The Drove Road and Windy Gill Ridge from Boltby

 

7 miles                                 Hot and sunny

We drove through Boltby and parked at a hard shoulder on the right hand side of the road.  After booting up we continued walking uphill along the same road away from the village, until turning left at a footpath sign into a farm track to Lunshaw House Farm.

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

Looking up to the trees at High Barn on the sky-line

Turn left ahead

Before reaching the farm we crossed a stile on the right to follow a field path signposted Low Paradise.  Our path followed the camber of the hill for some time, which meant walking at an awkward 45 degree angle, until it dropped down into woods before Lunshaw Beck.  

Follow the sign to Low Paradise

Aim for the gate

Head down to cross Lunshaw Beck

Crossing the beck we started a mile long ascent which TSB describes as a 'muscular climb'.  We passed by the always well ordered Low Paradise Farm and continued to climb to reach Oak Cottage.

'Muscular' climb to Low Paradise Farm

Lambs at Low Paradise Farm

Low Paradise Farm

Hounds at Oak Cottage

Oak Beck Cottage

The track continues to climb relentlessly upwards until reaching High Paradise Farm where we were delighted to find the tea room open, although we appeared to be their first customers.

We sat outside in the sun to enjoy scones and coffee, just in time, as within minutes a large walking group arrived and took the rest of the tables.

We are now on the Cleveland Way

Final climb to... 

...  High Paradise Farm

Wake up - customers!

Scones al fresco

We had a leisurely stop in the sun at High Paradise Tea Room but eventually it was time to move on.

Leaving the farm we walked towards Sneck Gate and the moor.  Passing through the gate we were now on the Hambleton Drove Road, which we followed left, soon reaching forest.

We walked on through the trees for some time and then, just before reaching the ruins of Steeple Cross (first mentioned in 1246 but no longer a cross, now just a 2 feet high piece of stone) we turned left to enter the plantation's trees.

Leaving High Paradise...

... towards Sneck Gate

The remains of Steeple Cross

We walked through the forestry plantation and emerged at Gallow Hill where we had a view towards Cowesby village far below.

Forestry plantation

Cowesby village below

We turned left at Gallow Hill and followed the broad path to Windygill Ridge. To the left of the path along the ridge is a forestry plantation, ahead the Vale of Mowbray and to the right, Black Hambleton and the hummock of Seta Pike, about a mile ahead.

Just after passing Seta Pike our path turned left on to a steep forestry path.  The track was rather faint and although dry today, normally can be boggy; the steep descents are slippery and progress was slow.   The path eventually levels out and we picked our way through Gurtof Wood, looking down on Gurtof Beck running below us.  Quite a lot of trees have been blown down and a few had fallen awkwardly across the path making frequent diversions necessary.  

Turn left off the path near Seta Pike

A steep downhill to Gurtof Wood

A couple of miles walking through trees

Gurtof Beck to our left

Sometimes the path becomes indistinct... look for the yellow dots

Go towards the light!  Out of the woods at last

We followed the indistinct path through the woods until we reached a gate leading into fields.

We then walked through fields using way-marks on the field boundaries as guides until we joined a wide track.  We followed this to a green lane, which, after passing by a smallholding with sheep and a horse, led us to Boltby.

Now on a wide path..

.. and then a green lane

Our path exited at the west end of Boltby village and we turned left to walk along the road.  Set back from the road is Holy Trinity Church and finding it unlocked we were unable to resist having a look around.  The church is in very good repair considering that, as TSB points out, it was first erected in 1409 and rebuilt in 1859. We were very impressed by the timber cross sections in the roof which are striking to look at.

Sheep in smallholding at Boltby

We are warned off!

Holy Trinity Church

Looking towards the altar

Side window

Altar window

Clive soaks up the ambience.... or rests his feet

The churchyard seems to contain only fairly recent graves and a further look at our guidebook 'The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills' explained why: apparently it was the custom until Victorian times to carry the dead from Boltby for burial at Felixkirk, "swathed in linen and uncoffined."  It would be interesting to know the reason for this practice but unfortunately the book does not give one. Strange, when they had a perfectly good church in Boltby.

Cottage in Boltby

Weather vane in Boltby

Boltby

We continued through the village and then up the steep hill back to the car park.