Exploring Scugdale from Carlton Bank
7 miles Fine with strong wind
My first TSB walk for ages as I have been laid low, firstly following an operation and then for three weeks with the terrible cold and cough that have been doing the rounds. Spending last week lounging in Tenerife's sun seems to have done the trick and the cough is gone at last.
We drove up the steep hill on Alum House Lane, the Carlton to Chop Gate road, and parked at Lord Stones Cafe where parking is permitted during cafe hours.
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Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Cleveand Hills |
Leaving the car park we walked back along the Carlton road for a few yards until we reached a Cleveland Way sign. Here we turned left off the road and almost immediately turned right off the Cleveland Way to follow the wide access road for the old Gliding Club (now demolished) steadily uphill.
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Turn left at the wooden signpost |
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.. and follow the Cleveland Way uphill |
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We see a large group ahead |
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Raisdale over to our left as we climb |
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Looking back we can see Roseberry in the distance |
We followed a large walking group up the access track but on reaching the moor top we left them behind by turning left where a footpath sign indicates the track across the heather. The first feature one comes to on this path is the rocky outcrop of Stone Ruck. Tom Scott Burns explains that Ruck is derived from the Old Norse bruga meaning 'to pile or heap up', as in a cairn.
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Turn left off the access track at the sign |
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.. and follow a narrow path across the moor |
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Stone Ruck |
We followed the path for a mile or so across the moor into a strong headwind until we came to Brian's Pond and once again pondered on its unusual name. Did Brian drown there or did he once own it? The name's origin seems to be lost in time and my previous efforts with books and Google have come to nought.
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On Bilsdale West Moor |
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Brian's Pond |
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A strong wind ripples across the pond |
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A red grouse watches us pass by |
Leaving Brian's Pond we climbed steadily over Clough Gill Top, where a signpost indicates a choice of routes. We took the right fork that ascends steadily to the moor rim where we suddenly came upon the valley of Scugdale. To one's right are the rocks of Barker's Crags and below are the buildings of Scugdale Hall. This spot gives one of my favourite views in North Yorkshire.
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Scugdale |
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Scugdale Hall below us |
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We keep to the valley top for a while |
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Looking over Scugdale at remains of jet mining workings |
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Through the gate to descend into the dale |
TSB refers to Scugdale as 'the sheltered dale' from the Danish skygger - to overshadow.
We went through a new metal gate and descended across a couple of fields to reach the dale road where we turned left to walk towards the top of the valley and High House. Cattle have been turned out to graze freely in the north of the dale and the dales road has suffered consequently, as have all parts of the valley down to Scugdale Beck which forms a barrier to them.
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The first of several dead sheep we saw today |
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Clive walks down into Scugdale |
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Barker's Crags |
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Linthorpe Brickworks |
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Evidence of Jet Mining |
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Head House |
As we walked towards High House we looked at the hillside to our right and saw the spoil remains of jet mining. After jet jewellery became fashionable in Victorian times Bilsdale, Raisdale and Scugdale were mined heavily. Mining was a simple affair, the miners tunnelled into the hillside and the shale was brought out and examined for jet. The spoil was then tipped down the hillside leaving the long piles of rubble seen above. An interesting article here provides more information about mining in the area.
Over the years the dales road has been strengthened with stones, tarmac, pottery and bricks and we found several old bricks brearing the name Old Linthorpe embedded in the track. A google search shows that these bricks were manufactured in Victorian times by a George Grubb Dalton, Brick Manufaturer, Builder and Contractor, Linthorpe, Middlesbrough.
We followed the dales road south to reach High House. TSB records that in this old farmhouse lived Harry Cooper who was reputed to be the tallest man in the world, standing at 8'6". He left Scugdale to join Barnum's Circus in America and died in 1898 at the age of 41.
The house is currently unoccupied and its outbuildings are falling into ruin.
I'm glad you're back! I was a bit worried! I love reading your hiking blogs.
ReplyDeleteThank you,that's very nice of you!
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