Helmsley to Harome and Sproxton
10 miles Warm and still
Sawmill Lane took us through an industrial estate and then, following signs for the Ebor Way, we walked into fields leaving the town behind. We were soon walking alongside a very dry River Rye; on reaching the sewerage works the path becomes a narrow space between the fence and the river bed. We walked through waist high undergrowth, principally nettles and Himalyan Balsam to reach fields once more.
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. The footpath from the road to Harome has been closed for years because of an unsafe bridge that is obviously not going to be repaired, so we stayed on tarmac, entering Harome and passing the Star and in the garden opposite, a giant stone Buddha.
Hall Lane becomes a farm track and returns to the river once more.
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, or you can visit the church in our blog here
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.
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 when the river is in a normal state.
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.
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| Today's walk from The Walker's Guide to the Hambleton Hills |
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| Helmsley |
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| Helmsley market square |
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| Turning into Sawmill Lane |
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| We are on the Ebor Way |
Sawmill Lane took us through an industrial estate and then, following signs for the Ebor Way, we walked into fields leaving the town behind. We were soon walking alongside a very dry River Rye; on reaching the sewerage works the path becomes a narrow space between the fence and the river bed. We walked through waist high undergrowth, principally nettles and Himalyan Balsam to reach fields once more.
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| Clive stops in amazement, "where's the river gone?" |
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| Dry river bed |
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| Alongside the sewerage works |
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| Nettles and balsam |
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| These are new! |
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| We came across several of these novel signs |
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| Sand martin nest holes in the river bank |
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. The footpath from the road to Harome has been closed for years because of an unsafe bridge that is obviously not going to be repaired, so we stayed on tarmac, entering Harome and passing the Star and in the garden opposite, a giant stone Buddha.
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| Under the bridge and across a field.. |
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| .. to reach the road. Not closed to walkers of course. |
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| The Star |
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| Thatched cat |
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| We've often wondered what is the significance of a whale weather vane |
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| Big Buddha |
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| The Pheasant. The sign says 'Morning Coffee' |
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| Coffee at The Pheasant |
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.
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| The Pheasant |
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| Houses in Harome |
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| Ancient Rose Cottage |
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| Harome Mill, now a private house |
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| The old mill race |
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| Hall Lane |
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| Railway House. |
Hall Lane becomes a farm track and returns to the river once more.
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| Through the gate alongside the river |
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| We saw a Tawny Owl here a few years ago |
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| "We're not swimming, just jumping!" |
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| Tawny Owl in 2018 |
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.
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| East Newton Hall |
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, or you can visit the church in our blog here
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| Stone walling at East Newton Hall |
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| Attractive motifs in the wall |
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| Losky Farm and Loschy Hill behind |
Just past Losky Farm there is a footpath sign pointing across fields where a path is clearly delineated 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. Here we found a comfy spot to sit and have our coffee and scones.
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| The sign behind Clive points across the arable field |
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| Short cut to the B1257 |
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| A mile alongside tarmac |
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| Turn off opposite Oswaldskirk |
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| Smoke can be seen from large moors fire several miles away near Fylingdales |
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| Some want jam on it |
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.
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| Follow the Ebor Way |
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| Field paths with good margins |
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| New ornate bench |
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| Village Hall in Sproxton - WWII Nissen hut |
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| House in Sproxton |
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| St Chad's Church at Sproxton |
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| TSB says rood screens are from Germany |
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We returned through Sproxton to re-join the Ebor Way path at the signpost just past Sproxton Hall Farm.
From here to the river our path through fields appeared unwalked, so keep looking for yellow way-signs. Eventually we reached the River Rye and a large footbridge, but instead of crossing we turned left along the opposite bank to our outward path.
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| Good crop of sloe berries this year |
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| Turn left before the bridge and follow the river |
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 when the river is in a normal state.
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| Walking alongside the dry river bed |
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| Through the balsam |
Soon we left the trees of the river bank and emerged into a sheep field which we crossed to reach the old stone bridge.
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| Helmsley Bridge |
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| The view of the 'river' from the bridge |
We walked into Helmsley but noticed that Helmsley Brewery was open to visitors from 1pm to 9pm and decided to pop inside.
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| Clive gets a spring in his step |
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| 'To summer walks' |
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