"There must be dales in Paradise
Which you and I will find.."

Friday 14 August 2020

Helmsley to Harome and Sproxton





10 miles                         Warm and humid


We parked at the side of the road where it enters Helmsley and walked down through the market place and just before Rye Bridge veered left into Ryegate, then right into Sawmill Lane.  There are signs here for the Ebor Way, which we follow for a while.

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

Helmsley Butchers



Cottages in Helmsley

Turn into Sawmill Lane....

... and join the Ebor Way


Sawmill Lane took us through an industrial estate with its working sawmill and then, following signs for the Ebor Way, we walked into fields leaving the town behind.

"How many fingers am I holding up?"

We were soon walking alongside the River Rye; on reaching the sewerage works the path becomes a very narrow space between the fence and the river.  We were soon walking through waist high undergrowth, principally nettles and Himalyan Balsam.


Over the stile next to the sewerage works


Himalayan Balsam

We left the river by turning under an old railway bridge that was once part of the York to Pickering railway, closed by Beeching in 1964.  We crossed a sheep field to the road which we followed towards Harome.  As we approached the village we saw a footpath sign and stile on our right which turned us back into fields. For the last couple of years a notice at this point informed us the path was closed because of damage to a bridge.  The sign has gone so presuming the bridge to have finally been repaired we set off over the fields.

Reaching the Ox Bow

Through the gate and under the bridge to see...

... rare kneeling sheep



Clive explains they don't have to kneel down to reach the grass..

Impressive reconditioned Massey Ferguson 

This path used to be closed

The path has obviously been walked but when we reached the bridge we found it in the same slightly damaged state as before but perfectly safe to cross.  A notice on the next stile informed us that the footpath would remain closed for another two days.

We crossed the bridge into Harome and walked round the village before enjoying morning coffee and scones al fresco in the grounds of the Pheasant Hotel.

Not repaired


The red line shows our route to Harome! 


A full scale 
The Star at Harome




Straw cat on The Star


Whale weather vane at Harome


Stone Buddha near The Star




The Pheasant Hotel weather vane


Elevenses


Smug 

Reluctantly we left The Pheasant and walked through picturesque Harome, past the duckpond and some interesting cottages including Harome Mill and Aby Green Farm  We soon reached Hall Lane passing by the old railway cottages, now private houses.

Hall Lane becomes a farm track and returns to the river once more.


Cottages in Harome






Harome Mill


Hall Lane


Railway Cottages at Harome Siding


Two buzzards pass overhead


Welcome to the River Rye





We walked alongside the River Rye and then crossed it by a footbridge a short distance from Hall Lane end.  A little further and we joined Lack Lane which leads to East Newton Hall and Loschy Farm. 





We were filled with admiration for the dry stone walling at East Newton Hall.   To the left of the building, on a hill, is Loschy Wood and Tom Scott Burns relates that long ago a dragon lived on Loschy Hill and terrorised the villagers.  A local man called Peter Loschy had a special suit of armour made covered with sharp blades and went with his dog to confront the dragon.  It wrapped itself around Peter and the blades sliced it so portions of the dragon fell to the ground. The pieces tried to reassemble so the trusty dog carried the segments of dragon and buried them on the hill. Peter stooped to praise his dog which licked him on the face, but as the dragon's blood was poisonous he and the dog both fell down dead.  They were buried at Nunnington Church, the dog at Peter's feet.  TSB says unbelievers can visit the church and see for themselves!

Over the river


Following the river on the other bank




East Newton Hall


Mole trap markers all along Lack Lane


Fancy stone walling near East Newton Hall






Join the B1257 to Nunnington road just past (spelled differently!) Losky Farm

Just past Losky Farm there is a footpath sign pointing across fields where a path is clearly deliniated and we took this, soon reaching the busy B1257.  

This next stretch is the worst part of today's walk.  It is necessary to follow the grass verge of the busy road for about a mile, passing by Leyshorpe Hall and Birch Hall Farm as cars whiz by. This is not a very pleasant experience.


Eventually, opposite a sign pointing to Oswaldkirk village, we turned right into a farm lane and started to descend in the general direction of Sproxton; the footpath sign telling us we were now back on the Ebor Way.



Cut across the field to the B1257


Leysthorpe Hall


The grass verge was wick with grasshoppers


We leave the road at last


Back on the Ebor Way

We now followed field paths all the way to Sproxton but before reaching the village we decided to stop at a convenient bench for our 'official' scone and coffee break.


Path to Sproxton


Coffee

Pressing on we followed field paths to the outskirts of Sproxton whose long high street would lead us back to the B1257 and the small church of St Chads.


Weather vane in Sproxton



We re-joined the Ebor Way path at the signpost just past Sproxton Hall Farm. 

From here to the river our path through fields appeared unwalked and it was necessary to navigate by searching ahead for yellow way-signs.


We pass Ness Great Wood


Low Parks Farm


"I'll 'ave you both!"   Beligerent ram at Low Cross Farm


Set-aside in flower


Fish Farm footbridge

Reaching the river near to an arched bridge that would take us to a fish farm, we turned left before the bridge to follow the river bank.


We now followed the river back towards Helmsley but on the opposite bank to our outward path.  The path becomes ever narrower and at one point needs negotiating with care as it would be easy to slip into the water.



Following the river




Careful Clive, that looks like a cornice!


In some places there was so little water one could cross from one bank to the other on foot


Leaving the Himalayan Balsam and the rooftops of Helmsley appear


Soon we left the trees of the river bank and emerged into a sheep field which we crossed to reach the old stone bridge.



We walked into Helmsley then noticed that Helmsley Brewery was open to visitors from 2pm to 9pm and decided to pop inside.  We were soon established in their beer garden where we could enjoy a pint of Striding the Riding while discussing a fine day's walk.



Over the bridge..


... and into the brewery


What shall we have today?


Hiker's reward







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