Bluebells in Scugdale        

Today's 5.5 mile walk from Swainby

Not a Tom Scott Burns walk but hopefully this short and enjoyable stroll marks a return to hiking (and blogging) for me; my cursed foot injury being much improved... at last!

We parked in Swainby on the road near to The Blacksmith's Arms and walked straight up Swainby High Street until the road splits into Coalmire Road to the right and the dead end Scugdale Road to the left.

The 'trapdoor' on Swainby High Street

We pause on Swainby High Street to watch ducklings 

We turned left into Scugdale Road and just past the access to Mill Farm we crossed a stile to the right.

Go left

.. and then right, over the stile

We crossed the field to another stile and crossed it to reach the farm, pausing to admire their noisy peacocks.  Here we turned sharp right by the farm buildings and walked across the field to reach another stile in a fence which we crossed before descending some steps to a bridge over Scugdale Beck. 

Head towards the farm

Turn sharp right here

Looking back towards Swainby

Early swallows at Mill Farm seemed tired out, have they just arrived?

Across the fields towards the beck

Over the stile

We climbed over the stile to leave the fields and enter Clain Wood where we were pleased to see the bluebells were in flower and looking very spectacular.

Descending to Scugdale Beck

Clain Wood

Yellow Archangel is also on display

After crossing Scugdale Beck we climbed straight up to reach the Cleveland Way track where we turned left to follow it through the trees of Clain Wood, deeper into Scugdale.

We followed the Cleveland Way to Huthwaite Green where it bears left across fields to reach some cottages and the trees of Live Moor.

Weather vane in Coalmire Lane

Whorl Hill, we'll be climbing that later

Follow the Cleveland Way 

Left to cross Huthwaite Green

Scugdale Beck, the dry weather means we don't need the bridge

Pied piper. The farmer shook a bag of food and the sheep followed him to the next field

We walked through the trees of Live Moor Plantation which turns into Faceby Plantation.  Eventually our path leaves the trees through a gate and we crossed a field to Bank Lane, where we turned left to walk down to a footpath next to a building on the left.

Old railway truck at Live Moor

Live Moor

Whorl Hill can be seen

We enter Faceby Plantation, a spring means it's always wet here

The new road suggests that forest clearance is imminent

Passing the end of the road

You'll have a long wait, there's no-one about

Descending to Bank Lane

Bank Lane

We followed the footpath into Whorl Hill and as we climbed steeply up we enjoyed another fine display of bluebells.  

Leaving Bank Lane

Whorl Hill

After circumnavigating Whorl Hill we dropped down to Whorl Hill Farm and followed the signpost to Whorlton, we walked along field boundaries to reach the road.

We passed the old Church of the Holy Cross and Whorlton Castle both of which we have visited and described previously, and followed the road back to Swainby where we were pleased to find the Black Horse open for business.

Church of the Holy Cross

Flowering cherry tree at Holy Cross

Whorlton Castle

Joining the footpath to Swainby

A bench in the sun

Back on the trail!

Scugdale is very pretty at this time of year and this short hike of 5.5 miles makes an enjoyable morning walk.