ampleforth

High Street, Ampleforth

Although without many interesting features this was a very pretty route along little walked paths and best done with a close eye to the map or GPS.  An ideal walk for a sunny summer's day.