Tripsdale to Bransdale and Cockayne from Chop Gate

12.3 miles                          Warm and sunny

This longer walk is from Tom Scott Burns' book The Walker's Guide to the Cleveland Hills, but for some reason Tom doesn't include the pretty hamlet of Cockayne in his route.  We decided we would incorporate this so altered the route accordingly while missing out the stretch along Rudland Rigg to shorten the mileage a bit.

Today's route, anti-clockwise from Chop Gate

We parked in the car park for The Buck at Chop Gate to avoid the National Trust Car Park charge at Chop Gate Community Centre.  We would repay The Buck with our custom at the end of the walk.

We booted up and headed south along the grass verge of the B1257 to reach the farm track to William Beck Farm.  

Along the B1257

Turn left into William Beck Farm

We turned off the B1257 into William Beck Farm which I used to think was the name of the farmer but turns out to be long established according to TSB, who informs us that in 1160 it was named Willelmesbec.

As we walked up the farm track sheep were being moved from one field to another by the simple means of walking along shaking a bag.  The sheep are convinced it's food for them and follow the bag.  We joined in at the rear where we chatted to the farmer whose dog was doing sterling work keeping the sheep moving.  He told us that it was a new dog, 18 months old, that he had only had for a couple of days.  He had bought it at auction, already trained. 

Follow the bag!

The excitement is contagious

We join in at the rear

A keen dog

The sheep left the path to enter another field and we continued to William Beck Farm which we bypassed to our left and commenced the climb to the moor gate.

Weather vane at William Beck Farm

William Beck Farm

The long climb to the moor

Passing the moor gate

We are dive-bombed when we get too close to a lapwing nest

Ahead of us we could see the ugly scar of the shooters' track up the other side of Tripsdale heading towards Bransdale.  We crossed the beck and followed the path upwards until reaching the ruins of an old cottage on our right and here we diverted to look at the Ship Stone, so called because the front of the stone looks like the prow of a ship.  We passed the ruins and followed a small trail through the bracken for a hundred yards or so to reach the Ship Stone which looks insignificant as one approaches from its rear but is enormous from the other side.  On the stone is a Latin inscription which translates as "All things are full of the Creator. John Hart, a man of Bilsdale 1849".

Tripsdale

Cross the beck

Tripsdale Beck

Cobbler's cottage

The ship stone

Clive strikes a heroic posture

"All things are full of the Creator. John Hart, a man of Bilsdale 1849"

I examine the inscription

We walked back towards the bulldozed shooters' track passing the ruins of a cottage which TSB explains was the home of an old cobbler who used to sell clogs and shoes outside the Fox and Hounds Inn at Seave Green on Sundays, as the congregation came down from Urra Church. 

Tripsdale is an intriguing place, much loved by Tom Scott Burns who would camp here to see in the New Year and it is here, further along the dale at the Cable Stones, that his memorial plaque is now located.

Tom Scott Burns' memorial plaque at The Cable Stones, Tripsdale

Clive at The Cable Stones on an earlier visit

We climbed out of Tripsdale onto Hagg Moor, a 'hagg' being a wood or coppice grown on broken ground, and then crossed Todd Intake Moor.  After walking for about a mile we came to a hut on the right hand side.  In the mid-90s I took shelter in this hut in a storm and found Tom Scott Burns had been there before me and left leaflets on the table, advertising his Walker's Guides, intended to be picked up by passing hikers.  It has now been renovated and is locked and no longer providing shelter from the storm.

Climbing out of Tripsdale

A last look back

Renovated hut, Tripsdale behind

We continued along the moor track for another mile or so and came to the remains of Stump Cross and, almost opposite, the turn off to Bransdale.  It is important to note that as soon as you come to Stump Cross you should look to the left for a small, rather insignificant, cairn about 20 yards in.  This side path is almost invisible at first but  reassuring cairns can soon be seen every hundred yards or so.  This quickly leads to a fine view down into Bransdale.

Stump Cross

Nearly invisible path opposite Stump Cross

The path opens out and has cairns marking it

We reach a view of Bransdale

The track led us down into Bransdale, crossing a small road, and to Colt House Farm, which is marked as Bransdale Castle on old maps.

From the farm we followed way marks across several fields and descended to reach an old sun dial above Bransdale Mill. The Mill is close by and we walked down to admire the old building.

Sun Dial at Bransdale Mill

Bransdale Mill

Bransdale Lodge and St Nicholas' Church, our next objective

Bransdale Mill buildings

"Rejoice evermore Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks."

On the front of the building is an inscription which explains that it had been rebuilt in 1842 and the wall ties 'W' and 'S' refer to William Strickland who rebuilt the mill after moving from Farndale.  Round the back we saw a Greek inscription which was apparently the work of Strickland's son, who became curate at Ingleby Greenhow and is responsible for a number of inscriptions in the area.  TSB says that this one means, "Rejoice evermore Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks."

We joined a track at the rear of the mill and this took us to a tarmac lane leading to Cockayne.  A short steep climb brought us to St Nicholas' Church where there is a convenient picnic table for our break.

On tarmac approaching Cockayne

Bluebell woods

Follow the sign to St Nicholas' Church

This female Pheasant was only a couple of feet away, relying on camouflage

St Nicholas' Church

Interesting barrel shaped roof

Provisions for hungry hikers, donations welcome

Interesting epitaph

Coffee with a fantastic view

We had a leisurely break at St Nicholas' Church and then set off to follow our new route from Cockayne which eventually joined the Cleveland Way below Bloworth Crossing.  Now on familiar territory  we followed the path past the Face Stone and the Hand Stone.

Bransdale, Cockayne now hidden in the trees

Memorial at the top of Bransdale Moor

Bransdale

Moor tracks

We pass by the Badger Stone

Any Taddies?

The Face Stone

Rear of the Face Stone, graffitti GHJ 1812

The Hand Stone, Round Hill Trig Point behind

Just past the Hand Stone we turned left, leaving the Cleveland Way to join a track that would drop us off the edge of Urra Moor to descend past Bilsdale Hall and down into Seave Green.

Bear left, leaving the Cleveland Way and heading towards Seave Green

Bilsdale Hall and Seave Green below

Through the moor gate

Bilsdale Hall

Seave Green

Chop Gate

We followed the road from Seave Green to Chop Gate where we went straight into the Buck Inn to return our parking favour by buying ale.  We relaxed in the beer garden and discussed this great moorland walk.  Highly recommended.  GPS track sent on request.

To Bilsdale!