Arden Great Moor Circular

10.5 miles              Fine but cool

It's three years since we last walked this moorland circular which is one of Tom Scott Burns' finest walks.  He suggests starting the walk at Arden Hall but we prefer to start at Square Corner, the P shown at top left in the map below, thus making Arden Hall our half way rest stop.

 

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

Leaving the car we walked southwards along the forest path up the shoulder of Black Hambleton.  This is a long and steady climb with the trees of Silton Forest to the right.  Passing Hambleton End at 1309' our path joins the Hambleton Drove Road and we leave Black Hambleton to cross Arden Great Moor.

 

Approaching Black Hambleton

The mysterious Cray Hall Stone - see here for more!

Looking back we can just see the car park at Square Corner

A long and steady climb

The trees of Silton Forest to our right

As we gain height we look over towards Kepwick

We join the Hambleton Drove Road

Nab Farm in the centre and Kepwick to the centre left

A new feature of the moors is that shooting stations have been given names

Arden Great Moor

Evidence of mining

This stonechat accompanied us for a while, perhaps trying to distract us from chicks

 

After a long climb we walked along the drovers' road known as Hambleton Street for about 2.5 miles, with fine views to our right across to Kepwick, until reaching the ruins of the old drovers' inn that was known as Limekiln House.   The only evidence of the old inn is a memorial stone and nearby always stood a small cross, 'in memory of Bert', man or dog, we don't know.  Someone had uprooted this cross and so we returned it to its rightful place.  We left the Hambleton Drove Road at this point to turn left across the moor following a track that quickly leads to Thorodale Valley.

 

Limekiln House memorial stone

Bert's cross has been uprooted

Clive returns it to its rightful place

We head off towards Thorodale

More workings, possibly limestone

 

Thorodale is a lovely valley to explore.  We descended from the moor into the dale, soon entering bracken which fortunately has yet to reach maturity. We followed the track through Thorodale Wood then North Moor Wood with brief glimpses of Thorodale Lake below.

  

 

Through the gate to Thorodale

Descending into Thorodale

Bracken!

Thorodale Wood

 We walked through Thorodale Wood and North Moor Wood passing by hundreds of recently released pheasants.

 

 

Pheasant transport

This trap was baited and set 4 feet from the ground, perhaps for stoats?

Young pheasants

 

Eventually we reached a path that leaves our route to descend to Arden Hall.  As we approached the hall we saw the memorial seat erected in memory of three hikers who were killed in a road accident on their way home after a walk.  In the past we have sat here for our coffee but the bench is out of the sun and over time has become mossy and uninviting. Another hundred yards would bring you to Arden Hall but we didn't bother visiting this time, so I have included a couple of photos from a previous visit.

 

 

Memorial to three hikers, killed returning from a walk

The rear of Arden Hall

Side view

Front of Arden Hall

We walked back to rejoin our earlier path, this time turning right to walk towards Mount Pleasant Farm.  We had fine views over to Coomb Hill on our right and the rooftops of Arden Hall below and here we sat in the sun to enjoy coffee with a fine view.

 

Arden Hall below

Coombe Hill

Scone al fresco

Refreshed we set off to pass by Mount Pleasant Farm and then the pretty cottage known as Harker Gates, then on into the woods of North Moor. Ahead to our right was the unmistakable profile of Hawnby Hill.  

 

This lamb was fast asleep but quickly awoke when I stroked it!

Mount Pleasant Farm

Hawnby Hill with its distinctive nick

Harker Gates cottage

After crossing Eskerdale Beck by a small bridge our path took us past two ruined farms, Brewster Hill and Cow Wath. Although the farm is no longer occupied, the outbuildings of Brewster Hill are still in use.

 

Descending to Eskerdale Beck

Brewster Hill farm

Cow Wath Farm ruin

Follow the way marks

 

We walked through Greens Wood where four years ago we stumbled on a stag, lying in the sun.  No such luck this year!

 

A chance meeting four years ago

We continued following the faint path, now with the River Rye running parallel below us until after a couple of miles we passed the ruins of Far House.

 

The River Rye appears below

Far House ruins

Shearing sheep at Low Locker Farm

Easterside Hill and Hawnby Hill in the distance

The large bridge of Dale Head

Dale Head Farm ruin

After Dale Head Farm we walked through more heather to reach the Osmotherley to Hawnby road where we turned left to walk the final three quarters of a mile to the car park at Square Corner.

 

Shooting station

We reach the road at last

... but it's still 3/4 mile to the car park

 

A short drive took us to the pub where we sat in the afternoon sun to discuss this first rate Tom Scott Burns walk.

 

"To Thorodale!"