Slingsby Castle and Fryton from Hovingham

10.5 miles                   Grey, cool and still

Tom Scott Burns says in The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills that this route of woodland paths, open lanes, and the villages of Hovingham and Slingsby, with its ruined castle, will calm the most distraught mind.  We would agree except for a confusing forestry trail in the last couple of miles.

This is the second time we've walked today's route.  The first time was in the heat of summer but we thought it would be worth re-visiting as there should be a fine display of autumn colours.  

We drove to Hovingham via Helmsley along the B1257 and pulled in to the village hall to be met with a sign warning against parking there today as the market would be setting up after 12 noon.  We backed out and left the car at the roadside, where there is unrestricted parking.

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

We parked next to Hovingham Hall which TSB says was given to Roger de Mowbray by William the Conqueror and came to the Worsley family in 1563, with the present Hall dating from 1745.  

Hovingham Hall

Next to the hall is the Church of All Saints and we decided to look inside before starting our walk.  The church has retained its Anglo Saxon tower and a Saxon doorway. The stained glass windows show scenes from Revelations.  It was unlocked and we looked around but didn't take as long as usual as we had a long walk ahead of us.

The Church of All Saints

Looking towards the altar

A piece of a Saxon cross suspended before the altar

Serpent detail on Saxon cross

Norman feature

Modern window

We walked past the large stone gateway to the Hall upon which is the inscription, "virtus in actione consistit" (virtue consists in action) and then swung right just beyond the Worsley Arms Hotel and followed the road for a short distance before entering fields and then following a small stream parallel with the road.

We could now see the rear of the Hall and passed an attractive bridge and waterfall feature which must have been built to be viewed from the Hall.

Rear view of Hovingham Hall

Following a faint path across fields...

... brings us to an ornate bridge

We continued past the bridge and our field path became increasingly boggy, made worse by cattle hooves.  Passing by the skittish beasts we rejoined the road for a short time and turned left into Mill Wood, our path now following the course of a stream before rejoining the road near to Hovingham Lodge.

Autumn finery

Turning off the road into Mill Wood

Thwaites Cottage

The track took us passed Thwaites Cottage and then Hovingham Lodge before joining field paths towards Airyholme Farm, whose sign proudly proclaimed it to be the Home of the Flitwick Flock.

As we approached the farm we saw some pet sheep in a field who, on seeing us, charged across to meet us at the fence, obviously expecting tidbits.

We are spotted...

... and the rush begins

Hopeful and hungry

Just after the farm we passed by a large fish pond and decided a fallen gatepost would made a good seat where we could enjoy our coffee and scones.   

Refreshed we continued our path, now alongside Fryton Moor plantations.

We are diverted around the farm buildings

Turn right onto the Centenary Way

Looking back through poppies to Airyholme Farm

A nice spot to enjoy our coffee and scones

Ho, ho!

Walking towards Fryton Moor Plantations

Eventually we reached Bank Lane and a long gentle descent to Slingsby.   We walked through the pretty village to the Methodist church and a brightly coloured Maypole, where TSB reports Plough Monday sword dancers cavorted and the Slingsby Temperance Society held a great demonstration in 1851.

Across fields to Slingsby

Weather vane in Slingsby

Slingsby Methodist Church

Maypole in front of the village school

We continued through the village to reach the ruins of Slingsby Castle, which is only visible from the neighbouring road.  It was built by Sir Ralph Hastings in 1343 and enlarged by his grandson Lord William Hastings, who was beheaded for treason in 1483. 

View from the road of Slingsby Castle

We walked away from the castle to turn left into field paths at Castle Farm, and walked to the hamlet of Fryton.  There is little to see in Fryton and we turned left into Fryton Lane for a long and slow climb up to the woodlands of Fryton Moor.

Fryton

There was something of interest in Fryton, a HGV weather vane!

Walking up to Fryton Moor

Millennium bench and plaque

The plaque celebrates the finding of a 4000 year old skeleton in a nearby burial henge

On reaching the trees we turned right and our path led us through trees for a mile and a half.  Towards the end of this stretch the path is easily missed because of recent forestry work and concentration is needed.  We lost a bit of time back-tracking before turning north to join the straight path that took us back to Hovingham.

Turn right to follow the Centenary Way to Hovingham

Forestry work makes the going tough

Care needed here to keep to the right path

Back on tarmac and Hovingham in sight

Quite a long walk today and we were glad that The Worsley Arms Hotel welcomes hikers, however grubby.  We sat in front of the fire in the Cricketers Bar with a couple of pints of Black Sheep and discussed today's walk.

The Worsley Arms

We veer into the Cricketers Bar

The hiker's reward