Shallow Dale and Ampleforth Country

9 miles                    Fine and dry

We drove to Ampleforth via the A19 and Thirsk Bank and parked in the village where there is plenty of roadside parking.

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

Walking through Ampleforth

Cottage garden 

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

As we walked uphill out of the village we came to a memorial bench with an interesting plaque to an 'Old Timer'.  We would like to know more about Ron but an internet search has proved fruitless.

We can't find The Old Timer song online

We followed the road west out of the village and took the second turning on the right, into Westwood Lane.  The road passes a working sawmill, then soon becomes a narrow lane which is very pretty and pleasant to walk along, as one enters Shallow Dale.  

Shallow Dale is a very quiet dale and there is now little trace of the Quaker settlement that TSB says was once scattered along the valley, growing flax on terraces and spinning it into yarn. There are heaps of stone where their cottages once stood. 

Turning into Westwood Lane

Westwood Lane

We strolled along Westwood Lane, which gradually becomes less of a lane and more of a track.  This is a very peaceful lane lined with ripe blackberries, why aren't the locals picking them? In fact this is a very quiet walk, you'll be lucky to see another soul once you leave Ampleforth.

A long gentle climb brought us to the head of the valley where the path continues past High Woods Farm, the sign pointing to quaintly named Royalty Slack but we took the left turn, towards High Woods Farm. 

Turn left here

... and follow the lane to High Woods Farm

Just before the farm buildings we turned off the lane at a footpath sign and walked along the field at the rear of the farm buildings, passing by some huge fungi.

"Look at the size of that!"

Some improvements taking place at High Woods Farm

We walked on alongside the trees of Low Wood and passing a small herd of cows we reached a stile that we crossed to enter the dense trees of Burtis Wood.

"Clive, one's stood up!"

The path runs through bracken

Burtis Wood

Yellow way marks on the trees keep us right

The walk through the wood ends with quite a steep descent to a stile which we crossed turning sharp left and walking through three fields, now parallel to the Ampleforth road.

Descending through Burtis Wood

A bridge takes us out of the first field

In the second field we came to a pen of young pheasants and were disappointed at the poor husbandry on display.  Dead birds were trapped in the wire mesh and inside the pen, and looked as if they had been there for some time.  The birds looked in poor condition and certainly should have been released before now to toughen up for the start of the pheasant shooting season on 1st October.

Poor husbandry

We rejoined the road at the end of the third field. We were now leaving Shallow Dale and after crossing Carr Lane we began today's second circular walk, this time southwards of Ampleforth.

We crossed the road and followed a way-marked path across fields to reach Newstead pond, which TSB describes as delightful but which now, overgrown with weeds and algae, no longer deserves that moniker.  Here we turned sharp left and walked back up to the field boundary where we found a sheltered spot to sit and enjoy our coffee and scones.

Turn off the road at the sign...

... and walk intyo Ampleforth Country

Newstead Pond. TSB's 'delightful' pond is no more!

Old barn

Old hikers

After a pleasant break we set off once more crossing a couple of fields and joining a lane that took us past Old Pilfit Farm. This next stretch was very wet and muddy and we wondered if it was caused by field drainage.

Remains of the old stile...

... with its waymark still attached

Wet, muddy lanes

As we approached Old Pilfit Farm we stopped to watch an old fashioned combine clearing the field.

Harvesting

Well it didn't fool us!

Reaching the farm buildings we were seen off by a retired sheepdog who followed us at a safe distance, barking constantly.

Just needs a bit of TLC

We are seen off

Dog's rat?

Old Pilfit Farm

We walked on past the old railway track and station house which served Ampleforth until 1950, the dog's barks getting gradually fainter.

Old railway station house

The lane reaches Low Lions Lodge, a working farm, and bears left, but we leave it here by keeping straight on past the lodge before entering fields to walk south to reach the much grander High Lions Lodge.

Looking back towards Ampleforth

Low Lions Lodge

A couple of pet sheep run to Clive to see if he has food

Far left is The White Horse and to the right, Byland Abbey

Resident at High Lions Lodge

After passing High Lion Lodge we turned right into North Moor Lane and after a couple of hundred yards, turned left onto a forestry road to cross Yearsley and Gilling Moor.

Turn left off North Moor Lane

We now walked along forestry paths, eventually reaching High Fish Ponds which was almost hidden amongst vegetation.  Here we swung left to sweep past the ponds to reach Lower Fish Pond.  This Lower Fish Pond is far larger and is a tranquil and pretty spot.

Walking through Yearsley Moor

High Fish Pond

Lower Fish Pond

Swan family

Lower Fish Pond

Just past Lower Fish Pond the route turns north to cross a sheep field.  There are new gates on the field and no way marks on this side of the field but a stile and way marks at the far side.

Through the gate

and past the tree with the owl box

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

Ahead and to the right we had a fine view of Ampleforth College and dead ahead were the houses of Ampleforth, which we soon reached.

Here used to run the Malton to Coxwold railway line

We watch a baler in action as it collects the straw

... and then out pops a bale of hay

Ampleforth College

Ampleforth

No pubs open in Ampleforth so a short drive to Coxwold found us sitting outside the Fauconberg Arms where we discussed today's walk over a welcome pint of beer.

A welcome sight